For the second year in a row, the University of Waterloo has received a Canada’s Best Diversity Employer award. In early March, representatives from Human Resources, Organizational & Human Development and the Equity Office accepted the award at a ceremony in Toronto.
The Canada’s Best Diversity Employers Award recognizes organizations from the Canada’s Top 100 employer group that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs. Employers are awarded for noteworthy and unique diversity initiatives for one or more of the following groups a) Women; b) Members of visible minorities; c) Persons with disabilities; d) Aboriginal peoples; and e) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered/Transsexual (LGBT) peoples.
Among other reasons, the University of Waterloo was recognized this year for our gender equity initiatives, including:
- Participation in the HeForShe campaign, along with commitment to boosting female participation in STEM experiences, enhancing female faculty representation and supporting the advancement of women in leadership roles.
- Initiatives that advance and promote wage equality between women and men and the recently established research grant of $80,000 per year for the next 5 years to support research and scholarship focused on gender equality.
- The Equity and Inclusivity Award to recognize a member or affiliate of the University community whose actions have demonstrated exemplary commitment to improving equity, inclusivity and diversity on campus.
Waterloo’s diversity developments and initiatives are supported at the highest levels. “Our President, Feridun Hamdullahpur, has taken a stand on equity issues, ensuring that it’s a priority at the very senior levels of the institution and providing the resources and staffing to ensure that these initiatives are well-supported across campus, which makes us very unique.” says Dr. Diana Parry, Associate Vice-President of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion.
You can learn more about the award and other recipients in the Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2019) publication.