UFV alumna inspires women in geosciences

Cassandra Shewchuk

A University of the Fraser Valley alumna is blazing a trail in a traditionally male-dominated field and helping other women find their way.

Cassandra Shewchuk (BSc Honours Physical Geography, 2020) graduated from UFV just five years ago but is already viewed as a leader and role model. She was recently elected to the board of directors as secretary for Women Geoscientists in Canada (WGC), a group that advocates for gender diversity within the geosciences.

“We work to create a more welcoming environment, not just for women but also minority groups,” she says. “I’m very proud of the work that we do.”

Cassandra is a mine geologist working for the Mount Polley Mining Company (MPMC), which operates a massive open-pit copper/gold mine near the British Columbia town of Likely. Her primary role is identifying ore that can be mined and waste that can be discarded appropriately using computer modelling.

Cassandra likes the team at MPMC and feels respected by everybody. She says that’s refreshing, because she has experienced the opposite in other jobs.

“People don’t always take women in the workplace seriously, no matter how educated you are or how good you are at your job,” she notes. “And more than once I’ve been sexually harassed by a colleague.”

Cassandra enjoys being outdoors, and says that’s a huge benefit of her current job.

Cassandra’s first field job was in northern BC, working with a man who was interested in her. She told him theirs was a strictly professional relationship, but after he sent her a series of concerning messages, Cassandra reported the behaviour to senior management, and it was dealt with quickly and effectively.

“The biggest takeaway I had from that experience is that the industry is evolving, and it’s not how it was 50 years ago,” she says. “Even though I had that bad experience, the outcome was positive, and when I look around, I see many more women in the geosciences, and I see them mostly being treated respectfully.

“There are still hurdles, but it’s moving in the right direction.”

The experience didn’t turn her away from the field, but there were times when she wavered. Cassandra says many women do leave and that’s why she views her work with the WGC as so vital. She enjoys sharing her experiences (both good and bad) with emerging professionals, providing encouragement and mentorship.

Cassandra loves what she does. There are challenges, but there are also rewards.

“I enjoy talking to current university students about the pathway I took to get where I am, because geosciences is a big umbrella with so many different avenues you can follow,” she says. “Opening up about my experiences helps many people decide where they want to go with it, and I’ve had a few students say, ‘field work sounds like a lot of fun and I think I want to do that.’”

Cassandra draws her own inspiration from the amazing women she’s met through WGC .

“They all have very unique and relatable stories, and it’s been nice for me to know I’m not alone in some of the things I’ve gone through or felt,” she says. “There’s always someone to talk to, and that’s a big reason I wanted to get involved on the WGC the board, to be that person that someone can reach out to who will be welcoming and answer their questions.”

During her time at UFV, Cassandra worked in the Luminescence Dating Laborat ory (LDL) for several semesters and did her BSc Honours research with Dr. Olav Lian. Cassandra had a strong desire to pursue a career in economic geology. The LDL was able to facilitate that by bringing a colleague from the BC Geological Survey (BCGS) onto her supervisory committee. Her research involved seeing if certain mineral oxides present in glacial sediments could be used to trace economic minerals back to ore-bearing rock in southcentral BC. This research was subsequently published by the BCGS with Cassandra as the senior author. After that Cassandra went on to complete a certificate in Mining Technology from Queen’s University.

Olav isn’t surprised by Cassandra’s success and says women breaking into the geosciences field couldn’t have a better role model.

“Cassandra was a joy to have in my laboratory. She was keen to be challenged, taking on difficult research problems,” he says. “She was, and is, a mentor to several junior undergraduate LDL researchers and even helped graduate students with their research. She continues to support my laboratory as an ambassador.”

The LDL is a formal sponsor of Women Geoscientists in Canada.