EllisDon is taking aim at gender-based violence and sexual harassment on its construction sites.

The company announced a partnership with WomanACT and The Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology (SCWIST) on May 24 with the aim of improving company-wide prevention and response measures to address the issues.

"Empowering our employees to prevent and respond to gender-based violence is not only an important step for EllisDon's safety practices and culture, but is crucial to advance our industry as a whole," says EllisDon President and CEO Geoff Smith. "It's no question that we are a male-dominated industry. We need to be doing everything possible to attract and retain women in our workforce, while providing safe and respectful workplaces to build meaningful careers." 

Through the partnership, WomanACT and SCWIST aim to provide support to enhance EllisDon's policies and procedures regarding both the prevention and response to workplace sexual harassment.

"Our 2021 survey found that four in 10 Canadians experienced some form of harassment in the workplace—a rate significantly higher for women (50%) than men (33%),” said WomanACT Executive Director Harmy Mendoza said. “That is why these cross-sectoral partnerships are critical to ending sexual and gender-based harassment. We are heartened by EllisDon's investment to create a culture of safety, and we are committed to supporting EllisDon to improve workplace policies, procedures, and practices."

Working alongside EllisDon, WomanACT and SCWIST will assess organizational needs through employee surveys and interviews, analyze policies, procedures and training materials, provide recommended updates to policies, procedures and training, and deliver customized training as needed.

The initiative is being led by 2gether, EllisDon's employee-led diversity, equity and inclusion group focusing on gender equality.

"WomanACT, SCWIST and EllisDon have come together in an important and exciting collaboration to assist EllisDon in furthering our ongoing initiatives to support and create positive change with respect to Women in STEM careers," says Andrew Anderson, Senior Vice President, Toronto Area Manager at EllisDon. "I am proud to sponsor this group and support their effort to ensure that EllisDon provides and maintains a work environment where all women are safe and have equitable access to opportunities."

Using evidence-based methods, WomanACT and SCWIST will guide EllisDon to enhance its environment of safety, trust, and accountability, and improve employee recognition and reporting on workplace sexual harassment.

"EllisDon has come a long way and has done an incredible job to grow into the outstanding employer they are today," says Daniela Xavier, Health Safety and Environmental Coordinator at EllisDon, and project lead. "To continue maintaining that culture, we have to evaluate ourselves and partner with organizations like WomanACT and SCWIST to constantly improve our overall safety culture."

Founded in Toronto in 1991, WomanACT is a charity that aims to end violence against women and advance gender equity through education, policy and community mobilization.

The Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology, meanwhile, provides programs, partnerships, mentoring and networks across Canada for women and girls in STEM.

With funding from the federal Department of Justice, WomanACT and SCWIST are delivering custom support to STEM and trade employers.