Dossier F43 - Inspiring a sea change - 14th Biennal CCWESTT Conference

Host: 14th Biennal CCWESTT Conference, Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades & Technology
Location: Halifax, NS
Valerie Overend's Role: Co-presented a Cracker Barrel Session on Diversity in the Workplace as well as interactive session on Checklist of Strategies Workshops.

The 14th Biennial CCWESTT conference was preceded by a large Policy Forum designed to bring together stakeholders to positively influence policies, programs and practices the SETT community. It was supported by the federal/provincial/territorial Status of Women Forum. Personally Overend was disappointed on two fronts:
- while almost all provincial Status of Women reps were in attendance, the federal Minister – Rona Ambrose – was in the building but did not attend our forum!
- this seemed liked a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to harness leaders in industry, government, unions and the academic community and go forth with a united front and a plan to make bold changes. Evaluations were positive, but nothing bold happened. They spent way too much effort starting at the beginning by telling the same stories we have been telling since the mid-70’s. Leaders didn’t, or ought not to, need to start from square 1 again. The discussions could have been more sophisticated and strategic!
The conference itself was high energy and well-organized with good engagement of participants.