In an effort to raise awareness about diversity in construction and to encourage contractors to consider diversity in their hiring practices, the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) has launched the first-annual province-wide Building Diversity Awards and Recognition Program.

It’s no secret that construction lacks diversity. Data from the Ontario Construction Secretariat shows that only two percent of unionized skilled trades workforce are women; 11 percent are visible minorities.

The Building Diversity Awards will recognize contractors and unions associated with major infrastructure and urban development projects that are taking extraordinary steps to increase the participation of Black, Indigenous and racialized workers, including youth, women and newcomers within their organizations.

Award nominations open on November 16, and the winners will be announced at a celebration event taking place on May 13.

The award winners will be selected by a committee of diversity, equity and inclusion experts from other industries and jurisdictions. Nominations will be evaluated using the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks as adapted by BuildForce Canada for the construction industry. Organizations that submit a nomination will be able to measure their progress in building diversity against an industry standard.

A number of organizations have thrown their support behind the awards, including BuildForce Canada, the Ontario Construction Secretariat, and the Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council of Ontario. EllisDon, meanwhile, has signed on as the event’s lead sponsor.

“Attracting and retaining a diverse workforce is critical for companies to keep their competitive advantage,” said Rosemarie Powell, TCBN executive director. “As a community-labour coalition, we are committed to working in partnership with construction industry leaders like EllisDon to achieve standardized and coordinated industry recognized systems for preparing, recruiting, tracking, and retaining individuals from local communities in jobs made possible by community benefit agreements.”

Award categories include:

• Community Benefits Champion Award
• NexGen Builders Champion Award
• Leading on Diversity Award – Owner/Client
• Leading on Diversity Award – Contractor
• Leading on Diversity Award – Union

"Supporting real efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in the construction industry is where we must stand," said Richard Whyte, Chief Estimator, Toronto Civil Division, EllisDon. "Supporting initiatives like the NexGen Builder's Mentoring program for Black youth is one of the reasons we're proud to be a sponsor of the first Annual Building Diversity Awards and TCBN."

More information about the awards is available at buildingdiversity.ca, and the awards organizers are hosting free online information sessions every Wednesday in November at noon. Information on those sessions is available at buildingdiversity.ca/webinars.