Girls and women will be encouraged to pursue careers rooted in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Government of British Columbia to the Achieve Anything Foundation.

Females are under-represented in STEM-based areas of study and in careers, such as aviation, aerospace, marine and defence. The Langley-based foundation is dedicated to establishing year-round programs that spark interest for girls and women in those disciplines.

In 2015-16, women represented 53% of B.C.’s post-secondary students, but only 37% of STEM-program credentials were issued to women.

The foundation’s signature event is the annual The Sky’s No Limit – Girls Fly Too!, in which families are invited to learn about aviation, aerospace, marine and defence through hands-on displays and activities, including free flights for female first-time fliers. Currently, of 17,278 aircraft engineers only 2.3% of them are women.

The Achieve Anything Foundation also co-ordinates Operation: This is You!, which partners with Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, the Vancouver Police Department, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Coast Guard and other agencies to offer hands-on experience events.

Premier John Horgan set the tone for gender equality in B.C. by appointing 11 women to his 22-member cabinet — the Province’s first gender-equal cabinet.

Quick Facts:

• Just 5.5% of B.C. women have post-secondary education in STEM fields, compared to 13.9% of men.
• Only 10% of B.C. women with post-secondary education hold STEM-related degrees or certifications, compared to 25% for men.
• B.C. has more than one million women working — the most women working in B.C.’s history, and nearly half of the current provincial labour force.
• With the addition of over 900,000 job openings expected in the province by 2027, women will play an increasingly important role in keeping B.C.’s economy diverse, strong and growing.
• Women comprised 38% of all self-employed people in B.C. in 2017, ranking B.C third among all provinces, and above the national average of 37%.
• The B.C. government’s child-care fee reductions of up to $350 per month will help parents, especially women, build families while pursuing their careers.

Resources

• Achieve Anything Foundation
• WorkBC.ca

Note: SPN typically strips out politician quotes from press releases—as they have been largely crafted by communications staff and not, as implied, uttered by the declared speaker. You can still read the full article, complete with quotes, here.

Related

• Sooke tradeswoman Mary-Anne Bowcott named 2018 CCA Person of the Year
• BC Construction Association launches “Don’t be a tool” campaign
• BC Tradeswomen Society president calls for ‘real change’ to address systemic discrimination
• Builders Code program aims to make construction workforce 10 per cent women by 2028
• New Apprenticeship Incentive grant for women to help them get certified in Red Seal trades
• Scholarships creating opportunities for women in tech
• New Crown Corp oversees infrastructure projects, priority opportunities for Indigenous, women and youth
• Province funds Achieve Anything, a program promoting women in trades
• Sooke journeyperson Mary-Anne Bowcott named as a Construction Leadership Award Winner 2018
• Women seeking careers in the trades get a provincial boost
• Camosun hosts a Women in Trades and Technology event for local high schools
• BC Tradeswomen Society wants to share this message from Chicago
• Report looking at women in the trades says on-the-job harassment has to stop
• Women trades workers still seriously under-represented
• What does a Women in the Trades look like?
• VIDEO: Girl demonstrates oil change
• Celebrating women in trades and technology
• Feature Entrepreneur: Mary-Ann Bowcott, Westcom Plumbing and Heating