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TORONTO—Nominations are now open for the Building Diversity Awards (BDA) which recognize contractors, unions, client/owners and industry champions who are leading in diversity, equity and inclusion to increase the participation of Black, Indigenous and racialized workers, including youth, women and newcomers within their organizations.

The second annual awards are presented by the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) in partnership with Desjardins. Recipients of the awards will be recognized at a live in-person and virtual gala at the Design Exchange taking place on May 10.

Award recipients will be recognized for one or more steps they are taking that correspond to the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks (standards for organizations around the world), as adapted by BuildForce Canada for the construction industry, states the BDA website.

Nominating an individual or organization for an award is a two-step process. Once the nomination is made and the form is filled out, a TCBN staff member will reach out to the nominee for them to accept the nomination. They will also be asked to provide any additional information to complete their profile, highlighting what they are doing to create and support a respectful and inclusive workplace.

The award categories are as follows:

• Leading on Diversity Award – Owner/Client – Recognizes an organization, client/owner, that is making extraordinary efforts to ensure underrepresented groups are accessing and succeeding in the trades.
• Leading on Diversity Award – Contractor – Recognizes an organization, contractor, that is accomplishing the same criteria as listed above.
• Leading on Diversity Award – union – Recognizes an organization, union, that is also making these efforts.
• Community Benefits Champion Award – recognizes an individual working for a private developer, local union, municipality, government agency, school board, academic or health institution who is making extraordinary efforts to ensure underrepresented groups gain training, employment and procurement opportunities through community benefits.
• NexGen Builders Champion Award – Mentee – Recognizes a current or past construction industry mentee, mentor or employer. As a mentor (individual) or employer (organization), the nominee has excelled in supporting the professional growth and development of a mentee. As a mentee, the nominee has experienced exceptional progress in taking the steps needed to succeed in a trades career.
• NexGen Builders Champion Award – Mentor – Recognizes a current or past construction industry mentee, mentor or employer. As a mentor (individual), the nominee has excelled in supporting the professional growth and development of a mentee.
• NexGen Builders Champion Award – Employer – Recognizes a current or past construction industry mentee, mentor or employer. As an employer (organization), the nominee has excelled in supporting the professional growth and development of a mentee.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges made up of a diverse group of industry professionals and will be announced at the gala.

“To be nominated for the Building Diversity Awards recognizes your commitment to the fundamental principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in the construction industry,” said TCBN executive director Rosemarie Powell in a statement. “Receiving an award is an affirmation that your efforts represent best practices and exceptional progress in creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that others in the industry are sure to follow.”

For more information or to make a nomination, visit