Ismaila Alfa
Host
Morning Metro (CBC)
- Date
- May 20 & 21, 2027
- Time
- Doors Open at 6:30 PM EST
- Location
- Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
- 1133 Queen's Plate Dr
- Etobicoke, Ontario
- M9W 0G4, Canada
Our Executive Director
The Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) and Desjardins proudly present the Canadian Building Diversity Awards, a transformative 2-day event on May 20 and 21.
This year, we're doubling our impact by building awareness for community benefits standards and best practices nationally to foster innovation in the construction industry and growth and economic inclusion within diverse communities across Canada.
Rosemarie Powell
Toronto Community Benefits Network
Executive Director
Rise. Build. Belong.
The Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN), a pioneering 120-member coalition founded in 2013, unites trade unions, training centers, workforce agencies, grassroots groups, and community organizations. TCBN champions Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs), ensuring community access to jobs from public infrastructure projects and fulfilling hiring targets for diverse groups.
TCBN's Canadian Building Diversity Awards annually celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation within the construction industry. With a network spanning over 120 organizations across the Greater Toronto Area and engaging 30,000+ supporters nationwide, TCBN significantly contributes to job creation and community empowerment. The Building Diversity Awards also serve as a vital fundraiser for initiatives like NexGen Builders, instrumental in generating thousands of quality construction jobs.
Past Speakers
Layne the Auctionista
Celebrity Auctioneer
Karla Avis-Birch
Principal, Major Rail Projects Leader
Arup
Patrice Barnes
Member, Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs
Chris Campbell
President
Toronto Community Benefits Network
Majora Carter
President
Majora Carter Group
Angela Clayton
President & CEO
Infrastructure Ontario
Olivia Chow
Mayor of Toronto
Sebastian Clovis
Host
Gut Job (HGTV)
Theresa Corazon
Media Personality
Ehren Cory
Chief Executive Officer
Canada Infrastructure Bank
Dr. Wendy Cukier
Founder and Academic Director
Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University
Nathan Downer
Canadian Television Journalist
CTV News
Gervan Fearon
President
George Brown College
Bill Ferreira
Executive Director
BuildForce Canada
Deborah Ale Flint
President & CEO
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)
Doug Ford
Premier of Ontario
Rokhaya Gueye
Stakeholder Relations & Ontario Chair
Sisters in the Brotherhood
Marilyn Horrick
Senior Vice President
Desjardins Group
Ahmed Hussen
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada
Patricia Jaggernauth
Emmy® Award Winner • Speaker • Influencer
Heather McDonald
President & CEO
United Way Greater Toronto
Catherine McKenna
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities of Canada
Deryl McKissack
President, CEO
McKissack & McKissack
C. David Moody, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
C.D. Moody Construction Company, Inc.
Colette Murphy
Chief Executive Officer
Atkinson Foundation
Isaac Olowolafe
President
Dream Maker Corp.
Geoffrey Smith
Chief Executive Officer
EllisDon Corporation
TÖME
Singer • Songwriter • Producer
John Tory
Former Toronto Mayor
Damar Walker
Airbus A320 Captain
Air Canada
Charmaine Williams
Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity of Ontario
Ron Urquhart
Chief Operations Officer
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
Help us find talent.
Recognize those driving diversity, innovation, and excellence in the workplace by submitting a nomination for the 2027 Building Diversity Awards. The process is simple—visit the Nominate page, select a category, and complete the form.
Nominees will be notified to accept and share insights into their ongoing efforts to foster respectful, innovative, and inclusive workplaces. Your nomination highlights their achievements and reinforces the power of inclusion. Embrace the possibilities—nominate today!