With more women joining the ranks in residential construction, the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association (MHBA) has created a new council to ensure women have representation in the industry.
The Women in Residential Construction Council (WIRCC) champions the advancement, support and representation of women in residential construction throughout the province, promoting collaboration and initiatives that strengthen women’s success across the industry.
The MHBA held its first WIRCC official meeting in the spring of 2026, says WIRCC chair Tanya Maric, which had an overwhelmingly positive reception.
“There are a number of women in residential construction, so this was a great opportunity to officially make something just for us,” she says.
“We had about 60 women at our first event. I spoke with everyone that was there, and the most common feedback was that they were so glad we’re doing this and we have an opportunity to meet other women within our industry. There was definitely a lot of excitement.”
A council for women in construction has been a topic of conversation for some time, Maric says, with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association forming its first council for women in residential construction last year.
With a number of existing councils popping up at various locals across Canada, this gives councils a chance to learn from each other and put together a strategy.
“It’s really been a great opportunity to help all these existing committees and councils across Canada connect and learn from each other, exchange information — and then, from a national perspective, create a path forward for the Women in Residential Construction portion to grow,” Maric says. “We were able to take that information, such as some of the events they were doing and best practices, and use that to start our own local association.”
One of the top priorities of the WIRCC right now is getting the word out about the council and the networking opportunities it aims to create for women in the industry.
“There has been a steady growth of women in residential construction specifically, so it’s important to have that opportunity to meet with like-minded individuals in our field,” Maric says.
“A lot of us have similar struggles, like balancing our kids and taking care of a home — all those things that are still very traditional in the sense that women tend to take the lead on — and then still have these great careers and full-time jobs. So it’s an opportunity for us to be able to learn from each other, to connect.”
The next step will be focusing on learning opportunities, specifically driven toward women, from motivational speaking to sessions focusing on career growth.
“There’s always an educational component to the MHBA’s Housing Forum that is put on in November,” Maric says. “We’re looking at having some educational sessions that are directly geared towards women — as well as for men who have a lot of women that work with them so they can make sure they’re doing the right things in terms of retention and keeping women in the industry.”
Recruiting and retention have also been topics coming up more and more frequently, she adds.
“Trade shortage in general is an area that I would say all sectors are trying to focus on. There’s a lot of aging out at this point. So whether it be male or female, recruitment is definitely a topic across construction, across the board,” she says.
“But there’s some great opportunities for women in all areas of construction. There’s really a focus on getting more women into these fields.”
The MHBA has been around a long time, Maric says, adding it’s great to see the “old boys club” mentality shift away.
“I’m a second-generation business owner. My father was part of that initial MHBA generation, so it’s great to be able to see women taking charge and creating their own pathway. I really hope that the WIRCC can help them do that, to take charge and ownership of their careers,” she says. “We definitely have a lot to offer.”
With the support of the MHBA, Maric says she’s excited to see what the WIRCC can do in the province.
“I love being part of the MHBA. Our association is so important. It does so much for the residential construction group within Manitoba,” she says. “To be able to be a little part of that and give back to the MHBA and all of its members is super rewarding.”
To stay up to date on upcoming Women in Residential Construction Council events, subscribe to the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association newsletter or visit homebuilders.mb.ca.
