OSPE Mentorship Program for Women in Engineering

After many years of concerted effort to increase the number of women in Engineering, the profession has had limited success. According to recent statistics in Canada, engineering still remains a non-traditional career, with women only representing about 18% of engineering graduates and just 13% of the engineering workforce. And although some 400 women receive their P.Eng licenses each year in Ontario, they represent a mere 10% of all license-holders.

Status of Women Canada (SWC) has granted the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) funding to create a two-year Pilot Mentorship Program designed to support women who are in the early stages of their engineering careers. This exciting project will see OSPE develop and implement both online and face-to-face mentorship initiatives in collaboration with key partners in the engineering community. OSPE is proud to partner with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), PEO York Chapter, Ontario Network of Women in Engineering (ONWiE), and Canadian Centre for Women in Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT) in this important initiative. 

The future of the Engineering Profession is dependent on increasing engagement amongst traditionally under-represented groups, including women. These sentiments were echoed by other Canadian Engineering leaders, such as Robert Hardt, CEO of Siemens, and Steve Carlisle, President of GM Canada at the recent Summit on Skills and Talent for the New Economy hosted by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Minister Hon. Reza Moridi.

To find out more, or if you are interested in becoming a mentor, please visit our website at www.ospe.on.ca. You can register right on the Mentorship Program Page!!