AD Canada’s Women in Industry Network launches platform to empower women across industries

Photo: AD Canada.

The 2021 Virtual AD Supplier Summit Industrial & Safety–Canada Division event saw the launch of a new initiative; the Women in Industry Network, aimed at “fostering the empowerment and development of women in underrepresented industries within AD Canada’s divisions.”

The event featured two panel discussions highlighting accomplished women from a variety of backgrounds within AD’s member and supplier ranks, including Marie-Claude Desrochers, President, Equipements Industriels Joliette; Cara Backman, Marketing Manager, Franklin Empire; Shelley Vallee-Ewing, District Sales Manager, Vista; Carol McGlogan, President and CEO, Electro-Federation Canada; Suzanne Jackson, Key Account Manager, 3M; Kelly Robertson, President, Safety Express; Mary-Anne Damerchie, Mortgage Agent, Synergy Mortgage Group; Zoey Taylor, Marketing Manager, Riverside Millwork Group; Caitlin Cocchi, Human Resources Manager, AD; and Haly Baran, Marketing Coordinator, AD Canada.

Topics ranged from the importance of mentorship and the secret to attaining work-life balance, to how partner organizations are incorporating diversity and inclusion in their corporate strategies.

“This network is significant for a number of reasons, but it is especially ground-breaking because it marks the first undertaking to span all three of our Canadian AD divisions, welcoming members, suppliers, staff, and board members from all backgrounds to unite to instigate meaningful change in an area that directly impacts each one of us,” said Rob Dewar, President of AD Canada. “For me personally, I am blessed to have two sons and a daughter. My goal is to make sure that no door is ever closed on my daughter due to the mere fact that she is female. I am confident that with the help of this group, we will see a day where that is our reality.”

The virtual kickoff session hosted dozens of men and women from AD member and supplier organizations as part of the summit.