OTTAWA – At the Women in Communications and Technology Awards held in Ottawa Monday night, CRTC vice-chair broadcasting Caroline Simard announced that the Commission is organizing a Women in Production event this fall.
CRTC chair Ian Scott introduced Simard, saying: “The industry’s potential will only be fully realized when women – half the country’s population – are in key creative and decision-making positions. And yet, women continue to face systemic barriers to career advancement in this industry. The problem has been well defined by studies over the years but unfortunately, the metrics are not changing. It is long past time we do something about it.”
In her brief speech at Monday’s event (we announced the winners here last month), Simard told the gathering the “lack of gender diversity in influential positions does not only affect women; it affects the entire industry. So it's without surprise that it will require the collective efforts of all of us – women and men – to address.
“We are currently working with public and private-sector partners, including Status of Women Canada, to organize a Women in Production event later this fall. This closed-door event will bring senior industry executives together for a frank discussion about how we can create real change,” she said.
“We need to have decision makers around the table who can agree on measurable results and to hash out the practical actions needed to reach those results.”
