RBC, Shaw among winners for employment equity awards

Recognized for showing leadership, fostering diverse workplaces

RBC, Shaw among winners for employment equity awards
The Employment Equity Act seeks to correct disadvantages experienced in employment. REUTERS/Todd Korol

Eighteen employers have been recognized for outstanding achievement in employment equity with the government’s Employment Equity Achievement Awards.

The awards recognize federally regulated private sector employers and federal contractors for their commitment to creating diverse and inclusive Canadian workplaces. The Employment Equity Act seeks to correct disadvantages experienced in employment for four designated groups: women, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

"The employers that were recognized for outstanding achievement in employment equity are showing real leadership in fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our workplaces thrive when they are equitable, diverse and inclusive,” said Patty Hajdu, minister of employment, workforce development and labour.

Award winners

Sector Distinction
The Sector Distinction award recognizes employers that are inspirational role models in their sector. In addition to demonstrating a strong commitment and achieving success in implementing employment equity in their own organization, these employers also champion employment equity for the sector.

  • Enbridge
  • Jazz Aviation
  • Royal Bank of Canada

Outstanding Commitment
The Outstanding Commitment to Employment Equity award recognizes employers that have demonstrated outstanding commitment in implementing employment equity plans by instituting measures to remove barriers, adopting special measures or establishing positive policies and practices to achieve tangible results.

  • ATCO Structures & Logistics
  • Bell Canada
  • Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
  • Canadian National Railway (CN)
  • Capital One Bank (Canada)
  • Cogeco Connexcion
  • Defence Construction (1951)
  • Hemmera Envirochem
  • HSBC Bank Canada
  • Kindersley Transport
  • Shaw Communications

Innovation
The Innovation award recognizes employers that have been innovative in the implementation of employment equity. This can include creativity in the design and implementation of measures to remove barriers, adoption of special measures, establishment of positive policies or practices, forward-thinking in human resources practices and/or development of new or unique initiatives.

  • Export Development Canada
  • Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting
  • Queen's University
  • Rogers Communications

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