Toronto, ON, May 24, 2024 — The annual Building Diversity Awards (BDA), established by Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) in partnership with its community, labour and industry partners, and presented by Desjardins Group will take place on June 14, 2024, starting at 6:00 PM at the Meridian Arts Centre. The awards ceremony and fundraising gala will be hosted once again by media personalities Sebastian Clovis and Patricia Jaggernauth. Expanding its scope this year as a national awards and recognition program, the BDA will honour the visionary leaders and organisations who are building the future of the construction industry with a focus on diversity.
The Building Diversity Awards, attracting over 500 industry leaders, focuses on leveraging local talent to address the skilled labour shortage, with close to 700,000 trade workers anticipated to retire by 2030. The keynote address will be delivered by Deborah Ale Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (Pearson Airport), who is renowned for her transformative leadership in North American airport management.
This year's BDA Gala will not only celebrate diversity achievements in the construction industry but also spotlight the criteria used to evaluate these accomplishments. Nominations are assessed based on the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks: Standards for Organizations Around the World, which ensure a comprehensive and fair evaluation of nominees' contributions towards diversity, equity and inclusion. Award categories include Leading on Diversity Awards for Owner/Client, Contractor and Union, among others, underscoring a broad commitment to transformative industry practices.
“The Building Diversity Awards Gala emphasises the importance of Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) in harnessing local talent and fostering economic growth. These agreements ensure that major projects deliver lasting community benefits and support job creation.” Rosemarie Powell, Executive Director, TCBN
”We believe in the value created through diversity and the inclusion of people of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and experiences. Diversity makes us stronger by bringing more skills and perspectives to the table. We are proud to support an organization showing real leadership industry-wide. The leaders are embracing diversity while focusing on the jobs of tomorrow,” said Estelle Theng, Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion & Respect in the workplace at Desjardins Group, the leading sponsor of the event.
Key sponsors such as Aecon, Carpenters Union, Deloitte, EllisDon, working alongside other generous partners, are instrumental in advancing our mission towards a more inclusive construction sector. Key among them are Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario and Canada's Building Trades Unions as well as the Afro Canadian Contractors Association, BuildForce Canada, RESCON and ULI Toronto.
Individuals and organizations across Canada have been nominated for awards by their industry peers, in recognition of their commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. A full list of nominees has been released and is now available on the BDA website. To see the nominees and learn more about the Building Diversity Awards, visit our website: https://buildingdiversity.ca/
About BDA and TCBN:
Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) spearheads BDA to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation within Canada’s construction industry. With a network spanning over 120 organisations across the Greater Toronto Area and engaging more than 20,000 supporters nationwide, TCBN is a pivotal force in inclusive job creation, sustainable development, and community empowerment. BDA also serves as an essential fundraiser for initiatives like the NexGen Builders, which generate significant construction job opportunities and career advancements for minorities, women, and newcomers.
Contact:
Rosemarie Powell, Executive Director
Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN)
Phone: +1 (416) 573-8819
Email: rpowell@communitybenefits.ca
