CAWIC Bursaries
CAWIC provides educational bursaries each year to help empower women to take the first steps in their successful construction career. Each year, the CAWIC Bursary Committee awards outstanding women with $2,000 bursaries. The program is open to women in construction-related programs. Once a student submits their application and supporting materials, the CAWIC Bursary Committee of volunteers from across the construction industry reviews the applications received, and recipients are then selected based on meeting the required criteria.
Through its Bursary Program, CAWIC helps promote education and encourage women to pursue careers in the construction industry. Since 2005, our Bursary Program has helped more than 80 women across Canada pursue their construction education.
The next Bursary Program will open in March and bursary winners will be announced in September.
Thank you to our bursary partner Cooper Equipment Rentals Limited for partnering with us again in support of bursaries to be awarded to skilled trades students across Canada!
Thank you to our Platinum Members for supporting the 2024 Bursary Program
Congratulations to the 2024 Bursary Award Winners
Maggie Allen
Environmental Engineering, Dalhousie University
Maggie is in her last year of her Engineering degree at Dalhousie. She has had exposure to some high profile projects including contributing to the Cogswell District Redevelopment Project, in Downtown Halifax, titled as one of the biggest projects in the history of the city. Maggie was able to expand her skills in project management, construction methodologies, and teamwork while working under the head project manager, another female working in the construction world. The experience allowed her to revisit her passion for construction project management and remind herself the reasoning behind choosing engineering as her educational route back in 2020.
Maggie is drawn to CAWIC’s mission of fostering gender equality and diversity within the construction industry, a passion that she aims to promote in her journey to becoming a professional engineer. As a young advocate for gender equality in Engineering, she is determined to contribute to a more inclusive construction sector.
Megan Shine Barrientos
Master of Architecture, University of Toronto
With her background in Interior Design and ongoing graduate studies in architecture, Meghan is determined to make a difference in communities through the construction industry. She aims to be a Licensed Architect focused on leading construction projects that prioritize the creation of safe and inclusive spaces. Her goal is to specialize in designing cultural and civic infrastructures that are meaningful to users and the public, with a focus on accessibility and disability inclusion. Another career goal is to promote the construction profession to other women of diverse backgrounds, thus supporting the efforts to bring diversity into the industry. As a woman and person of colour, Megan knew if she was passionate about pursuing these career goals in the Construction Industry, she needed to prove to her peers and professors that she was someone who could make a difference. This has been shown through Megan’s extensive list of academic awards, volunteer experience, and work experience.
Megan without hesitation signed up as a student CAWIC member as the organization’s goals align with hers. She is eager to participate in volunteer opportunities, and seek mentorship from other CAWIC members through our Mentorship program.
Hannah Garampil
Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
Since high school, Hannah noticed a gender imbalance in many of the tech-related courses she took. Although the gender disparity was quite apparent, she took STEM classes despite being only one of the few females in the class. To address this disparity, she became heavily involved in promoting women to STEM.
Hannah aspires to work on rail and transit projects in the field, unifying her passion for construction management with her commitment to creating more sustainable urban environments through improved transportation infrastructure. She is eager to become involved with CAWIC and intends to engage in a variety of initiatives, from attending and contributing to workshops and conferences to volunteering for community outreach programs. Her aim is to network with industry professionals, share knowledge, and promote the role of women in construction, all while advancing her professional development and contributing to the organization’s mission.
Jessie Gobin
Electrical Construction - Red Seal, Thompson Rivers University
Jessie is currently pursuing her Red Seal certification. Following this achievement, she aims to become a master electrician, where she can take on more complex projects and lead teams to success. Beyond her technical ambitions, Jessie is dedicated to promoting equality and diversity within the construction industry, and plans to become a shop steward, advocating for fair treatment and inclusivity on job sites.
Jessie believes in fostering a work environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background. In addition to her career goals, she is deeply committed to community involvement and currently volunteers on the board of directors of Build Together BC and on the IBEW Local 993’s Women’s Committee. These roles allow Jessie to mentor others in the trade and promote the importance of diversity and inclusion within the construction industry.
Emma Harris
Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia
Emma is currently pursuing an Environmental Engineering Degree at the University of British Columbia. One notable project with the BC Water and Waste Association (BCWAA) had Emma collaborating with employees from the City of Vancouver on a design and construction project that will change lives for those living in the False Creek area of Vancouver. Through this and other similar experiences, she not only enhanced her technical skills, but also instilled a profound appreciation for the intricacies of construction management and project execution.
Emma is particularly drawn to how CAWIC commits to fostering diversity and inclusion within the construction industry, and is excited to become part of their Mentorship Program. She knows learning from those working in the industry, and especially other women, is going to help her better develop her skills.
Lagina Morse
Electrical Construction - Red Seal, Thompson Rivers University
Lagina is currently pursuing her Red Seal certification through Thompson Rivers University. Over the past 7 years she has joined the restoration industry and worked her way up from an entry level Content Technician to a Lead Technician with several certifications, specializations and Asbestos Level 3. She made waves where safety and security is concerned and, though it didn’t always sit well with management, established and enforced workers and client safety at all job sites. Lagina is regularly called upon by previous employers and peers for consultations given her background in restoration.
In addition to her Red Seal in Electrician, Construction Lagina may also pursue the certification in Industrial for the purpose of being able to complete the repair side of restoration projects whether as a member of an Electrician company or as a contractor. Her overall goal is to be a productive member of a team that finds feasible solutions that are long term applicable.
Kaylee Peters
Master of Architecture, Dalhousie University
Kaylee’s exposure to construction started as a child when she would help her father flip homes. Her career aspirations are both ambitious and deeply rooted in a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and community engagement. Her immediate goals include immersing herself in the foundational principles of sustainable and inclusive design, engaging with diverse communities to understand their unique needs, and collaborating with mentors and peers to refine her technical skills and creative vision.
Kaylee plans to pursue specialized training in environmental sustainability and cultural preservation, participate in interdisciplinary projects that bridge the gap between architecture, urban planning, and social policy, and contribute to the design of educational spaces that foster creativity and inclusivity for adolescents. Given her passion for architecture and how it can transform, and inspire young minds, she received a grant this year to publish a research document on architecture and adolescents.
Roshan Ty
Bachelor of Civil Engineering, McMaster University
As a woman, Roshan understands the strong importance of bringing a diverse set of perspectives to a job site to foster creativity and ensure that a project runs efficiently. This was an important lesson she learned while working as a Claims Coordinator for Dufferin Construction at the Finch West LRT. Roshan wants to apply this skill set to her future goal of helping shape Canada’s transit system to create a robust, equitable, and sustainable mode of transportation.
Her volunteer efforts show her passion for diversity in the construction industry. Roshan is a Co-Chair of the McMaster Heavy Construction Student Chapter, and took the lead in coordinating inclusive events, such as McMaster University’s first-ever Women in Construction Night to empower and inspire women to choose a career in construction and break the stigma surrounding the lack of diversity within this field. This event allowed students to learn and network with a panel of women leading the construction industry.
Alia Zagrodnik
Construction Management, Red Rivers Polytechnic
Alia chose the Construction Management program at RRC Polytech not only due to her dedication and interest in the construction industry but also to empower future generations of young women.
Alia has accrued two years of hands-on experience working on both horizontal and vertical infrastructure during her cooperative placements, where she aspires to grow and excel into executive management roles. Over the past year, Alia has actively engaged with Manitoba Women in Construction (MWC) through events and represented MWC at the Winnipeg Construction Association (WCA) annual golf tournament. Her goal is to cultivate a supportive community for women in construction, empowering them to create opportunities for future generations.
As a dedicated CAWIC and MWC member, Alia is committed to driving positive change within the industry, and plans to actively participate in CAWIC’s Mentorship Program, aiming to contribute as both a mentor and a mentee to enhance women’s success in Canadian construction.
Become a Bursary Partner and help support the next generation of women who will build and lead our industry.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring a bursary, please email [email protected].
“Since attending Conestoga College Renovation and Technician program I have started a career as a Carpenter. I started working for a renovation company in KW called Eagleview Construction. Since starting there in April of 2019, through hard work and dedication I have worked my way up through the company going from a Junior Carpenter to a Carpenter to a Lead Carpenter to now a Site supervisor. I am also doing my apprenticeship to be a red seal carpenter and will soon be complete. I truly believe that if you set your mind to something and work hard you can accomplish anything. My journey through this career so far has been an amazing experience, but I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today if I didn’t put in hard work and broke down the boundaries that come with being a women in construction. My advice to any women who are considering joining the trades is to drive in head first and see where it takes you because it might end up being the best decision of your life and you don’t want to miss out on any opportunities. The CAWIC Bursary Program is an amazing program to help women in construction get a jump start in the trade. I was lucky enough to receive the bursary myself which helped me buy tools to pursue this career. “