News
The Art of Leadership for Women Conference - Toronto
The Art of Leadership for Women conference brings world-renowned female leaders and bestselling authors for a full day of cutting edge thinking and real world experience on today’s most critical leadership strategies.
Connect with over 1,500 of Toronto’s most influential professionals and gain insights from:
Girls Raising
Girls Raising Presentations are a unique series of events that help women founders get publicity, network with like-minded entrepreneurs, and meet influential women (and men) who can move their businesses forward.
If you haven’t attended, here is what you are in for:
3 pre-selected startups present their idea to a female panel consisting of two VC's or Angels and two successful startup founders. Two minutes of QA and two minutes of actionable feedback follow each presentation.
Girls Raising presentations support, educate and encourage female entrepreneurs. We help them build the confidence and network necessary when raising a seed round of funding of getting their idea off the ground. Our events are an opportunity for guests to preview some of the great companies being built by women and to hear from some of the most successful and influential women of our time.
Girls Raising is a network based on quality over quantity. It is a small private event with a limited number of tickets in order to maintain a productive networking atmosphere.
Receive a CanWIT discount by using code GRWIT.
Entrepreneurship and Technology: The $100-Million Idea
Date: 21 Oct 2014, 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Location: MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON
Meet five wildly successful tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists as they reveal their paths from startup to multi-million-dollar businesses. With a combined valuation of $1 billion, Toronto’s startup sector is huge. How can new high-tech ideas turn the city into a major international player?
Join Nora Young, creator and host of CBC Radio’s Spark With Nora Young, as she hosts an expert panel discussion and Q&A session with: Marcus Daniels, Extreme Startups managing director; Daniel Debow, Salesforce.com senior vice-president; Jim Orlando, OMERS Ventures managing director; Mark Ruddock, Wonga Canada CEO; and Vicki Saunders, SheEO founder.
Event Details:
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Doors open at 6 p.m. | Panel begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Cocktail reception to follow
Must be 19+ to attend
$55 admission
MaRS Discovery District | 101 College Street, Toronto
$10 off with code “MaRS”
Student discount: 50% off with code “Student”
REGISTER NOWRBC and CanWIT Join Forces to Develop Women Leaders in IT
OTTAWA and TORONTO, September 29, 2014 — Jennifer Stott is an information technology (IT) executive at RBC - and she wants more women to join her. As she rose through the ranks over the years, she noticed that she was increasingly the only woman in a meeting. That's when she decided to join an RBC employee resource group focused on developing and advancing women into IT leadership positions. Today that group of RBC employees has stepped up its commitment to women by becoming a national sponsor of CanWIT (Canadian Women in Information Technology), an organization committed to the recruitment and retention of women in technology and technology-related roles.
How to crack the boys' club of the tech world
Tarah Talking Tech: Women in Tech interview - Tarah Ferguson sits down with serial tech entrepreneur, CanWIT's CEO & Rebooted Thinking Founder Sandra Wear where they chat about entrepreneurship, money and how women can crack the boys' club of the tech world.
CanWIT Chair Farewell
August 2014...As I complete my two year term as Chair and interim CEO, I look back and I'm amazed how far we have come. In July 2012 when I took the helm, CanWIT was facing declining paid memberships, lack of governance, losing focus and some chapters were looking at operating independently.
CanWIT's mandate is to provide knowledge and support through a number of different programs to women in technology and technology related roles, as well as support to those interested in entering the sector. To do this we needed a strong national presence with focused programs created through the CanWIT leadership team (of Emily, Nicole, Cathi, Alice, John and I) and through the work of the CanWIT Advisory Council of 15 incredible women who helped in the restructuring of the organization.
Blaize Horner Reich Appointed Dean of SFU'S Beedie School of Business
July 17, 2014... Professor Blaize Horner Reich has been appointed dean of Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, beginning her new role September 1.
Dr. Reich, the School’s RBC Professor of Technology and Innovation, will succeed current dean Daniel Shapiro, who is completing his term in this role.
Dr. Reich is an internationally recognized expert in IT governance and technology-¬‐ based organizational transformation. She worked as an industry consultant in both Asia and Canada before joining the Beedie School of Business in 1991.
Push is on to get girls interested in the tech sector
Males dominate in both computer-science classes and workplace
By Gillianh Shaw, Vancouver Sun June 16, 2014
Tech entrepreneur Sandra Wear is inviting teene girls to a coding boot camp, Be Like Ada (BeLikeAda.com), an initiative that has the support of the University of B.C. and B.C.’s tech sector.
Ada Lovelace, the woman known as the world’s first computer programmer, was born in 1815.
She was an exception in her time and, almost 200 years later, while women in technology aren’t exactly the exception, neither are they the rule.
Vancouver’s Sandra Wear is going into schools to try to change that, inviting teenage girls to a coding boot camp, Be Like Ada (BeLikeAda.com), an initiative that has the support of the University of B.C. and B.C.’s tech sector.
Google Canada offers community grants for local organizations in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and Montreal
Google Canada offers community grants for local organizations in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and Montreal that are making a difference. These community grants supports organizations and initiatives that focus on supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for underrepresented communities, increasing internet adoption, promoting online safety and digitial literacy or greening our communities.
CanWIT Award honours Shannon Rogers as top woman entrepreneur and innovator in Canada's technology sector
This annual award is presented to a Canadian woman who has shown outstanding technological innovation and corporate leadership - leadership that has significantly expanded the frontiers of Canada's advanced technology industry.
Shannon Roger (left), President & General Counsel, Global Relay, 2014 winner of the Sara Kirke Award; Dave Walsh, Partner, EY"I'm honoured to be following in the footsteps of such a long legacy of driven and independent Canadian women entrepreneurs," said Shannon Rogers. "Thank you CanWIT, CATA Alliance, and Ernst & Young for continuing to recognize the contributions, skill, and drive of women in technology and business."
From the Desk of CanWIT's CEO, Sandra Wear: Access to Capital & Collaborators - New Outreach Program now available for Women in Tech executives
Our Advisory Board met last week in Ottawa, using Cisco's video hook up across Canada; we are so excited about CanWIT's future plans. By the way, the CATA Gala was sensational. You will see from the Forum's news postings that several Women in Tech leaders were recognized for their Leadership. All role models!
Can you now take a minute to look how we plan to help women led enterprises find capital and collaborators (e.g., channel partners):
http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr05231402.html
Please join the CanWIT Group on Linkedin
An open Forum for idea exchange, peer networking & career opportunities
This open complimentary Forum (with 900 current members), is invaluable for peer networking, as each opt in member provides a brief resume of their background and interests. Integral to the Group is a weekly CanWIT News Pulse where you can post articles and keep current with the latest tech developments.
You will also see that we opened a CanWIT Job Board on this Forum, for members to post a job and share it with the Group, search a job and share it with the Group and generally engage in discussions on employment opportunities and recruit talent.
++ Action Item:
Join the CanWIT Social Network on LinkedIn at this URL:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CanWIT-Division-CATAAlliance-3307815/about
Ps Please circulate this communique internally to your team members with a request to join the CanWIT Social Group.
- Post a job and share it with this group
- Search for a job and share it with this group
- Post a Job Discussion in this group
- Post a job and share it with this group
- Search for a job and share it with this group
- Post a Job Discussion in this group
Be Like Ada Gives Girls Coding Superpowers!
New CanWIT (Women in Tech) CEO, Sandra Wear, Spearheads Talent Creation Venture
1-day Bootcamp Gets High-school Girls Interested in Programming
Vancouver, BC – Be Like Ada, announced today that on July 19th it will hold a bootcamp for 500 high-school girls to learn to code. The event is geared for girls aged 14-17 and will be held at the Rocky Mountaineer station.
The girls will spend a day learning the basics of coding. The bootcamp will teach the elements of coding fundamental to any programming language. The bootcamp is for girls new or somewhat versed in programming.
In Canada there are less than 20% female engineering undergrads. Canada is also facing a shortage of software engineers. Soon most jobs will require an understanding of programming. Unfortunately, programming is often not promoted to girls nor taught in girl-friendly environments.
Global State of Information Security Survey 2015
We value your participation
PwC is conducting our annual global survey on IT security and requests your input. The survey is designed to understand the role of security in organizations today. Last year we gathered more than 9,600 responses from senior executives across 115 countries and virtually every industry. Of those, nearly 550 Canadian respondents provided their insights.
All responses will remain completely confidential and will be used only in combination with those of other survey respondents to develop a composite picture. To take the survey, please click the following link: GSISS2015.
CanWIT BC Chair Sheila Eddin receives two leadership nominations
Congratulations Sheila. We are proud to have you as our CanWIT BC chair and to have the community recognize your leadership.
Sheila Eddin, Vice President, Transformation, ICBC:
Sheila oversees the Transformation division, which provides overall leadership to align people, process and technology with business strategy to meet long-term corporate objectives. She is currently serving as the Executive Sponsor of a major transformation program that is the most significant change the company has gone through and will help prepare ICBC for the future.
Read more: http://www.icbc.com/about-ICBC/company_info/exec-bios/sheila
TechNOW w/ Sandra Wear, CanWIT CEO perspectives
As you will see from the TechNOW interview, Sandra Wear is now taking on the CEO role of accelerating the mission and mandate of our Women in Tech (CanWIT) Division. Sandra also serves as a member of the CATA National Leadership Council.
Let us know if you have women in tech executives interested in participating in this forward looking Group. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Building Momentum with Mentorship
Sreejata Chatterjee, CPO, LeadSift
I work at LeadSift Inc., a high-tech ICT company based out of Halifax. I am the co-founder, as well as a research engineer and product officer. I also happen to be the only female at the office. It is only natural, I suppose, to sometimes feel alone.
More often than not, the non-inclusive nature of the tech world goes unnoticed by my friends and colleagues, but this bias starts to affect careers of women in male-dominated sectors. This didn’t seem like a big deal to me until I started LeadSift and landed into a leadership role.
CanWIT Announces New CEO: Sandra Wear to Lead CanWIT
OTTAWA, March. 31, 2014 - CanWIT is pleased to announce the selection of its CEO, Sandra Wear, effective April 1st 2014. Sandra Wear is a two-time entrepreneur who now helps other tech entrepreneurs get investment ready and fit product-to-market.
Sandra brings an impressive 15-year track record of building companies that capitalize market opportunities. Previously she was Founder of DocSpace, a SaaS company that was acquired for $568M at close. She was also CEO & Founder of Atalum, a SaaS cleantech company, first-to-market with a standardized platform for managing and controlling ZigBee wireless networks.
"The Executive Committee and National Advisory Council are thrilled to have Sandra at the helm," says Dr. Catherine Boivie, outgoing CEO and current Chair for CanWIT. "Sandra's technology forte spans the corporate and entrepreneurial space. Her demonstrated leadership will spearhead the next phase of CanWIT's growth."
CanWIT eMentorship Forum - join the conversation!
As mentors who are dedicated to fostering the growth of women in our sector, we encourage other participants from our original National eMentorship platform to continue participating in this important initiative (if they are not already currently involved). If you are unable to mentor at this time, please feel free to post helpful articles or advice you'd like to share from your own experiences. Be part of the conversation!
Volunteer Community Manager
CanWIT is seeking an energetic and passionate volunteer Community Manager for our eMentorship Forum on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CanWIT-National-eMentorship-Women-in-5091299/about.
CanWIT's eMentorship Forum is an online community where we work to pair ambitious students and professionals with compatible leaders and executives in the tech industry to initiate committed mentoring relationships.
Why its imperative that Canada invest in Women
Thank you to Saadia Muzaffar's new piece in Maclean's: Why its imperative that Canada invest in Women.
Macleans - March 17 2014 CA-1
Would you invest in a Canadian sector that led with the following economic indicators? - One of the fastest growing business segments in Canada - The rate of new company launches in this sector is happening at double the rate...
Read Article ⇒CanWIT Halifax: “The Rewards of Recognition: How to Put Yourself Forward”
Hosted by CanWIT Halifax and the Centre for Women in Business (CWB)
For women in business and those working in male-dominated sectors, in particular, award recognition provides a platform for visibility, credibility, and validation, which can help build your personal brand and grow your business.
Regardless of whether you are nominated for an award or win it, the action of putting forward your skills and accomplishments in a simple (or not so simple) application is a great way to reflect upon your successes and review where you want to go.
CIBC commits $1.5 million to support the advancement of women in financial services and business leadership
CanWIT National Partner News - CIBC will fund scholarships and diversity education at Rotman School of Management and Richard Ivey School of Business along with internships and mentors
TORONTO, March 7, 2014 /CNW/ - (CM: TSX) (CM: NYSE) is proud to mark International Women's Day with the announcement of a $1.5 million investment to support the leadership advancement and development of women in finance at two of Canada's premier business schools.
CIBC is supporting its commitment to the advancement of women in financial services, with an investment of $1.5 million to fund 48 CIBC Women in Financial Services Scholarships and diversity education at both the Rotman School of Management and the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Springboard: Life Science 2014
Apply Now! Springboard: Life Science 2014 - Opportunity for women-led businesses with high-growth potential. March 12th application deadline!
Springboard Enterprises is seeking women-led, investment-ready companies in the life science and healthcare sectors to participate in Springboard: Life Science 2014 - an accelerator supporting and promoting emerging growth companies seeking equity investments or strategic partnerships.
2014 International Women's Day virtual event
Dear CanWIT members,
As a national partner of Canadian Women in Technology, Accenture is pleased to invite you to our 2014 International Women’s Day virtual event—centered on the theme, Knowing and Growing Your Career Capital. Understanding and developing career capital is vitally important throughout all stages of a woman’s career, and we will explore this topic through a live panel discussion and keynote address. Panelists will also share their perspectives on new Accenture research that provides insight into how professional women and men look at work and life.
Seeking a CanWIT mentor?
CanWIT eMentorship for Women in Technology
Seeking a CanWIT mentor? Interested in hearing more on what mentorship is all about? See my linkedin profile for more details on my areas of focus and reply if you are interested in a mentorship.
Heather O'Hara Levesque Senior Manager
Database Services & QA
Inventory Locator Service, LLC - A Boeing Company
Advancing Canada's Comparative Advantage
SUBMISSION OF THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 2014
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is pleased to make this submission to the consultation launched by Industry Canada, "Seizing Canada's Moment: Moving Forward in Science, Technology and Innovation."
View submission:
http://canwit.ca/images/content-documents/misc/AdvancingCanadasComparativeAdvantage_jan2013.pdf
New Specialty Channel launched
CATA CEO, John Reid interviews CanWIT (Canadian Women in Technology) Co-Chair Nicole Whittle on the mission of CanWIT and the launch of a new Women in Tech Specialty Channel, hosted by Ms Whittle.
Viewers will be able to tune into the new Channel from anywhere in the world for live interviews with executives sharing their insights on topics affecting career success.
Each video interview will then be archived as part of expanding the library of educational videos available to the community.
Join our CanWIT conversation at this URL:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CanWIT-Division-CATAAlliance-3307815/about
Lessons in Leadership with CanWIT
Leadership Q and A featuring Eugene Roman, CTO, Canadian Tire
Eugene Roman, CTO, Canadian Tire
Q:
Please tell CanWIT a bit about your role as CTO and how you got into the tech sector
A:
I am responsible for all technology related to systems. I am privileged to lead a large team of highly energized professionals who design, deliver and operate Canadian Tire systems across Canada. I started off in tech 33 years ago working for Nortel Networks and have been a "geek" all throughout my career. I always wanted to work in tech. Back then, the really interesting jobs were in companies like Nortel...so I actively worked to get a job there. Today technology touches all parts of modern enterprises and the job opportunities for young people in tech are essentially limitless.
Request for pro-bono marketing services
CanWIT is looking for assistance with creative services-ideally from a full service agency for the 2014 year.
About Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT)
CanWIT, a Division of CATAAlliance, is a Canadian organization that strives to attract, develop, and retain women within Canada’s advanced technology sector. CanWIT provides a National forum of support for women in tech, National and Regional events and programming focused on professional development, mentorship, networking, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. CanWIT, through its partnerships with organizations such as Springboard Enterprises, Maple Leaf Angels, Gemini Performance Solutions, and i-CANADA, offers the premier platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to support and help grow women-led businesses. CanWIT also hosts Canada’s first e-Mentorship platform specifically for women in technology. Find out more about us at www.canwit.ca
CanWIT CEO (volunteer) Request for Interest
Position: CEO (volunteer)
Reports to: Chair of the Board
Type of Position: Volunteer position
Hours of Work: Approx. 5 hours per week working virtually (requires minimal national travel per year)
Organization Information:
About Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT)
CanWIT, a Division of CATAAlliance, is a Canadian organization that strives to attract, develop, and retain women within Canada’s advanced technology sector. CanWIT provides a National forum of support for women in tech, National and Regional events and programming focused on professional development, mentorship, networking, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. CanWIT, through its partnerships with organizations such as Springboard Enterprises, Maple Leaf Angels, Gemini Performance Solutions, and i-CANADA, offers the premier platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to support and help grow women-led businesses. CanWIT also hosts Canada’s first e-Mentorship platform specifically for women in technology. Find out more about us at www.canwit.ca
Innovation, Security and Business Value
Theresa Payton: Cybersecurity Authority & Identity Theft Expert. Former CIO to the White House.
An Evening with Theresa Payton
Cyber attackers do not discriminate on size, information, or industry. They are after everything. And, they are ramping up at a critical time: almost every organization is introducing new technologies such as cloud, mobile, social networking platforms, RFID, all in order to amplify the customer experience.
NB Women in ICT Luncheon
We encourage you all to come out to catch up with each other, make new acquaintances, and learn about how Norway has integrated ICT into their school curriculum and the impact this has had. Meet Barbara Wasson, one of our own UNB CS grads who has made exciting contributions to technology-based teaching and learning in Norway and the European Union. Let's take this opportunity to learn from Barb's experiences and observations and think about what we are doing - and should be doing - with technology-based learning in NB.
Happy Holiday wishes
December 20, 2013
topLog closes a financing round to intelligently analyze log files and save up to millions of dollars to enterprises!
December 12, 2013, Halifax, Nova Scotia. topLog, a Halifax-based start up announced today that they have secured a $400,000 in seed financing to bring their innovative product to the market.
topLog created a solution that makes analyzing huge and complex log data in enterprises and data center environments a lot faster and easier.
Innovacorp, A Nova Scotia based Venture Capital organization led the financing round with a $250,000 and was joined by BDC Venture Capital with another $150,000 after the company’s graduation from the Launch 36 accelerator program.
CanWIT and TGC Partner to Foster Outreach and Research
Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT, a division of CATAlliance) is partnering with TechGirls Canada (TGC) to help support TGC's mandate to create a unified platform for the emerging grassroots organizations working to empower women in the industry.
Ozge Yeloglu company pitch on Launch 36
CanWIT National Advisory Council member Ozge Yeloglu's company TopLog Inc. was asked to pitch as part of Launch 36. The video is at the bottom left, at the 50 minute mark. http://bit.ly/195jY28
The CIO and the Board
There are still some spaces left for the CIO Association Toronto Chapter event scheduled for next Wednesday. We recognize the value of this discussion, and hope that it will show you the benefits that our Association offers to CIOs.
Ladies Learning Code - Intro to HTML and CSS
What is Ladies Learning Code?
We're a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization providing women (and men*) the opportunity to learn beginner-friendly computer programming and other technical skills through hands-on workshops.
Thanks to our New Brunswick Chapter Lead, Nicole LeBlanc, for coordinating this workshop and to sponsors: Tech SouthEast, NBIF and Workspace Moncton.
WE TALK TECH - Making Your Mark in the Tech Industry
A networking event for members of industry and academia which focuses on issues related to women and men in technology! The evening will begin with a reception, followed by a short documentary screening of SHE++, and concludes with a panel discussion focusing on themes such as mentorship, work-life balance and breaking down gender barriers in the workplace.
Three major themes to remember from Gartner Symposium 2013
Published Oct 15, 2013: ITBusiness.ca -- Catherine Aczel Boivie
I’m back home! It’s been over 48 hours since I even saw a Gartner analyst, let alone hear them give a prediction or presentation. Often when I go to these types of conferences, I leave all enthusiastic Afterwards, in the cold light of the home environment, I wonder what the excitement was about. This Gartner conference was different. There were some important predictions and trends that need to be understood and watched. I’ll describe just three.
CanWIT Ottawa Chapter Launch - Call for Volunteers
WiT Moncton October Luncheon
Women in IT luncheon, Moncton Edition, will take place on October 10. The focus will be: Creating IT-Savvy Communities. Please feel free to forward this to your colleagues that may be interested in attending. We would ask that you register so that we can give the restaurant a head count.
2nd Annual Power of Women in Technology with CanWIT and Maple Leaf Angels
For the second year in a row, CanWIT and Maple Leaf Angels are partnering to highlight the important role female-led technology companies and female Angel investors play in growing Ontario's innovation economy. Our collective aim is to showcase the strength of women led companies by giving our members an opportunity to invest in and support the next great women led Canadian technology company. This year we are also pleased to welcome Women in Capital Markets as an event partner.
CanWIT National Webinar: Accenture Technology Vision - Every Business is a Digital Business
CanWIT National Sponsor Webinar - Accenture Technology Vision: Every Business is a Digital Business
Thursday, September 26 – 12:30 p.m. EST
Each year, Accenture identifies the top emerging technology trends that hold the most potential to transform businesses over the next three to five years. With technology now intertwined with every aspect of business, the 2013 Accenture Technology Vision explains how digital efforts will be the key to innovation and expansion.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Looking Out for Women in Technology
As Clint Eastwood would say in one of his famous lines in a spaghetti western movie, it is all about “the good, the bad, and the ugly”. Please join former Vice President Global Information Technology and Business Services at Talisman Energy, Alexandra Federucci, over cocktails and explore her personal perspective as a woman in technology. This is a great opportunity to learn from Alexandra’s secrets of success, wisdom, and her unique experience as a leader and a woman in Calgary’s technology sector.
Entrepreneurs' Forum 21st Anniversary Annual Showcase
Entrepreneurs’ Forum 21st Anniversary NS Annual Showcase
Thursday, October 24th 2013
The Atrium at Innovacorp Enterprise Centre
Women in Technology: Leaders of Tomorrow
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As a national partner of Canadian Women in Technology, Accenture is pleased to invite CanWIT members to a live panel discussion on Women in Technology: Leaders of Tomorrow, a joint research study by Accenture and The Glass Hammer. Register now and watch via webcast on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 4PM CST. CanWIT National Presents: Investment Insight with Maple Leaf Angels Webinar Series
A CanWIT 40 Minute Webinar - Register today! Join CanWIT for this unique Fall webinar series with Maple Leaf Angels! This series was designed with CanWIT’s entrepreneurial membership base in mind and for those in Canada’s technology sector interested in the Angel investment process. Listen to Maple Leaf Angel investment experts Nancy Lala, Marnie Walker, and Julie McDowell, for guidance and informative discussion on all things Angel investment from the perfect pitch to evaluation.CanWIT and NBWICT Present the Fredericton Screening of She ++: Inspiring Women to Empower Computer Science
In partnership with New Brunswick Women in ICT (NBWICT), we will be screening the acclaimed documentary: SHE++: Inspiring Women to Empower Computer Science. Use this opportunity to open the eyes of a friend, neighbour, or daughter regarding the potential of a career in ICT. The Business Case for Women on Boards - Now Available
The Federal-Provincial-Territorial Status of Women Forum hosted a Knowledge Exchange on Women on Boards in March 2013. Since then, they have worked with The Conference Board of Canada to produce a booklet that presents the business case for increasing women’s representation on corporate boards. The Business Case for Women on Boards presents evidence of the benefits of having more women on boards. It also includes evidence-based strategies and best practices to help companies achieve increased representation. The Business Case for Women on Boards is available on the Ontario Women’s Directorate’s website or The Conference Board of Canada’s website. The Power of Women in Technology
CanWIT and Maple Leaf Angels (MLA) present investment opportunities for women-led early stage technology companies For the second year in a row, CanWIT and Maple Leaf Angels are partnering to highlight the importance of encouraging more female-led technology companies and the participation of more female angel investors in technology investment. We are looking to bring together the largest number of female angel investors that has ever attended an investment presentation of an angel investor group in Canada. We'll hear a pitch from an exciting early-stage woman-led tech company that is at, or close to, the point of commercialization. CanWIT Announces 2013-2014 National Advisory Council
CanWIT Announces 2013-2014 National Advisory Council Two new members elected and Vice Chair appointment OTTAWA - CanWIT is delighted to announce the election of Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste and Heather O’Hara Levesque to the CanWIT Advisory Council (CAC), as well as the appointment of Nicole Whittle to the position of Vice Chair, CanWIT. Members of the CAC play a crucial role in accelerating CanWIT's National programs and steering organizational direction and growth strategies under CanWIT’s mission and mandate. CanWIT Calgary June 25th Event - CANCELLED
JUNE 25 LUNCH EVENT CANCELLED The lunch event planned for Tuesday, June 25th this coming week has been cancelled due to the devasting situation in Calgary. It was announced on Friday that downtown Calgary is not expected to be accessible until mid-week. On behalf of CanWIT National, we send our warmest thoughts out to our CanWIT Calgary family and to all of those impacted by the flooding. Kindest regards, Emily Boucher Emily Boucher Tech Women Canada 2013 Blog: My Week at Startup Bootcamp in Silicon Valley
By Kristin Garn If you were the founder of an early stage Canadian technology company, where would you look for the best advice to help you develop your business? Given access to executives at Twitter, you could get advice on user acquisition and maybe even insider tips on their upcoming advertising platform. And who better than Facebook for the most current digital marketing behaviour? Another dream advisor, Google, might suggest best practices regarding talent recruitment and retention. The opportunity to tap into this level of expertise would be considered a “dream team” of support for executive coaching. Congratulations to Sarah Sajedi - 2013 Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Winner
OTTAWA -- The 2013 CATAAlliance Award Winners were announced the evening of May 29th at a sold out Gala Dinner featuring a keynote address from Peter Aceto, CEO, ING Direct Canada. Keeping-up with the theme of the Gala, Leadership for the 21st Century, and following the guidance of Peter "the Social CEO" Aceto, the winners were announced via Twitter. For nearly three decades, the CATAAlliance Innovation Awards Gala has been celebrating the best in Canadian advanced technology from coast to coast and this year certainly did not disappoint! Are you looking for a career that offers you greater opportunity, greater challenge and greater satisfaction
 Are you looking for a career that offers you greater opportunity, greater challenge and greater satisfaction? Bring your talent to Accenture, a global leader in systems integration and technology services and national gold partner of Canadian Women in Technology. Learn more and apply now We are hiring experienced technology professionals to join our growing team in Canada. From SAP consultants to Java developers to IT strategy executives, we have a range of exciting career opportunities across the country. CanWIT and the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) Join Forces to Promote the Advancement of Women in Tech
CanWIT and WXN to offer reciprocal discounted membership fees to encourage women in senior level positions within Canada’s tech sector OTTAWA – CanWIT is excited to announce a new partnership with the Women’s Executive Network (WXN). WXN’s mission to inspire smart women to lead supports CanWIT’s own mandate to promote the advancement of women within Canada’s advanced technology sector. CanWIT is pleased to offer WXN members an annual partner membership rate of $75, and, in turn, WXN is providing CanWIT members with a special offer of a one-time $100 administrative fee. Tech Women Canada 2013 – Canadian Women Leaning and Leading in Silicon Valley
As the Executive Director of CanWIT, I was thrilled to be chosen as one of 21 women in Canada’s tech sector to participate in Tech Women Canada 2013. This is the second year that the Canadian Consulate has initiated this program to bring Canadian women technology entrepreneurs and leaders to Silicon Valley to make connections and learn from those working in the world’s leading tech-mecca. The aim of the program is to expose Canadian women to the impact and high growth culture of the Valley, which they can then use to enhance the growth of their technology companies (Canadian Consulate – San Francisco, 2013). For myself and others in the group, this was the opportunity of a lifetime to talk to our Silicon Valley peers and mentors about the challenges/opportunities we have leading tech companies and organizations North of the border. CanWIT Annual General Meeting - June 3rd (Toronto)
CanWIT is hosting its Annual General Meeting alongside the i-CANADA Summit at George Brown College on June 3rd.Register today!(CanWIT Promo Code: CanWIT8936) *Please note that there is no fee to attend The AGM is a great opportunity to join your peers to discuss CanWIT’s significant growth this year and to provide input on both current and future strategic goals for our organization going forward. We will begin the formal portion of the AGM with a financial review and strategic overview. Following the formal portion of the AGM, we will be showing a screening of “She ++,” an insightful documentary from Stanford University on the importance of encouraging women to join the technology sector. Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste, COO and co-Founder of ScholarLab will provide her feedback on the screening and also delve into the important subject of encouraging new immigrant women, in particular, into Canada’s tech sector. Join us for interactive and informative discussion! TELUS President & Chief Executive Office, Darren Entwistle Speaks Out: Innovation & Mentorship
The importance of innovation and mentorship to creating Canada's competitive innovation nationPlease take five minutes to view the video of TELUS President & CEO, Darren Entwistle, who was interviewed recently by Hart Hillman, CATA National Leadership Council member, on the importance of innovation and mentorship to creating Canada's competitive innovation nation. She++: A Documentary and Discussion About Women in Tech
As technology is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, all demographics must harness new ideas to transform and empower technology. This short documentary collects research and inspirational pieces of Silicon Valley's unsung heroes to galvanize us to explore the potential of 'femgineers' in changing the ratio of women's involvement in computer science. Emily Boucher, Executive Director of Canadian Women in Technology, and Rachel Aaron, Halifax Chapter Lead of Ladies Learning Code, will also chair a discussion about the work they are doing around Women in Technology and challenges faced. Dr. Catherine Boivie Nominated for 2013 YWCA Metro Vancouver Women of Distinction Award!
YWCA METRO VANCOUVER ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2013 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARDS YWCA Metro Vancouver announced 83 extraordinary nominees for its 30th annual Women of Distinction Awards earlier today.
Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Apply Today!
5 days left to apply – deadline has been extended to April 19th at 11:59 p.m. EST The Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is presented to the woman who has shown the most outstanding technological innovation and corporate leadership -- leadership that has significantly expanded the frontiers of Canada's advanced technology industry. The purpose of the Award is to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and create positive role models for women in Canada’s technology sector. The Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is presented annually by CanWIT, a Division of CATAAlliance, to the woman who has demonstrated consistent innovation and leadership skills, resulting in the creation and international acceptance of significant world-class products and/or services. CanWIT Calgary Chapter: What’s next? Join us on Thursday, April 25th
Thank You! Over 50 women participated in the launch event of the CanWIT Chapter at the Calgary Petroleum Club on Feb. 27th with Keynote Speaker Michelle Sklar, President of Digital Alberta. If you missed the event, Sklar provided entertaining and engaging insight on her own experiences within the tech sector. She highlighted the particularly creative aspect of the industry and the benefits of entrepreneurship. Mentorship Matters Montreal – Roundtable Discussion for Women in Technology and Engineering
Mentorship Matters Montreal – Roundtable Discussion for Women in Technology and Engineering Register today! Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT) and McGill University’s ‘Promoting Opportunities for Women in Engineering’ (POWE) have partnered to co-host “Mentorship Matters Montreal!” Join this unique mentoring roundtable session for female engineering and technology students and young professionals to receive advice and address their main concerns as women in the work force. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about CanWIT and POWE! An invitation to a conversation about Women in the HRM technology workforce
Did you know... Women make up only 19% of the technology workforce in Nova Scotia? And in most areas, women’s participation rate is less than 10%? What's your story? What attracted you to this sector? How did you find a job? What keeps you working in technology? What are your ideas? How can more women be encouraged to enter these fields? What is important for women to get and keep jobs in the sector? Backbone Magazine Names CanWIT and CATAAlliance Best 10 in Tech Associations: CATAAlliance also to be featured in European International Innovation Magazine
Ottawa, March 7, 2013 - Backbone Magazine has named CanWIT, a Division of CATAAlliance, and CATAAlliance as two of the Best 10 in Canadian Tech Associations. The recognition was part of Backbone200’s issue that features organizations, people, events and products that stand out, that contribute to Canada’s competitiveness and economic strengths. “We are honoured to receive this all star recognition and ranking from one of Canada’s leading technology Magazines,” said CATA CEO, John Reid, noting, “it's a validation of the new business model the CATA team has developed to advance advocacy and provide member services. It is also a much deserved recognition of community executives who have freely given their time and expertise to help advance programs to improve Canada’s status as a competitive innovation nation.” Join CanWIT BC's Group Mastermind Mentoring Circle 2013
A 6-session program led by a facilitator which leverages the energy, experience and collective wisdom of the group to achieve each member's personal and professional goals. How is it different from other types of Mentoring? The balance of insights from your fellow participants and the facilitator provides you with comprehensive feedback and support. In addition, the group becomes a valuable peer network from whose experiences you can learn and draw from well beyond the duration of the program. The Road Taken: Women in Technology & Paths to Success
 As a CanWIT national partner, Accenture is pleased to invite you to a live webcast on International Women's Day, March 8, 2013 from 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. ET. Join us for what promises to be an exciting online virtual discussion with six inspiring business women. Our panelists will discuss what brought them to technology, the barriers they've faced, the people who supported them, and their views on how success can be defined—and redefined—over the course of a career. Mentorship Matters Webinar – Making the Most of your eMentorship Experience with CanWIT
Share. Guide. Inspire. A CanWIT 30 minute Webinar Monday, March 4th at 1:00 p.m. EST. You are invited to participate in this informative and interactive webinar session on CanWIT’s National eMentorship Program. Join CanWIT’s Community Manager, Colleen Fraser, and guest speaker and program Mentor, Heather O’Hara Levesque, to learn how to leverage CanWIT’s unique eMentoring platform to maximize your mentoring experience. This is a great opportunity to gain insight from successful mentoring matches and best practices observed from the program to date! Springboard Enterprise's 'The Dolphin Tank' - Perfect the Art of the 'Pitch'
  Join CanWIT and the Centre for Women in Business for Springboard Enterprise' 'The Dolphin Tank's' Canadian début Jan. 31st in Halifax!  CanWIT and the Centre for Women in Business have partnered to bring Springboard Enterprise's "The Dolphin Tank" to Canada for the very first time! CanWIT CEO, Dr. Catherine Aczel Boivie, Reports Live from CES
Will a retired CIO survive CES? Step 1: Registration Attending the Consumer Electronics Show- am I crazy or what? That is the question I have been asking myself. With over 150,000 attendees expected and (according to the organizers) over 3,000 vendors, will I survive?
Let me introduce myself. I have been a CIO for the past 25 years, took early retirement to do more board work and to help organizations I feel passionate about. Beside being the founding president of the CIO Association of Canada and the CEO and Chair of Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT), I’m also Executive In Residence at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, in Vancouver. I’m on various boards such as ICBC, REBGV, CGA Canada. I also write articles such as “The CIO and the Board: Friend, Foe or Missing in Action.”
The Canadian Security Partners’ Forum Presents the 2nd Annual Women in Security Lecture Series
On February 7, 2013 the Canadian Security Partners' Forum in collaboration with ASIS Women in Security Council, KeyWIS - Key Women in Security, Women in Security Ontario (WIS(O)), and CanWIT - Canadian Women in Technology present the 2nd Annual Women in Security Lecture Series in Ottawa at the Hampton Inn & Conference Centre located at 200 Coventry Road (Vanier Parkway Exit on Highway 417). Last year's event brought out more than 300 to the SOLD OUT Inaugural event and we are expecting equal to greater numbers this year so be sure to get your ticket before we sell out. Event includes Dinner and lots of free parking (including underground parking) CanWIT National Fall/Early Winter Newsletter
Season's Greetings Canadian Women in Technology! We've had one busy and transformational Fall! As the air gets colder and we prepare for the winter season and a New Year full of new possibilities, we wanted to provide our members and partners with an overview of the growth and expansion our organization has undergone over a period of just a few months! As you may know, CanWIT has expanded both its mandate and member benefits to ensure its sustainability and to better serve our members. Over the summer we welcomed Dr. Catherine Aczel Boivie [view bio] as our new CEO and Chair, as well as an incredibly talented Advisory Council. This Fall, we also welcomed three new Chapter Chairs to the CanWIT family, including: Sheila Eddin [view bio], new Chapter Chair for BC Vancouver, as well as Nastaran Bisheban [view bio] and Kathy Alexander [view bio], co-Chairs of the new Waterloo Region Chapter! It's nearly been a year since we first launched our National eMentorship program. With this milestone, we're now sharing the success stories of the year-long mentoring relationships between some of our mentors and mentees. We now need to take our initial success to the next level. We need to continue to build up our team of mentors and mentees. Check out this short video on Why Mentorship Matters! Sign-up today as a mentor or mentee at canwit.workingrooms.com! Supporting investment in women-led startups by Alexandra Reid, Francis Moran and Associates
Maple Leaf Angels is working with Canadian Women in Technology to create investment opportunities between angels and women-led startup companies. More than 60 angel investors, entrepreneurs, partners and sponsors filled a room in Toronto last week to hear about why such investments are vital for Canada and to listen to pitches from some high-potential early-stage technology companies led by women. In her speech, Dr. Cindy Gordon, a startup founder and former VC who also co-founded MLA, directed the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance and chaired CanWit, brought some valuable context to the conversation. “In order for us to really be successful in supporting women in technology, we have to recognize that we have some fundamental issues that are catastrophic to this country,” said Dr. Gordon. “This is not a women’s issue. It’s a business imperative.” The Power of Women in Technology
Opportunities for Angel InvestmentJoin Us November 19th, 2012 4pm-7pm
CanWIT National ‘Ask the Expert’ Webinar on the CIO Profile - Recording and Presentation Now Available!
CIO Profile with Susan Doniz, CIO, AIMIA: How to make a successful career as a CIO (and what every Business Leader needs to know about IT)!What does it take to become a CIO in today's fast-paced IT world? Listen to CanWIT’s ‘Ask the Expert‘ host, Anne Raymond, Productivity Coach and Leadership Mentor at Xtreme Productivity.com, as she moderates this insightful and interactive session with special guest, Susan Doniz, CIO, AIMIA. Susan shares her journey and provides insight into what it takes to create a successful career as a CIO. You will learn about her career that has taken her around the globe and some of the business drivers in the IT world (and how to leverage them to transform your business). She'll also share her success tips on networking, work-life balance, and what it takes to lead in a global world. Whether you are on the path to becoming a CIO or you want to work smarter as a leader with your IT group, enjoy the conversation and find out more! CanWIT Waterloo Region Chapter Launch Event
Celebrating Women in Technology Join CanWIT in celebrating women in technology at the Waterloo Region Chapter 2012 Launch event. Sign-up for Canada's Mentorship Challenge by Oct.30th
In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov 12-18, 2012) and to showcase the value of mentorship in fuelling Canadian entrepreneurship, Startup Canada in partnership with CYBF and CATAAlliance, is delighted to invite your organization to participate in the Canadian Mentorship Challenge - a nation-wide effort to collectively mentor more than 10,000 enterprising Canadians over the week. CanWIT Advisory Council (CAC) - All-star Members of New Women in Tech Advisory Council Announced
CanWIT Advisory Council The National CanWIT Advisory Council (CAC) plays a crucial role in accelerating CanWIT's programs and steering organizational direction and growth strategies under our important mandate to support the advancement of women in Canada's advanced technology sector. Their industry knowledge, expertise, and leadership will be invaluable as CanWIT continues to grow. I am looking forward to working closely with each of these women as we implement our new strategic direction. CanWIT broadened its mandate in 2012 to offer new opportunities for its membership base and to increase strategic partnerships across North America. Partnerships with U.S.-based Springboard Enterprises, The Women's Executive Network, and Startup Canada also assist the CAC in fostering CanWIT's commitment to mentorship and entrepreneurship for women-led tech companies. Executive Operations Team CEO and Chair - Dr. Catherine Boivie "CanWIT provides us with a hub to reach out to thousands of women tech executives across Canada and to engage the community. The active support of CanWIT's Council leaders enables us to expand our capabilities as an organization, and provide resources to help advance careers and for women to impact the competitive success of the high tech industry. I am very proud to be associated with such a forward looking initiative," says Nicole Whittle, Vice Chair, CanWIT. -30-
About CanWIT, a Division of CATAAllianceCanadian Women in Technology (CanWIT, a division of CATAAlliance) is a national volunteer organization with the aim of: 1) encouraging young women to consider a career in a technology field, 2) help accelerate, retain, and support the careers of women already in the field, and 3) through its partnership with Springboard Enterprises offer a premier platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to meet and build great women-led technology-based businesses.
Canadian Women in Technology Receives Over 35 Applicants for New Advisory Council
Top women leaders help lead Mentorship, Entrepreneurship, Career Development, and Advocacy initiatives for an expanded CanWIT organizationOTTAWA - CanWIT, a Division of CATAAlliance, will be announcing the members of its new CanWIT Advisory Council (CAC) next week. With over 35 incredibly qualified and talented applicants, the nominating committee will select 9 – 12 entrepreneurs, industry and academic leaders, and students. All applicants also have the opportunity to participate on CanWIT’s Mentorship Committee and as Community Leaders in their regions. This new and more diversified operating model will evolve our stakeholder representation to meet the needs of women in our Advanced Technology Sector. Swimming in The Dolphin Tank - A New York Experience
CanWIT's Introduction to the Dolphin TankFrom the desk of Emily Boucher - Executive Director, CanWIT I had the privilege of visiting New York City the past two days to attend Springboard Enterprises' trade mark event, The Dolphin Tank. While it's exciting enough to be in the city of all cities, the Dolphin Tank event exceeded all of my already high expectations. I think it's generally a good sign to come out of an event and walk down 5th Ave. with such optimism that you don't even bother to notice the Louis Vuitton and Cartier boutiques on either side of you. So, if you haven't heard of Springboard Enterprises or this event and you're a budding entrepreneur, do yourself a favor and check it out. In the meantime, here's the low-down: the Dolphin Tank is a unique and incredibly positive approach to a Dragon's Den-esque style program for women-led businesses to access funding opportunities and investment advice. The majority of women involved in today's Dolphin Tank led technology/digital media businesses. CanWIT Excited to Expand Mandate - New Member Benefits and Advisory Council
July 20, 2012 CanWIT is pleased to expand its services and mandate to its members. After seven years of successfully providing support to women in technology, CanWIT is broadening its mandate to offer new opportunities for its membership base and increasing our strategic partnerships across North America. Please take this opportunity to view our new membership benefits. We always want to know how we can improve our services and programs to better serve those we support, so please feel free to contact Dr. Catherine Boivie, CanWIT's new CEO and Chair, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Emily Boucher, Executive Director of CanWIT at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please send us your ideas and feedback! Small Business Showcase for CanWIT: Interested in having your company featured?
Attn: Women in Technology Community Executives Re: Small Business Showcase: Profile Opportunity Dear Members As a Division of CATAAlliance, CanWIT regularly alerts our community to programs, initiatives and resources that support the growth of advanced technology enterprises and innovation leadership in Canada. To this end, I encourage women led businesses to look at the benefits of participating in the Intel/CATA Small Business Showcase. One of the goals of the Showcase is to profile SME's (Small to Mid-sized enterprises) in Canada that exemplify the smart use of technology, overcomes business growth obstacles with innovative approaches, and successfully adopt technology to improve their competitiveness. CanWIT Advisory Council - Call for Nominations
July 6, 2012 Dr. Catherine Aczel Boivie, CEO and Chair of CanWIT (Founding President of the CIO Association of Canada and recently retired CEO of Inventure Solutions and SVP of Information Technology at Vancity) invites nominations from women leaders in technology related roles to serve as members of the newly created CanWIT Advisory Council (CAC).The CAC serves as a governing body to provide guidance and advice in relation to the implementation and operation of CanWIT's mandate to support women in Canada's technology sector, and also offers a community network to assess needs, trends, and achievements. CanWIT National Spring Newsletter
June 5, 2012 Welcome to our 2012 Spring newsletter! We'd like to begin with a huge congratulations to three wonderful CanWIT women who were honoured this year for their achievements! Our BC Chapter co-chair, Joanne Hausch, was recently honoured with a Peak Award in the category of Community Legacy for her dedication to her community, including her work with CanWIT. Two members of the BC Chapter, Valerie Mann, a Partner at Lawson Lundell LLP, and Catherine Aczel Boivie, CEO, Inventure Solutions, and Senior Vice-President, Information Technology, Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, were both recognized as two of Canada's Top 100 Influential Women. Congratulations to Joanne, Val, and Catherine! The Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is presented to the woman who has shown the most outstanding technological innovation and corporate leadership -- leadership that has significantly expanded the frontiers of Canada's advanced technology industry. The purpose of the Award is to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and create positive role models for women. Sara Kirke is considered by many to be North America's first entrepreneur. Sara Kirke arrived in Newfoundland in 1638 with her husband David Kirke, who was soon recalled to England. Sara, however, continued to reside in Avalon, and conducted business as usual from the Pool Plantation. Lady Kirke was a remarkable individual as she managed affairs at the Pool Plantation and became one of the most successful merchants on the English Shore -- and was almost certainly North America's first and foremost woman entrepreneur. CanWIT Launches Unique National On-line eMentorship Program
December 7th, 2011 (OTTAWA) – Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT) launched Canada’s first national on-line eMentorship program for young women technology professionals today. The program encourages young women to consider careers in technology and supports those entering the workforce with advice, resources and direct access to leaders in the field. “Women make up nearly half of the Canadian workforce, yet only a quarter of the advanced technology sector. Our sector’s ability to retain talented women is significantly low,” said Joanne Stanley, Co-founder and Executive Director, CanWIT. “We want to drastically improve those statistics with programs that support the advancement of women in technology.”
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