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VANCOUVER — A sold-out crowd of 375 construction professionals gathered on March 6 for LEAP: Women in ��������ion, the third annual conference hosted by the Vancouver Regional ��������ion Association (VRCA) and Canadian ��������ion Women (CCW).

Held at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront, 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, states a release.

“LEAP reflects the momentum we’re seeing across the construction industry,” said Jeannine Martin, president of VRCA, in a statement. “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.”

Attendees participated in networking opportunities, workshops and panel discussions exploring topics such as leadership development, allyship, mentorship and strategies for building more inclusive workplaces.

Keynote speaker Dr. Brynn Winegard 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, the release adds.

With labour shortages continuing to challenge the sector, industry leaders increasingly recognize creating welcoming and supportive workplaces is essential to strengthening the construction workforce pipeline, VRCA states.

“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.”