Today, Mayor John Tory accepted Diversio Certification on behalf of the City of Toronto, signalling the City’s continued commitment to meaningful and authentic performance on equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The City is the first municipality to receive this designation as part of the inaugural cohort of recipients, which includes more than 80 prominent organizations from a variety of sectors.
In 2019, the City engaged Diversio to provide a comprehensive analysis of its employee demographics, identities and experiences, as part of its multi-year Workforce Equity & Inclusion Plan, available at www.toronto.ca/city-government/accessibility-human-rights/equity-diversity-inclusion/workforce-equity-inclusion-plan/. The Toronto-based technology firm uses artificial intelligence and robust benchmarking to measure, track and create recommendations to improve diversity and inclusion for companies worldwide.
As a result of the analysis, the City received certification for measuring and setting targets to increase diversity at all levels of the organization, making a commitment to long-term data tracking and for implementing a strategy for improvement with concrete programs, policies and intervention to drive change.
The City’s initiatives to foster equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace include the:
Quotes:
“I am proud that the City’s ongoing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace is being recognized through Diversio Certification. This new standard provides the workforce at the city and our residents a sense of confidence that we are working hard to make an inclusive public sector. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, it’s so important, now more than ever, that the Toronto Public Service reflects the communities that it serves. I look forward to the implementation of the recommendations brought forward by Diversio which will not only enhance our workforce but ensure that we are striving to make it better than before.”
– Mayor John Tory
“As we work to promote equity and inclusion across all levels of the Toronto Public Service, it’s encouraging to see our programs and initiatives that foster this work validated through Diversio Certification. Our partnership with Diversio will enable us to make improvements and better serve the diverse needs of all our employees, as well as attract new talent, through data-informed decision making.”
– Omo Akintan, Chief People Officer, City of Toronto
“Diversio Certification is a signal that an organization has made a meaningful commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is not a check-box exercise. Research shows that a truly inclusive culture requires data, metrics, and impact-oriented programming to enable all employees to succeed. We are pleased that Diversio’s AI-powered certification platform is enabling companies across many sectors and sizes to accelerate their diversity and inclusion journey, including our partners at the City of Toronto.”
– Laura McGee, CEO, Diversio
About Diversio
Diversio is a technology company, setting the global standard for diversity and inclusion. Diversio’s digital platform uses artificial intelligence to uncover diversity gaps and systemic biases in the workplace and its Recommendation Engine generates unique action plans based on a database of 1,000+ solutions. Diversio tracks improvement over time to help companies stay accountable to their employees, boards, investors, customers and the public.
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.