Employers in Action: Standing Up for Gender Equality
On International Women’s Day, Builders Code proudly acknowledges the women who have helped shape the construction industry and those who continue to challenge barriers and expand opportunities. While we celebrate this day, we also recognize the continuing influence and impact you have in shaping and strengthening the future of our industry. We salute you!
Contributor: Tina Strehlke, CEO Minerva BC
On a busy site, it rarely feels like a good time to call out a sexist comment, challenge a biased decision, or push for a different way of doing things. Yet this is exactly what modern leadership looks like.
The Builders Code defines an “Acceptable Worksite” as one where safety includes psychological safety — a site that is free from hazing, bullying, harassment and discrimination, and where everyone can do their best work. Standing up for gender equality isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing to protect that standard in real time.
Minerva BC’s Unobstructed Journeys: Dismantling Barriers to Gender Equality in the Workplace report shows a striking disconnect: most women and men in BC believe we’ve already achieved gender equality at work, but the data tells a different story. Women report fewer opportunities and more barriers than men in almost every category. They are less likely to say they have equal opportunities, and more likely to have their competence questioned because of gender. This isn’t a “women’s issue” — it’s a talent, safety, and performance issue for every employer, including in construction.
In construction, culture and safety are inseparable. When hazing, harassment, or everyday microaggressions go unchecked, workers start to disengage or leave altogether. The Builders Code was created specifically to help BC’s construction sector retain more employees by creating supportive, inclusive worksites where everyone can thrive. That means expanding the definition of safety from strictly physical to include psychological safety: workers feel respected, heard, and able to speak up without fear of backlash.
The good news is that when employers take gender equity seriously, women notice — and they advance. Unobstructed Journeys found that only a minority of women say their workplaces are actively engaging in gender-equity awareness-building. This is the courage gap employers can close.
For Builders Code employers, “standing up” looks like: naming disrespectful behaviour even when it’s uncomfortable, backing people who raise concerns, setting clear expectations through a code of conduct, and using training and tools that keep gender equity on the agenda. It won’t always be easy, but it will always be leadership.
WOW! Women’s Only Webinar Series – BC Construction Association
The BCCA is excited to announce the launch of a new “Women’s Only Webinars” series! The series is designed exclusively for women — offering a supportive space for professional development, networking, and sharing industry insights.
Participants can expect engaging sessions featuring expert speakers, interactive discussions, and opportunities to connect with peers who share similar experiences and interests. The format and schedule will mirror the BCCA Members Only webinars, ensuring consistency in quality and accessibility while fostering a community dedicated to empowering women in the field.
These FREE, online webinars are open to members of the four regional construction associations.
