York University’s outstanding progress in sustainability earns it the distinction of being one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the 11th consecutive year. At York, an important part of sustainability is equity in community economic development and community benefits. Since 2016, York has been implementing Anchor York U: An Anchor Institution and Community Benefits Framework. This work has been championed by the highest levels of leadership at the University. York is committed to using its purchasing power to benefit local and diverse economies and to provide fair access to its procurement services as well as creating additional opportunities to underrepresented businesses and community members looking to join the trades by way of apprenticeships. In 2019, York University was one of the first universities in Canada to enact a fully comprehensive Social Procurement Policy as a means to implement these opportunities. Since 2020, York has incorporated specific community benefit deliverables on its construction and renovation projects which have resulted in over $7.5M social value spend and create opportunities for 58 equity deserving apprentices, over 14 projects. In 2022, York created a trailblazing, free and open access diverse supplier vendor portal to provide a platform to promote diverse vendors and social enterprises and connect them with York and other institutions across the Province. York is finalizing its latest Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy for 2023.

West Park is a specialized rehabilitative and complex care hospital that helps patients get their lives back after a life-altering illness or injury such as respiratory disease, amputation, stroke, and brain injuries. Opening in late 2023, West Park is building a modern six-storied, approximately 730,000 square foot facility that will increase our bed capacity to 314 beds and offer the best in rehabilitative therapy. As a major employer in York South-Weston and a hospital located within Mount Dennis, a Neighbourhood Improvement Area, West Park Healthcare Centre understands that providing meaningful work opportunities results in the improved health of its community. West Park became the first Ontario hospital to include a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in its capital project in 2018. Together with EllisDon, the contractor selected to build West Park’s new hospital, they have jointly made significant headway in promoting and laying the groundwork for successful pathways for apprentices and journey persons.

With nearly 90 years of homebuilding experience and over 89,000 homes, Tridel is a developer and builder of condominium residences in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). At Tridel, we understand that a sense of belonging and feeling of inclusion is as vital as embracing a diverse group of employees. We are the partner of Toronto Community Housing Corporation on the revitalization of three communities: Alexandra Park Phase 2, Regent Park Phases 4 and 5, and Leslie Nymark. Each community includes community economic development (CED) or Community Benefits initiatives to support residents of the community. We seek to be a part of change in the construction, development, and design fields and are proud to be the first industry partner to provide greater access for racialized and Indigenous peoples to get into the design industry through the JennAir and Toronto Metropolitan University Disrupting Design Program.