Celebrating 10 years of Women in Wood

On October 18, more than 120 women gathered at Fleming College to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Women in Wood. With support from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, attendees enjoyed a full day of panels, workshops, networking, and reflection, bringing together women from across Ontario and beyond.

When we launched Women in Wood over a decade ago, we never imagined it would grow into the vibrant community it is today. This milestone event underscored just how meaningful it is to create space to celebrate women in the forest sector—and to inspire the next generation. Many participants were early in their careers, eager to connect with other women, build new skills, and gather advice on how to navigate their next steps.

The day started with a thoughtful panel where women shared their experiences in the sector. Followed by workshops where women explored hands‑on learning and professional development. Some picked up a chainsaw with confidence for the first time. Others refined their elevator pitches, learned strategies for public relations, or took part in tree‑climbing and seed‑collection workshops. Many tried their hand at crafting or discovered forest foods. We are deeply grateful to every workshop leader who dedicated their time to sharing knowledge and empowering others.

Below are some of our favourite snapshots from this memorable day. Special thanks goes out to our event coordinator for the day - Melany Burant - who was working hard behind the scenes to bring it all together.