SCWIST Receives Funding to Advance Gender Equality in STEM Across Canada

Vancouver, March 28, 2019: The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) is proud to announce the receipt of funding from Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) – the new federal department previously known as Status of Women Canada (SWC).  The SCWIST project is part of the Federal Government’s $100 million investment in 250 projects that advance gender equality across Canada by building organizations’ capacity supports.

Founded in 1981, SCWIST has a proud history of empowering women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and provides education, programs, networking activities and mentorship.

Our new project – SCWIST Connects, Advocates and Leverages Expertise (SCALE) – expands STEM diversity for economic empowerment across Canada. The goal is to increase SCWIST’s national impact by improving organizational effectiveness, financial sustainability, partnership reach and advocacy to advance gender equality across Canada. STEM is the powerhouse of the economy’s future: through the SCALE project, SCWIST will create paths for highly trained STEM women to contribute their knowledge and skills to that future.

“SCWIST welcomes this funding support so that we can advance our mission of removing barriers for women and girls interested in and pursuing education and careers in STEM,” said Kelly Marciniw, SCWIST President. “We wish to strengthen SCWIST to create frameworks and strategic partnerships that will expand the capacity and reach of SCWIST, and leverage STEM women’s contributions to Canada’s economy.”

“SCWIST has always been like a family, supporting me during my career and inspiring me to volunteer and give back – so that I can help remove barriers for other women. ms infinity for high school girls and Immigrating Women in STEM (IWIS) are part of our core programs and our dedicated volunteers are what make this organization successful,” says Hilda Ching, one of  SCWIST’s founders, and a long-time supporter. She adds enthusiastically, “This SCALE project will create more opportunities to get involved in SCWIST to advance gender equality!”  

SCALE will build on the accomplishments of other SCWIST programs, which include MakePossible and Make DIVERSITY Possible, which were also funded by SWC. MakePossible provides 360-degree mentoring and connects over 1000 women and men from diverse STEM sectors across Canada to develop skills, share expertise and learn from a variety of perspectives using a low-barrier, online platform. Through the Make DIVERSITY Possible program, SCWIST works with STEM organizations to access a diverse talent pool and to create inclusive workplace cultures where everyone can thrive and prosper.