International Women’s Day is Saturday, March 8th, 2025 and this is a topic that we are passionate about!
Land surveying has historically been a male-dominated profession. In recent years, women have begun to break down the barriers in accessing land surveying education and professional networks and are increasingly being represented in this essential industry.
Tracy Rouse, a woman who is a respected and licensed Ontario Land Surveyor who built her own company, Rouse Surveyor’s Inc. wrote: “
“Sadly, as I look around, there are not nearly enough fellow female land surveyors alongside me in this field of work. As reported by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS), of which I am a member, only seven percent of AOLS members are female. When you’re in a room like that you can’t help but take notice.
As I started digging into this more I learned that the ratio of men to women for all occupations in Ontario is 52% men to 48% women, yet for Land Surveyors in Ontario the ratio is 93% men to 7% women – that’s insane!”
This figure is slowly increasing as more women enter STEM programs at post-secondary institutions and gain recognition for their work. Programs like the University of Calgary’s Land Surveying Technology program and other related courses have seen an uptick in female enrollment over the past decade, signaling a positive shift.
Despite these advances, the road is still challenging for many women. Gender disparities persist, particularly at the senior levels of land surveying firms and in leadership positions. However, Tracy Rouse and many women like her, are making strides by starting their own businesses, leading community projects, and contributing to policy changes that create more inclusive work environments. They have been instrumental in advocating for women’s involvement in surveying and shaping the future of the industry.
We encourage you to read Tracy’s fascinating story here 👇
https://rousesurveyors.com/blog/land-surveying-girls-dream-can-come-true
The rise of women in land surveying is not only a step towards equality but also a vital contribution to the profession itself. Women bring diverse perspectives to the profession, from innovative problem-solving approaches to more inclusive design practices that benefit communities across Canada. As this trend continues, we can expect to see even greater representation and influence of women in shaping the future of land surveying in the country.
Here at Wilson-Ford Surveying and Engineering, over half of our employees are women and they are a crucial and important part of our team. They have worked their way to various positions which include but aren’t limited to: Lead Drafter, Field Crew Manager, Drone Pilot, Party Chief, Jr. Party Chief. In addition to these roles, we have an articling student who wasn’t able to gain field experience in Ukraine because of her gender.
We are excited to support and encourage these women to learn and grow. As they climb the ladder into the exciting profession of Land Surveying, we look optimistically to the future where there is a gender balance in the industry.
Unfortunately, there is a global deficit of Land Surveyors. If you’re interested in starting a career in the industry, check out the following link.
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