About a dozen 'tech' students from St. Clair College travelled up the 401 to partake in the Celebration of Women in Computing Conference (CWIC) in Toronto.
The event, hosted at York University on Oct. 25 and 26, was an opportunity for women in computing to interact, learn, share experiences, and provide mentorship.
One of the keynote speakers at the conference, Susan White, the chief information officer at BMO, said 30 years ago she took her first computer course, she was the only woman in the class.
In 2018, White oversaw hiring some high school co-op students. She said of 500 resumes she received, she only received seven from women. She ended up hiring one of those women, and she asked her how many other women were in her class, and she replied, 'Just me.'
The overall message of the conference was "we can do better."
"It was a wonderful event, inspiring female students to know that they belong in tech fields, and they can thrive," said Nicole Rourke, a professor and program coordinator in the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration Information Communication Technology (BBA-ICT) program.
"This inspirational event showcases the success and opportunities for females in the tech industry," Rourke said. "Students are exposed to a variety of successful women in technological fields and are able to meet with recruiters seeking new graduates in the industry."
The event, which has been held since 2011, brings together leaders in research, education, and industry from across Canada to foster inspiration through stories from women "who have been there and done that, and how they succeeded."
Students who went along for the trip were exposed to many networking opportunities with like-minded women in the field.
"The CWIC Conference was an incredibly inspiring and motivating experience, filled with insightful speakers who shared valuable perspectives on the industry," said Sanah El-Haddah, who is studying in Honours Bachelor of Business Administration Information Communication Technology (BBA-ICT) program. "It was a fantastic opportunity to network with professionals and peers and to gain new connections that will shape my future career path."