Women in BC's Interior continue to face barriers to economic security and workforce participation. In many rural and resource-based communities, economies are driven by industries such as forestry, mining, energy, and construction—sectors that remain predominantly male-dominated. As a result, women are more likely to work in lower-paid service and caregiving roles and, in some resource communities, earn as little as 50–70% of male incomes.

These inequities can contribute to economic dependence, a significant barrier for women experiencing violence or attempting to leave unsafe relationships. Women working in male-dominated industries may also face workplace harassment, discrimination, and limited opportunities for advancement, impacting both their economic security and well-being.

At the same time, women's health challenges—including caregiving responsibilities, reproductive health needs, menopause, and limited access to healthcare—can further affect workforce participation and career advancement. Emerging concerns around online misogyny and the influence of the manosphere also highlight the need for conversations about workplace culture, gender equity, and violence prevention.

The Western Canada Women's Conference recognizes that economic empowerment, women's health, workplace equity, and violence prevention are interconnected. By bringing together researchers, employers, policymakers, and community leaders, we aim to identify solutions that create safer workplaces, stronger economies, and greater opportunities for women across Western Canada.

Women in BC's Interior continue to face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Rural communities experience ongoing physician shortages and limited access to specialists, including obstetricians, gynaecologists, and mental health professionals. As a result, many women must travel long distances to receive essential care.

Over the past 20 years, more than 20 rural maternity service sites have closed across British Columbia, reducing access to local pregnancy and childbirth services. Access to reproductive healthcare remains a significant challenge, with many communities lacking local abortion services and specialized reproductive health supports. For many women, accessing abortion care, prenatal services, gynecological procedures, or follow-up care requires travelling hundreds of kilometres, taking time away from work and family responsibilities, and incurring additional financial costs. These barriers can delay care, increase health risks, and disproportionately impact women with lower incomes, limited transportation, or caregiving responsibilities.

Women in rural communities also face lower rates of preventative screening and often delay seeking care due to travel, cost, and logistical challenges.

The Western Canada Women's Conference recognizes that healthcare access is both a health and gender equity issue. By bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders, we aim to explore practical solutions that improve access to women's healthcare, strengthen rural health systems, and ensure that where a woman lives does not determine the quality of care she receives.

Women in rural, remote, and Interior communities often face significant barriers to accessing the services and opportunities available in larger urban centres. Research shows that while these communities experience higher rates of intimate partner violence, they frequently have fewer local supports, including shelters, legal services, counselling, healthcare providers, and specialized programs.

Limited access to healthcare, including reproductive and women's health services, often requires lengthy travel for appointments, procedures, and follow-up care, resulting in delayed treatment and poorer health outcomes. At the same time, women in many rural and resource-based communities face fewer employment opportunities, wider gender wage gaps, and increased economic vulnerability.

These challenges are interconnected. When access to safety, healthcare, economic opportunity, and support services is limited, gender inequities become more pronounced and difficult to overcome.

The Western Canada Women's Conference is committed to advancing solutions that reflect the realities of rural, remote, and underserved communities. Through knowledge sharing, collaboration, and community investment, we aim to strengthen local capacity and reinvest resources into regions where funding, services, and opportunities have historically been limited or overlooked.