A sold-out crowd of 375 construction professionals gathered on March 6 for LEAP: Women in Construction, the third annual flagship conference hosted by the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) and Canadian Construction Women (CCW) celebrating women across the construction industry.
Held at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, the event brought together industry leaders, tradeswomen, executives, and emerging professionals for a full day of discussions focused on leadership, inclusion, and the future of construction.
“LEAP reflects the momentum we’re seeing across the construction industry,” said Jeannine Martin, president of VRCA. “As our sector continues to grow and evolve, creating opportunities for women to lead, innovate, and thrive is not only the right thing to do – it’s critical to building the strong, resilient workforce our industry needs.”
Throughout the day, attendees participated in networking opportunities, workshops, and panel discussions exploring topics such as leadership development, allyship, mentorship, and strategies for building more inclusive workplaces.
Highlights of the conference included keynote speaker Dr. Brynn Winegard, who explored the science behind how high-performing professionals think, focus, and thrive at work. The “Allies in Action” panel featured male leaders discussing how they are using their influence to champion inclusive workplaces and support the advancement of women in construction, while the HERStories sessions delivered real lessons and practical insights from women who have lived the journey.
Beyond the conversations on stage, LEAP reinforced the importance of mentorship, leadership development, and community in supporting long-term career growth for women in construction. With labour shortages continuing to challenge the sector, industry leaders increasingly recognize that creating welcoming and supportive workplaces is essential to strengthening the construction workforce pipeline.
“Events like LEAP demonstrate how powerful it can be when women across the industry come together to share ideas, build connections, and support one another’s growth,” said Stephanie Hun, president of CCW and vice president of business development at FlatironDragados Canada. “By investing in leadership development and community-building, we’re helping ensure construction continues to be an exciting and rewarding career path for the next generation.”
