We had a lot of younger team members on the Fairview
Container Terminal Expansion project as well. The leadership
and drive displayed by all members of the team were
the keys to overcoming the many challenges the project
presented, such as the difficult drilling conditions and the
weather in Prince Rupert. It was really great to see the team
come together to deliver a successful outcome.
Can you tell us what it was like being a female engineering
student back in the late 80’s? Have things changed much?
SC: I had a wonderful experience at Queen’s and never felt
discriminated against there. When I was at Queen’s, I recall
that the percentage of women in engineering was about
14 per cent. Today, this is only around 17 per cent and it’s
unclear to me why the number of women in construction,
whether in the trades or in the office, remains so low. The low
participation percentage is very evident when attending an
industry event and the number of women in attendance can
be counted on one hand. I would like to see this change.
It would be nice to see more female representation
throughout the industry. It will take true leadership from
the construction firms to ensure the environment is – at a
minimum – welcoming, respectful and safe, and right from
the beginning through training programs and throughout
careers. Recognizing the inherent value of greater diversity
and inclusion, as well as ensuring true equality in career
pathways, are all critically important elements that can pave
the way to greater female participation.
PERSONNEL
What are some challenges you’ve had to
overcome thus far in your career?
SC: Learning to balance family life with a busy job is a challenge
every day. Before I had children, I could just work all the time.
Now, I have to be more efficient. As a parent, I have to be there
for my kids – I want to be there for my kids. As a result, I have
learned how to manage my time better and try not to take on too
much myself. And, I am lucky to have a very supportive family.
Having this balance means a better life and it’s important
for everyone whether they are parents or not. Construction
can typically be difficult because of the long hours, but we
need to make sure that our workforce has time to be with
their families, whatever that family looks like. This is a challenge
with out of town projects as well.
What are your future plans for your career?
SC: While I would like to say I have a master plan for where I
am going, I certainly would not have predicted how my career
has gone to date. I am very lucky to have had the opportunities
I have up to now.
What do you think is the future of the piling industry?
SC: We are seeing a steady shift to alternate means of pile
installation including augering and bored shafts. Economics,
design optimization and noise mitigation are factors behind
this shift. An example of noise restrictions in urban areas is
a bylaw introduced in New Westminster this past summer
which limits the use of impact hammers.
Suspended wharf construction being performed by
Fraser River Pile & Dredge in 2016 at the Fairview
Phase 2 North Project in Prince Rupert, B.C.
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