Unlocking the Diversity Dividend in BC

On October 30th, 2017, the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia (IEC-BC), the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation,  RBC Royal Bank (RBC), the Global Centre for Pluralism (GCP) and SFU Public Square will present the key findings of The Diversity Dividend: Canada’s Global Advantage. The report was authored by Dr. Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo and Senior Fellow at CIGI, and Jillian Stirk, Dialogue Associate at Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue and Mentor with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

The event will convene representatives from business, government, academia, and front-line settlement services for whom The Diversity Dividend is relevant. The morning will begin with a presentation of the report’s key findings and recommendations , and will feature an interactive demonstration of one possible solution to the challenges identified – BC JobConnect. This new online tool helps employers fill their workforce needs while offering newcomers to B.C. an effective way to showcase their talents and gain meaningful employment.

The audience will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive conversation with a panel of industry and thought leaders, renowned for their practical and theoretical expertise in workplace diversity. The discussion, moderated by Sobhana Jaya Madhavan (SFU), will include panelists Fiona Macfarlane (EY), Marija Radulovic-Nastic (Electronic Arts) and Kamal Al-Solaylee (Ryerson University). This dialogue will feature stories of success afforded by diverse hiring practices and inclusive environments, and will offer the attendees the opportunity to build networks, share challenges and best practices, all in an effort to leverage workplace inclusivity in BC.