Manitoba ROWC, a resource organization for women in collision repair, celebrated its third year with a golf tournament bringing together 45 women to build connections and community in an industry where women represent only 21% of the workforce. The organization has grown from a small group into a province-wide community offering networking events, mentorship, and advocacy to support women entering and advancing in collision repair trades.
- Manitoba ROWC celebrated its third anniversary with a Women's Golf Tournament on September 20, bringing together 45 women in collision repair
- Women represent only 21% of the collision repair workforce in Manitoba, with just 12% in collision and repair trades and 4% in mechanical roles
- The organization has expanded from a small networking group to a province-wide community offering Meet, Mix & Mingle events, mentorship conversations, and industry collaborations
- ROWC conducted Manitoba's first-ever collision industry census in late fall 2025 to document women's representation and identify support needs
- The organization plans to expand reach through leadership-focused sessions, partnerships with representation-focused organizations, and amplifying women's stories in collision repair
The Manitoba chapter of Resource Organization for Women in Collision marked its third year with its Third Annual Women’s Golf Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 20, bringing 45 women together for a nine-hole round at Shooters Family Golf Course.
For ROWC founder Renee Sicotte, the event represented more than a day on the course.
“The Women’s Golf Tournament is more than a day on the course -- it’s a celebration of women claiming space in an industry that hasn’t always made room for us,” Sicotte said. “It gives women the chance to connect outside the shop environment, build relationships, and see the strength of our community firsthand.”
ROWC launched three years ago to give women in collision repair a place to connect and find support in an industry where women can often find themselves in the minority.
Since then, Sicotte said the organization has grown from a small group seeking connection into a province-wide community. Meet, Mix & Mingle events, mentorship conversations and industry collaborations have helped women expand their networks and build relationships within the sector.
“The evolution hasn’t just been in numbers -- it’s in the depth of relationships, the willingness to support one another, and the pride women feel in being part of something that is genuinely theirs,” she said.
That need for connection is also reflected in data gathered by ROWC. In late fall 2025, the organization conducted what Sicotte described as the first-ever collision industry census in Manitoba. The census found women represented 21% of the overall workforce, while participation in the trades was approximately 12% in collision and repair and 4% in mechanical roles.
Sicotte said the figures reinforce the need for visibility, support and opportunities for women entering and advancing in the trades.
The organization has also expanded its reach beyond Manitoba. With support from sponsors, Manitoba ROWC provided a Silver Sponsorship for the Women’s Industry Network’s 2026 WIN Conference in Arizona.
Closer to home, ROWC is preparing to participate in the Run for the Cure in Winnipeg on Oct. 4. The organization donated the $2,500 entry fee so women and men could participate without that cost being a barrier. Sicotte said 20 participants have already registered.
The golf tournament offered another opportunity for women in the industry to step outside their regular work environments and connect with peers.
“For many attendees, it’s the one day of the year where they’re surrounded entirely by women in collision repair,” Sicotte said. “That alone is powerful.”
Attendees told organizers they made new friendships, reconnected with familiar faces and had conversations that reinforced the importance of community. Sicotte said one comment came up repeatedly: “I needed this.”
Looking toward ROWC’s fourth year, Sicotte said the organization plans to build on that momentum through additional Meet, Mix & Mingle events, leadership-focused sessions and partnerships with organizations working toward greater representation in the industry.
ROWC also plans to amplify the stories and contributions of women working in collision repair.
“Our goal is to build on that energy and continue creating spaces where women feel empowered, supported, and celebrated,” Sicotte said.
