Celebrating the contributions of women on International Women’s Day

With a renewed focus on diversity and inclusion, we’re reaffirming our commitment to gender equality at Enbridge

Edie Bates has worked at Enbridge for more than two decades—and over that time, she’s seen a lot of change.

"One of the biggest shifts I've seen over the course of my career here is an increase in awareness of and appreciation for the differing perspectives and leadership styles women bring to the table,” says Bates, Manager Lands and ROW Operations and Chair of Enbridge’s Edmonton chapter of FEMINEN, an internal employee resource group (ERG). “I'm proud of the work our ERGs are doing to foster inclusion and support our members to do great things.”

This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) theme, Choose to Challenge, prompts each of us to think critically about how we can be more alert and active in calling out gender bias and inequality.

At Enbridge we’re taking up the challenge.

When asked how she personally challenges stereotypes, Bates answers, “The best way to challenge biases is to acknowledge that they exist and be conscious of your own tendencies. Acting as allies and calling out biased behavior is critical to making change and promoting equity.”

She adds that recognizing and celebrating achievements is just as important. “At Enbridge we have some of the most impressive female leaders in the industry. Recognizing and sharing their accomplishments helps bring awareness to these successes.”

“That said, it's also about letting people know when they’ve done something great,” adds Bates. “Never underestimate the value of a personal message to acknowledge an accomplishment.”

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