After a successful and uplifting Womens Day 2022 here at TDE, we envisioned an even bigger event for 2023, bringing more women from the industry and beyond together in support of unity, equality, and the celebration of our collective achievements under the International Women’s Day 2023 campaign theme: #EmbraceEquity.
We believe much of our success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of our incredible staff from all genders and diversities. We are honored to have such strong, talented, and inspiring women on our team, and we are committed to continuing to create a workplace that celebrates and exemplifies diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our commitment to inclusive workspaces and achieving equity for all encompasses three main ideals:
- Cultural Fusion – Respect and foster the history, culture, knowledge, and beliefs of all stakeholders.
- Gender Equality and Balance – Empower all genders by providing equal opportunities.
- LGBTQIA2S+ Inclusivity – Respect, foster, and provide a safe place for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation.
Strike a pose: #EmbraceEquity
In keeping with this year’s International Womens Day theme, we wanted to give equity a huge embrace by hosting an industry-wide event that welcomed women from all backgrounds, roles, and locations, to our Calgary offices for a day of celebration, learning, and action-taking.
On March 8, 2023 we did just that! We had a wonderful time coming together over dinner to recognize the achievements and contributions of women everywhere. We shared stories, laughed, and lifted each other up in support and solidarity.
Amid the activities was an opportunity for all participants to “strike a pose” for the cameras, and receive a complimentary “head shot” portrait taken by a professional photographer.
In addition, proceeds from a signature beverage at the event were donated to the organization FearIsNotLove, (formerly The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter), a front line agency providing hope and support to women, children, youth, and men impacted by family violence and abuse.
Celebrating women in industry – how far have we come?
A survey released on International Womens Day 2021 by Equal by 30 revealed that global employment of women in the energy sector was 32%, and of that number only 26% were executive leaders. Led by Natural Resources Canada, the Equal by 30 campaign is a global effort under the international Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative that aims to close the gender gap and provide insights on the inclusion of women and under-represented groups in the clean energy workforce.
Of the survey results, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan Jr. said, “We have to do better. These results give us our starting point. Now, we close the gap.”
Events like ours can be part of the change we want to see in not just the energy sector, but in industries worldwide.
Reaching beyond
For this year’s International Womens Day, the United Nations organization unwomen.org has also adopted a theme called DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality – in alignment with the priority theme of the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), which focused on the championing of transforming technology and digital education, as well as protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces.
Achieving real change and true equity will always be a work in progress, but each step we take is a move forward. At TDE, we encourage everyone to rally their friends, family, colleagues, and community in embracing equity on International Womens Day 2023, because together we can all help forge a world of equality not only in the energy sector but far beyond.
