In this article, we present the mission and evolution of a committee created by one of our partners: the Women of Influence Committee at De Grandpré Chait. Established in 2023, this committee provides a dedicated space for the experiences, ambitions, and challenges faced by the women of the firm.
Its objective is simple: to enable women to grow, shine, and claim their place in an environment where they have long been underrepresented.
For Susan Da Silva, Chief Operating Officer, supporting Les Elles and establishing an internal committee focused exclusively on women’s strengths was a natural decision:
“Supporting an organization that advances women in a still largely male-dominated sector is, for us, a concrete way to contribute to lasting change. The Women of Influence Committee was created to provide women with a space where they can share, learn, support each other, and grow.”
Concrete Actions
Since the committee’s creation:
- The firm has grown from one to nine female partners between 2019 and today;
- The construction team now includes 4 women and 6 men, a ratio that continues to evolve;
- Two interns show strong interest in the construction field, indicating that the next wave of female careers is already emerging.
At the 2023 Annual Construction Summit, an entire segment of the conference focused on the role of women in the industry — a concern that has been at the heart of their thinking for several years.
A Partnership That Continues
Continuing their collaboration, De Grandpré Chait and Les Elles de la construction will work to enhance the visibility and advancement of women within the industry.
For 2026, a new joint initiative will be launched: a webinar designed to address the real questions of women professionals in construction.
Your opinion matters
We invite the Les Elles community to vote for the topic they would like to see prioritized:
- Which contractual clauses should we watch for in a contract?
- Overview of the construction lien
- Other (open suggestion)
👉 Click here to vote for the topic of your choice
Your contact:
Arianne Deslandes
Business Development Advisor
T. 514 878-3224 | F. 514 878-4333 | adeslandes@dgchait.com
