2026
Nominations
To nominate an individual or organization for the 2026 Building Diversity Awards, please select the desired award category and complete the respective nomination form by February 28, 2026. Nominations are welcome from anywhere in Canada.
The process involves two crucial steps. After you submit your nomination, a member of the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) team will contact the nominee to confirm acceptance. They will then be requested to provide additional details to complete their profile, as appropriate. This includes showcasing their efforts in fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace environment. For a comprehensive understanding of the nomination process, please see the FAQs below.
Organisation Leading on Diversity Award
The award recognizes an industry-leading corporation or influential community, labour, or sector institution that is driving extraordinary progress in expanding career and economic opportunities for underrepresented groups through investments in urban development and public infrastructure.
Contractor Leading on Diversity Award
The award recognizes an organisation - developer, general contractor or contractor that is making extraordinary efforts to ensure underrepresented groups are accessing jobs and procurement opportunities in construction.
Labour Leading on Diversity
The award recognizes a labour union, association, or group that is demonstrating outstanding leadership in expanding access to quality jobs and career advancement for underrepresented groups across its membership and workplaces.
Mentee NexGen Builders Award
The award recognizes a new construction pre-apprentice, apprentice or professional participating in a mentoring program. As a Mentee (individual), the nominee has experienced exceptional progress in taking the steps needed to succeed in their career.
Mentor NexGen Builders Award
The award recognizes a current or past construction industry labourer, journeyperson or experienced professional who served as a mentor. As a Mentor (individual), the nominee has excelled in supporting the professional growth and development of a Mentee.
Employer NexGen Builders Award
The award recognizes a construction industry employer. As an Employer (organization), the nominee has excelled in supporting the welcome and professional growth and development of diverse workers in the workplace.
Champion Community Benefits Award
The award recognizes an individual whose dedication to advancing community benefits in policy and/ or practice at the systems level within the construction industry has significantly benefited equity deserving groups accessing social, environmental, and economic benefits from investment in infrastructure and urban development.
Coalition
Community Benefits Award
The award recognizes a community benefits coalition in that has achieved significant progress in advancing negotiations for a community benefits agreement incorporating unique, local practices which make a significant contribution to their community and the development of a national standard for community benefits agreements.
Project
Community Benefits Award
The award recognizes a major construction project with a formal community benefits agreement in place that has achieved positive outcomes meeting or exceeding those stated in the agreement.
Diverse Contractor to Watch Award
Presented by the Afro Canadian Contractors Association, this award honours a standout emerging minority owner contractor or social enterprise from each Canadian province and territory. It recognizes those demonstrating readiness to successfully compete for construction contracts in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional sector.
Nominations Frequently Asked QUestions
Submissions, process, selection, gala, and more.
What is the nominations deadline?
We encourage you to submit your nomination early in case there is a need for additional information to complete the nominees profile.
What happens after I submit a nomination?
Once the nominations process concludes, a member of the Nominations Committee will follow up with each nominee to confirm their nomination and add any additional information they would like to share.
How will recipients be selected?
The Nominations Committee will review and select 3 to 5 of the strongest candidates in each category to submit to Selection Panels comprised of community leaders who recognize systems change in progress.
How do nominators select the right category?
We have provided a descriptions of each category, however upon review of the submissions, the Nominations Committee reserves the right to place strong nominees in the best suited category. Nominees who are moved from one category to another will be given the opportunity to consent and to provide additional information as required.
When will recipients be notified?
Shortlisted nominees, a maximum of three in each category, will be informed no later than March 31st, 2026. Recipients will be presented with the award on May 21st.
Shortlisted nominees will be asked to confirm their acceptance of the Award if selected and their attendance ahead of the Awards Presentation.
Shortlisted nominees will be asked to confirm their acceptance of the Award if selected and their attendance ahead of the Awards Presentation.
February 28
Nominations Close
May 20 & 21
2025 Building Diversity Awards