Initiative
TELL US HOW DO YOU D&I
*** Want to tell us how your organization supports diversity and inclusion? Send your completed format to diac@cim.org. ***
Organization: Stantec
The Stantec community unites approximately 22,000 employees working in over 350 locations across six continents. We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource, environmental, and infrastructure projects to life. Our work—engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics, from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning—begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.
Why did your organization decide to implement a D&I program?
At Stantec, we create opportunity by inviting, embracing, and celebrating differences. As a global company committed to community building, we need the best talent to continue to innovate, grow, and deliver for our clients. We are involved in various internal and external activities that promote diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Tell us about a few successful D&I policies/actions, big or small that made the difference.
Inclusion & Diversity Councils: Members of the I&D Councils reflect the diversity we hope to achieve across the company. Council members come from different cultures, have different outlooks, and possess a wide variety of skills and life experiences. They have one job as council members: to action our Inclusion & Diversity strategy. Council members drive the creation of practices, goals, and objectives that help us become an organization where every individual feels welcome and valued. The Councils have an unwavering focus on strengthening our inclusive culture and making a difference. Click here to meet our council members.
Employee Resource Groups: Imagine a place where you can be yourself and talk about your challenges and experiences with people who know where you’re coming from—because they’ve been there. That’s an employee resource group (ERG) at Stantec. In an ERG, employees explore development opportunities and improve skills relevant to their business goals in a supportive environment. ERGs are open to all of our employees. Our current ERGs include Women@Stantec, Pride@Stantec, Indigenous Connections, LatinosinStantec, Persons with Disabilities@Stantec, Military and Veterans Advocates (MAVA), Cultural Awareness & Inclusion, Asians@Stantec, and BLK@Stantec (Black). Click here for more information about our ERGs.
Unconscious Bias Training: Even people who enthusiastically embrace diversity can fall victim to unconscious bias, also known as implicit bias, a preference for or prejudice against a person or group. Unconscious bias creates barriers to inclusion, performance, engagement, attraction, retention, promotions, and innovation. Our strategy? Deliver training to our teams that helps them identify and overcome these biases. With this training, we can build a more inclusive culture that provides the opportunities and environments necessary for everyone to thrive.
How did your organization benefit from a D&I program?
These initiatives help attract top talent, provide leadership opportunities, networking, and are a key component of our engagement and retention strategies.
They also provide a tangible way to partner with the community at large. We provide scholarships to minority and Indigenous students and actively participate in various community partnerships, finding opportunities to engage with and recruit women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous people, people of diverse ethnic origins, veterans, and people with disabilities. The business effect? An improved diversity pipeline leading to greater depth in our talent pool and in the industry at large.
Anything else to share (optional)?
We constantly look for ways to enhance our strategy and partner with other organizations and industry as we know it takes an intentional collaborate effort to make an impact. Don’t hesitate to contact us if there is anything you would like to find out more about or have some ideas for partnership and collaboration.
You can visit our main Stantec I&D site to find more information: https://www.stantec.com/en/about/inclusion-diversity.
