City of Ottawa again among nation’s top diversity employers

For the fourth consecutive year, the City of Ottawa has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in a national competition that recognizes organizations that do the most to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The winners were announced in a special feature published in today’s _ Globe and Mail _ .

“I am proud to see the City recognized for actively supporting and advancing diversity and inclusion and for embracing different views and new perspectives,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “It is important that people feel safe, valued and respected in their workplace and in our City. That commitment is helping us to extend and improve the services we provide to all our residents.”

Now entering its ninth year, the Canada’s Best Diversity Employers competition recognizes the leading organizations when it comes to creating inclusive workplaces for employees from diverse groups.

Employers are selected by the editors at Mediacorp Canada Inc., the nation’s largest publisher of specialty employment periodicals and guides, based on submissions to the annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers competition, now in its 16

th

year.

In particular, the City of Ottawa was recognized for:

 * 
Its partnership with Hire Immigrants Ottawa to bring together employers and immigrant-serving agencies.

 * 
Developing an immigration strategy, which includes the Annual Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards and the Professional Internship for Newcomers program.

 * 
Organizing Diversity Cafés where employees can discuss experiences and issues involving diversity.

 * 
Hosting an annual AccessAbility Day to celebrate accessibility and inclusion.

“Diversity makes organizations more robust, innovative and adaptive,” said City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick. “We are continually looking for ways to improve services, accessibility, and our business practices to better respond to, and reflect, our community’s diversity.”

In the last year, the City of Ottawa has also been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers.