Women-In-Tech to Celebrate Canada 150 with Nation-wide Event

Seven cities across Canada are bringing together 150 Canadian-based female tech investors, founders and entrepreneurs on July 5 to mark Canada’s 150th.

The events extend beyond celebrating the nation’s sesquincentennial by recognizing the growing group of women in technology and the ongoing importance of gender diversity.

An extension of a monthly gathering of female entrepreneurs in Toronto, WIT Wednesday is a collaboration between CVCA, BDC Capital and McRock Capital.

Whitney Rockley, co-founder and managing partner at McRock Capital and CVCA’s first female chair, is one of the women who conceptualized the WIT Wednesday Canada 150 edition. She says diversity is needed for company success and growth. 

“Companies perform best when they have cultural and gender diversity. It’s not just the right thing to do,” says Rockley, “The financial performance of the firms are far superior. Diversity spurs creativity and productivity. The more diverse, the better you perform.”

Rockley notes that men still hold 75 per cent of tech positions and nearly 90 per cent of tech executive positions.

“We’re not seeing as many women going into the technology sector and as many rising up through the ranks,” says Rockley.

McRock tracks gender and ethnic minority diversity stats in the Industrial IoT sector (IIoT). Approximately 17 per cent of all employees in IIoT companies are women with only about 20 per cent of women on management teams.

While there are a few high-profile female founders, Rockley says it’s not enough.

“We’re seeing more and more women step up within the tech industry, but a lot more needs to happen …. What I’d love to see is more women founders.”

Many notable women will be attending the events across Canada including Faktory Venture’s Founder Candice Faktor in Toronto and Alberta Enterprise CEO Kristina Williams in Calgary.

The events will be held from 5pm-7pm in each city’s local time zone.

Event locations and registration details:

Vancouver @ Yaletown Brewing Company Register Here
Calgary @ Saltlik Register Here
Edmonton @ Startup Edmonton Register Here
Winnipeg  @ Thompson Dorfman Sweatman Register Here
Toronto @ McRock Capital Register Here
Montreal @ Notman House Register Here
Halifax @ Volta Labs Register Here