Accelerating action in support of International Women’s Day at SAIT

On Wednesday, March 5, the SAIT community gathered for the seventh annual International Women's Day Celebration. This year’s powerful theme of #AccelerateAction called on our community to engage with strategies, resources and activities that drive meaningful progress and positively contribute to advancing women.

Janet Welch, Vice President, Academic, offered opening remarks to start the day. “At SAIT, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all women. Our initiatives, such as the Women in Trades and Technology program, provide invaluable resources and opportunities for women to excel in non-traditional roles.”

The festivities kicked off with an inspiring keynote from Gayathri Shukla, founder of Campfire Kinship, who spoke about the role every person plays in driving greater gender equity and shared practical takeaways on how to strengthen personal leadership styles, embrace an authentic voice and take decisive steps towards progress. Shukla emphasized the importance of hearing and sharing diverse stories, building psychological safety so everyone feels welcome to participate, and taking action to help fuel policies and programs that will enable real systemic change.

Following the keynote, employees and students gathered to recognize some of the many exceptional women of SAIT leading innovative research, building inclusive classrooms and shaping Alberta's industries for the better. Lauren Kucera, Manager, Athletics and Recreation, and Kelsey Chegus, Manager, Indigenous Relations and Special Projects, ARIS, received the Innovation Award, which celebrates SAIT professionals who exemplify equality and allyship for women in non-traditional roles.

Meredith Patey, School of Health and Public Safety, Fietje van der Lee, McPhail School of Energy, and Penelope Shrive, School of Construction, received the Inclusive Instructor Award, which recognizes faculty who foster a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students.

“We celebrate and recognize the achievements of our community members through awards like the Inclusive Instructor Award. By continuing to support and uplift each other, we can drive meaningful progress and create a culture of equality and respect,” said Welch.

Bird Construction, SAIT’s industry partner and general contractors for the Taylor Family Campus Centre, along with an anonymous donor, presented SAIT’s project management team with a $50,000 gift to support the working being done by WITT. Bird Construction shared their commitment to supporting women in construction and the importance of helping support women in trades at SAIT.

The afternoon sessions empowered women, gender-diverse folks and allies to learn new skills and tap into unexplored interests. Workshops led by SAIT employees and instructors covered automotive basics, executive functioning, women in trades and STEM leadership, textiles as tools, self-awareness and well-being, entrepreneurship, women in sport, tarot readings, mentorship and more.

The day wrapped with a networking cocktail hour, featuring both spirited and zero-proof creations by Madeleine MacDonald, School of Hospitality and Tourism Instructor and previous recipient of an International Women's Day Award herself.

  

Sharing knowledge to support and uplift members of our community will continue to play a crucial role in driving culture change at SAIT. Our campus is committed to challenging stereotypes, speaking against discrimination, recognizing and addressing bias, and celebrating women’s achievements.

Happy International Women’s Day!

DYK

International Women’s Day originated in the early 1900s, inspired by women’s labour movements advocating for better working conditions, fair wages and voting rights. Recognizing the contributions of the women who led these early efforts is essential, as their activism paved the way for the rights and opportunities we continue to fight for today.