Women economists and their ideas in Canadian economics

CWEN held Mentoring Breakfasts for Junior Economists at CEA meetings in 2016 and 2017, the first annual breakfasts in 2016 and the second annual breakfasts in 2017. The 2016 Young Researcher Prize was awarded, and CWEN held activities at the 2016 CEAs in Ottawa.

In May 2015, CWEN organized a panel on Communicating Economics to the Public and Policy Makers with the UofC School of Public Policy. CWEN also participated in the 2015 Chinese Women Economists (CWE) international workshop in Beijing.

The Canadian Women Economists Network, known in French as the Réseau de Femmes Économistes, exists to make women economists and their ideas more visible within the wider Canadian economics community. As an independent association, it brings together researchers, teachers, students, and practitioners who share an interest in how the profession treats women and how women's contributions shape economic thinking. The network serves as a meeting point for people spread across universities, government, and other organizations, offering a sense of shared purpose and a place to exchange perspectives on teaching, research, and career development in economics.

A central part of the network's work is gathering and sharing information about the status of women economists in Canada. Surveys and reports help document where women stand in departments, how representation changes over time, and which obstacles persist in training, hiring, and advancement. These efforts give members and the broader community a clearer picture of the profession rather than relying on anecdote or rumor. By publishing findings and discussing them openly, the network encourages departments and associations to reflect on their own practices and to consider what practical steps might improve the climate for women in economics.

Newsletters have long been one of the main ways the network keeps its members connected. Regular issues share updates on activities, summarize recent developments, and offer a forum for short pieces on research, teaching, and professional life. They also carry news of awards, mentoring events, and meetings held alongside larger economics conferences, so that members who cannot attend in person can still follow what is happening. Reading through past issues gives a sense of the network's history and of the recurring themes that have animated its members over the years.

Mentoring is a recurring theme in the network's activities, reflecting a belief that informal guidance can make a real difference at pivotal moments in a career. Events held in conjunction with conferences create opportunities for economists at different stages to talk candidly about publishing, job searches, teaching loads, and the balancing of professional and personal responsibilities. More experienced members share advice drawn from their own paths, while newer members gain a sense of what to expect and whom to ask for perspective. These conversations aim to be practical and welcoming rather than formal.

Awards and recognition form another strand of the network's work, drawing attention to strong contributions by women economists and to the value of research and service that might otherwise go unnoticed. Such recognition can support travel to conferences, encourage promising work, and signal to departments and colleagues that excellence takes many forms. The network also uses these occasions to celebrate the wider community of women in economics and to show younger scholars that their efforts are seen and appreciated. Recognition of this kind helps sustain momentum and reinforces the sense that the profession belongs to everyone in it.

The network maintains a constitution and a set of governing practices that guide how decisions are made and how leadership passes from one group of members to another. Meetings, including an annual general meeting, give members a chance to review activities, discuss priorities, and shape the direction of the organization. A record of past presidents and their terms offers a reminder that the network has been sustained across decades by the voluntary involvement of many people. This structure keeps the association accountable to its members while remaining flexible enough to respond to new concerns as they arise.

Resources and links shared through the network are meant to be useful in everyday professional life, from advice on navigating academic job markets to materials on mentoring and on the representation of women in economics departments. Members also benefit from connections to related organizations and initiatives concerned with the position of women in the discipline, both within Canada and beyond. These connections help avoid duplication of effort and allow the network to point members toward guidance and support that already exists. The emphasis is on practical help that members can apply in their own institutions and careers.

Looking ahead, the network continues to promote women economists and their ideas while adapting to changes in the profession and in how people communicate. Newcomers are welcome to get involved, whether by attending events, contributing to newsletters, or taking part in discussions about the status of women in economics. The association remains independent and member-driven, sustained by the energy of people who believe that a more inclusive profession produces better economics. Its history suggests that steady, collective effort over many years can shift expectations and open doors for those who follow.