Do you know of a business that has HR ranks as diverse as North Vancouver? There may be some official recognition in it for them.
The Excellence in Equity award will become an annual addition to the North Vancouver Chamber Business Excellence Awards.
The award is sponsored by Impact North Shore, formerly the North Vancouver Multicultural Society. The intent is to celebrate local businesses that have “demonstrated, through action, a strong commitment to inclusive practices in the workplace and broader community,” according to Wendy McCulloch, Impact North Shore's executive director.
“The award will help recognize businesses who are turning the dial to create equity in the workplace for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, People with Diverse Abilities, as well as for those who live with health and mental health challenges,” she said.
Impact North Shore and the Chamber have a long history of working together to help new immigrants enter the labour market, said Patrick Stafford-Smith, North Vancouver Chamber CEO. In a 2021 survey conducted by Impact’s North Shore Immigrant Inclusion Partnership, 67 per cent of local businesses reported struggling with staffing shortages.
“Equity in workplaces, and across sectors, creates opportunities for businesses to thrive, and for all people in our communities who have experienced exclusion to find a place in the local labour market,” he said.
Nominations for the inaugural award must be submitted by Sept. 9, 2022. The Business Excellence Awards will be held on Nov. 23, 2022, at the Polygon Gallery.
