CLRA congratulates NAIT’s recent honorary Bachelor of Technology in Management recipient Carol Moen. Considered to be NAIT’s highest form of recognition, honorary degrees are awarded to those who have made exceptional contributions to their field, community, or society through a lifetime of service and a commitment to bettering the world. Carol is a prime example of someone who has done so in Alberta’s construction sphere.
She spent decades building her engineering career in leadership positions with Dow Canada, followed by making history as the first female Registrar of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Two years after retirement, she found herself drawn back to the workforce – this time, as President and CEO for Women Building Futures (WBF), a non-profit dedicated to helping women achieve economic prosperity through trades training and mentorship.
Over the next six years, Carol was instrumental to the growth and accomplishments of WBF. More than 1,000 women graduated from its programs during her tenure, gaining the support, technical expertise, and confidence they needed to enter careers in construction and other traditionally male-dominated industries. In 2023-24 alone, 284 women completed programming – the most in the organization’s history – and WBF continues to see a 95% completion rate to this day.
Carol’s story – and those of her clients – are part of a much larger conversation Alberta urgently needs to keep alive. As baby boomers retire in record numbers, the province continues to grapple with a growing labour shortage, especially in the trades. Between 2018 and 2023, trades-related job postings in Alberta rose by 85%, and the demand shows no signs of slowing. If we’re going to meet that demand and keep Alberta building, we can’t afford to overlook half the population. Currently, women represent only 5% of workers in the most in-demand skilled trades.
CLRA has, and will continue, to support efforts to expand access to lasting, rewarding trades careers for women and gender-diverse individuals. By mobilizing an underrepresented workforce, WBF is offering a tangible solution to the labour challenges facing the construction sector.
Read more about Carol here.
