March 29, 2017

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, now in its 10th year, recognizes employers across Canada that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs.

This competition recognizes successful diversity initiatives in a variety of areas, including programs for employees from these five groups: women • members of visible minorities • persons with disabilities • aboriginal peoples • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered/Transsexual (LGBT) peoples.

Who earned a spot this year 

These four members of Canada’s electricity industry were included among Canada's Best Diversity Employers:

• Enbridge Inc.

• Manitoba Hydro

• Ontario College of Trades

• SaskPower

Why diversity is important

The key lesson from this year’s winners is that encouraging workplace diversity isn’t so much a radical idea as an everyday reality for Canadian employers seeking to recruit and retain the best talent.

“Increasingly, we see a desire by employers to have open and frank conversations about how they can enable employees to bring their ‘whole selves’ to work and tap into their full potential,” says Kristina Leung, Senior Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project, which manages the competition.

Employers that ensure their workforces reflect the community have an advantage. “These organizations benefit from a wider range of perspectives, which inevitably brings new and innovative ideas.”

How winners were chosen

To determine this year's winners of the Canada’s Best Diversity Employers competition, Mediacorp editors reviewed diversity and inclusiveness initiatives at employers that applied for the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. From this overall applicant pool, a smaller short-list of employers with noteworthy and unique diversity initiatives was developed.

The short-listed candidates’ programs were then compared to those of other employers in the same field. The finalists chosen represent the diversity leaders in their industry and region of Canada.

Who’s eligible

Any employer with its head office or principal place of business in Canada may apply for this competition. Employers of any size may apply, whether private or public sector. Each applicant must have an interesting initiative for at least one of the five above diversity groups covered by this competition.

The 2018 competition

Applications for the 2018 competition will be available shortly. Find out more: http://www.canadastop100.com/diversity/.

Photo source: Canada’s Best Diversity Employers.