AMTA and Trucking HR Canada present fifth annual Western Women With Drive

Alberta Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney was among the speakers at the fifth annual Western Women With Drive, presented virtually by AMTA and Trucking HR Canada, on
October 29, 2021.

Sawhney, Alberta’s first woman Transportation Minister, said her years in oil and gas meant a lot of transferrable skills into her current role in politics. Minister Sawhney had three key discussion points: the impact on women as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruption, and leadership in the sector.

“Women have often worked a double shift, meaning that you’re maintaining your household and taking care of children and you’re also pursuing your careers and being very busy in the workplace,” said Minister Sawhney.

She added a triple shift created by the pandemic – including online schooling and dealing with childcare – had a significant impact on women’s psyches and mental health.

“We know that the government has to do some concerted work, and effort to make sure that women are supported as we navigate through the remainder of this pandemic and get into the endemic,” said Sawhney.

On the topic of supply chain disruption, the Minister recognized what the commercial transportation industry went through in the early days of the pandemic and acknowledged it was “a very difficult time.”

“We also know we are experiencing a significant labour shortage right now, even as we speak,” said Sawhney. “That is a very serious issue and I assure you its something that I’m looking
at within government.”

The Minister closed with some thoughts on leadership: “Make sure you open doors for others behind you so they can get in.”

The conference panel The Sweatpants Chronicles: How Working From Home Changed the Face of Employment in Alberta was emceed by Trucking HR Canada CEO Angela Splinter and included AMTA Executive Director Kimberley Burfoot, Rosenau Transport Human Resources Manager Kandyce Umbach, and WCB-Alberta Industry Specialist Deborah Nilsen.

Kandyce Umbach spoke to managing employees in the early days of the pandemic. “Our emergency response plan was key to our success in rolling out a human element, a touch point every single day,” said Kandyce. “Not just our toolbox talks, [but] right on the frontline talking about mental wellness, [and] making sure we have a fit for duty that included mental awareness at the management level and our entire organization.”

Kimberley Burfoot delved into maintaining employee engagement in a work from home environment, explaining mental health was and continues to be challenging, not only for AMTA but much of the province and beyond. She also discussed the importance of leading by example.

“As leaders we needed to set [an] example by talking about tour own experiences. We found and communicated low-cost options for people to receive mental health care safely at home using their benefit plans, and we made sure to reach out to every employee regularly to check-in,” said Kimberley.

Deborah Nilsen outlined the many documents WCB has available for employees including mental health resources and touched on the mental health continuum chart with colours ranging from green (happy) to yellow, orange and red.

“You don’t need to get into all the nitty gritty details, just say ‘I’m orange’ and my response is going to be ‘how can I help you?’” said Deborah.

The momentum of the event will continue with three Western Women With Drive Hits the Road events scheduled in 2022: February 17 in Calgary, AB; May 19 in Grande Prairie, AB; and August 18 in Lethbridge, AB. The Hits the Road events are an opportunity for industry professionals to network in an evening setting while enjoying entertainment and industry-related presentations.