May 30, 2008

Association News

Wadsworth takes CAWIC helm

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Encouraging women to pursue careers in the industry is a key priority for Deborah Wadsworth, newly elected president of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction (CAWIC).

Wadsworth, an architect at Kasian Architecture Ontario Inc., is particularly keen on the potential to help women in low-paying jobs “shake off stereotypes of who works in construction” and consider employment in the trades.

“There are great paying jobs and strong demand (for labour),” she says. “I think we have a role to play in supporting women if they want to make a career change. Perhaps we should undertake a ‘blast the stereotype’ publicity campaign.”

Wadsworth succeeded Angela Wilson, a sales and marketing representative at Dufferin Construction Co., as head of the 114-member association.

Its mandate is to promote the long-term success of women in construction-related fields.

Wadsworth, who has a B.Sc. from the University of Western Ontario and an architecture degree from the University of British Columbia, is also anxious to help CAWIC members “connect the dots a bit better” when it comes to networking.

While women have opportunities to chat and exchange business cards at association events, Wadsworth would like to see “perhaps 45 minutes” allocated at meetings for formal presentations.

Members could, say, discuss what they do on a daily basis and outline their career objectives.This would afford women an opportunity to make “a real connection” with their colleagues, consider opportunities for partnerships and also “ask themselves what they can do for this person,” Wadsworth says.

“The stronger the connections between us, the better the organization will be,” she believes. “Our value to our members is in what we can do to further their businesses or careers.”

Wadsworth, who also chairs the programming committee, became active in CAWIC five years ago through its predecessor organization, the Toronto chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. CAWIC was incorporated in October 2005.

“I went to a meeting and was immediately drawn to the personalities there,” Wadsworth says. “I was also impressed by the range of careers represented, from interior designers and entrepreneurs to project managers.”

Wadsworth has remained active in the association “because the mandate resonates strongly with me. It reminds me that success is hard-won for some women in this industry.”

Also elected to the CAWIC board were: vice-president Catya Covassin, a project manager at The Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd.; treasurer Sheila Thompson, vice-president of surety solutions at HKMB HUB International Ltd.; recording secretary Ruth Bramham, a project co-ordinator at York University; and directors Doris McKeogh, a consultant at TDM Services; and Colleen Sheridan, chief estimator at Baycor Construction Ltd.

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