b'our industry, that I will not be the last, Nadeau emphasizes. Also, looking across general leadership, I see that Im in great companywe have a female lieutenant governor, we have a female premier, we have a female president of the Canadian Construction Association and we have a female chair of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. This tells me that the timing is obviously perfect!WCA has been supporting the advancement of women in construction for years, both with female representation on the board and with the formation of Manitoba Women in Construction (MWC) in 2014. With Nadeau now sitting as association chair, WCA takes that extra step in furthering the progression of women in a male-dominated industry.Being the first female at something THE FACE OF CHANGE always adds a bit more responsibility to the role and unintentionally serves a bigger purpose, Nadeau says. I believe that for WCA, having a female Ellowyn Nadeau takes a seat as the first femalein this important role represents chair of the Winnipeg Construction Association an acceptance of women in the construction industry and at any table. It represents an awareness of women, By Twila Driedger in the field and in the office, sharing a passion and enthusiasm for what the industry provides. Women are now truly When Ellowyn Nadeau was 15 years old,From there, Nadeau moved torepresented, and as an industry, we can instead of walking around the mall withprocurement at U of M and then on move into a new normal! These next friends, she was helping her dad buildto Dominion Construction as a two years will help advertise that women a cabin, a garage and a second storeyproject manager/project director.have opportunities and can achieve any on the family home. The daughter of aNadeaus latest career post is angoal in construction.mechanical engineering professor withinstructor in the Department of CivilIn addition to paving the way for the an aptitude for construction, NadeauEngineering Technology at Red Riverfuture of females on the association was fascinated with the complete College Polytech. executive, Nadeau has been advocating project lifecycle.Through it all, Nadeaus affinity forfor women in all positions across the I saw how a project goes from designconstruction hasnt wavered. In fact, herindustry as the past chair of MWC, a into construction and gets completedexperiences in the industry have evolvedprevious member of the Committee and occupiedhow the whole processinto a passion and a major part of herfor Increasing Participation of Women works from start to finish, she says. identity, which makes Nadeaus latestin Engineering and a member of position as the first female chair of thePEO International, a philanthropic Nadeau followed her interest inWCA Board of Directors, though notable,organization providing educational constructionand in her fathersnot entirely surprisingcertainly not toopportunities for women. Nadeau knows footsteps, obtaining an engineering15-year-old Nadeau. just how capable this underrepresented degree from the University of ManitobaI think it would surprise me a little, butgroup is in aiding the construction (U of M) before joining Wardropnot massively, Nadeau reflects. Ivelabour shortage and providing a Engineering Inc. as a junior engineer inalways been pretty determined. different perspective in the workforce, the mid-90s, where she first experiencedleading to more diverse andthe thrill of working on a commercialWhile Nadeau recognizes theinnovative solutions.construction site.significance of her role, and is more thanAs a founding member of theThere were very few engineers thatcapable for the assignment, she is takingMWC board, Nadeau has been were women at that time, Nadeauit all in stride. championing the advancement of explains. Fewer even that really enjoyedI may be the first female chair of WCA,women in construction and working going out to sites. but I know, looking at the board andhard with her fellow members to provide 32 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'