Women in IT - photo credit: Dreamstime Mike Ngo

By Jerran Fisher/LethbridgeNewsNow

Alberta investing in women’s success in IT

Feb 22, 2022 | 10:26 AM

Calgary – The Alberta government is investing $1.9 million to support development training for women in the information technology field.

Momentum Community Economic Development Society received a two-year Research and Innovation Grant to create a new education program to help women enter the field of IT.

The information technology sector is growing in Canada, yet women hold only 26 per cent of tech jobs around the country.

Donna McBride, director of operations at Momentum said, “This grant allows Momentum to offer a program that removes barriers many unemployed and underemployed women face as they dream of building a career in tech, a dream where having your head in ‘the cloud’ is an asset.”

Momentum will be working with Amazon Web Services, re/START program to provide the curriculum, labs and a learning management system.

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Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of advanced education said, “We are pleased to partner with Momentum on this exciting program to help more women advance their skills in the information technology sector. The skills demands of employers are rapidly changing, and our government is committed to ensuring Albertans are equipped with the skills they need for the future. This investment is key to Alberta’s economic recovery and the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy.”

Whitney Issik, associate minister of status of women said, “For Alberta’s tech industry to flourish, women and girls need to help write the next great chapter, code and formula in our provinces’ story. Through this partnership with Momentum, Alberta’s government is helping women build fulfilling, high-paying careers in the technology sector.”

Momentum is working with Chic Geek, a mentoring organization that focuses on building gender diversity in IT, to help remove barriers in the industry.

This program is part of Alberta’s 2030: Building Skills for Jobs initiative, which focuses on developing highly skilled and competitive workers.