Replay: International Women’s Day Panel: Women Reshaping Alberta’s Trades & Transportation

Published On: March 5, 2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us live!

Our International Women’s Day panel delivered a fast‑paced, insight‑rich conversation about what changes on Alberta job sites and in hiring when more women step into the skilled trades and transportation sectors.

Moderator: Carla Madra, CEO, Women Building Futures

Panelists:

Cortney Smith — Director of Talent Acquisition, Jardeg
Morgan Garnett — Community & Indigenous Engagement Program Manager, Finning
Lara Kirby — Journeyperson Heavy Equipment Technician, WBF Graduate
Lena Jenkins — Red Seal Carpenter & WBF Instructor

From job‑site culture shifts to hiring that sticks, mentorship that matters, and small operational changes with outsized impact; the conversation offered practical takeaways for employers and inspiration for anyone considering a career in the trades.

🎥 Watch the full recording below (and feel free to share with your teams and networks):

What you’ll hear in the first 10 minutes

How real crews are adapting tools, scheduling, and onboarding to support retention.
Why “little” changes like PPE fit and task planning, improve safety and productivity.
Where training pipelines are strong, and where bottlenecks remain.

Why this matters

As more women enter the trades and transportation, inclusive practices aren’t just “nice to have” they’re a competitive advantage for safety, productivity, and long‑term workforce sustainability.

If this discussion resonates with you, please watch and share the replay, and consider supporting Women Building Futures as we equip more women with the skills, confidence, and support to succeed in these high‑demand careers.

Learn more about our programs and how to get involved:

Ways to Support

Special thanks!

Thank you to our partners at Jardeg and Finning for contributing to this important conversation, and to our WBF community, alumni, and instructors who make this work possible.