Women's Law Forum co-chairs Emma Banfield (right) and Clare Gerein at the University of Alberta Students' Union Best Event of the Year Award Ceremony, October 27, 2017
A University of Alberta Faculty of Law women's group received the Best Event of the Year Award from the University of Alberta Students' Union on Oct. 27, 2017 for its speaker series featuring prominent women in the community.
Glass Ceilings, a three-part panel-style speaker series facilitated last year by UAlberta Law's Women's Law Forum, tackled barriers facing women in the workforce.
The group's efforts won them a $625 prize in acknowledgement of its positive contribution to campus life.
Kaitland Goulet, a 2L student, was involved in the speaker series last year. This year she is acting as chair for the committee.
The speaker series was especially important for Goulet because it gave people the opportunity to learn from trailblazers in the community who've worked to break down gender stereotypes.
"These women came in a time where they didn't quite have the same stance and footing that we have now, and are paving the way to make life a little bit easier for the newer generation," said Goulet
Some of the women who spoke on the three panels included the Hon. Avril Inglis, UAlberta Law alumna and justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta; Karen Hewitt, QC, a Crown Prosecutor with the Specialized Prosecutions Branch of Alberta Justice; and Shawna Hohendorff, Executive Director of Kindred House, a facility that provides a safe space for women in downtown Edmonton.
Goulet said although the environment is slowly changing, gender discrimination remains a problem.
"We want to raise awareness and move towards a bigger, better, equal world for everybody," she said.
The group aims to not only provide a more realistic picture of what women face once they graduate into the workforce but also offer support for women facing hostile work environments through events, socials, resources and classes. There's no cost to become a member.
"It's just going to take some time to change the old-school way of thinking," said Goulet.
The group hopes to continue facilitating events like Glass Ceilings, featuring high-profile female speakers.