Happy Holidays! Celebrating a year of innovation, collaboration and impact in 2024

This fall, Magnet Network Live welcomed 200 government officials, technology innovators and academics. Wendy Cukier, founder and academic director of DI and academic research director of FSC, and neuroscientist Vivienne Ming discussed how inclusive innovation can drive change while highlighting the risks technologies like AI pose.

In October, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants Leaders’ Forum brought together 150 sector leaders and funders to discuss public policy, governance and trends. Experts examined workplace gender-based violence, legal support for migrant workers and AI opportunities in newcomer settlement services.

Published this fall, the report, created with the Environics Institute, found 40% of racialized respondents report race-based discrimination; rates of discrimination were highest in the nonprofit sector, followed by government and the private sector. It also found that those who report experiencing workplace discrimination tend also to report poorer mental health.

Launched this spring, this report, created with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and FSC, explores the experiences of 25 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders. It highlights barriers, enablers and the impact of under-representation in leadership, including wage gaps and generational wealth.

Based on surveys of 34,740 adult Canadians, the study found the most common reason for not looking for work is health-related (63%). Long-term unemployment is most likely to be associated with less education and with having a disability, suggesting a need to refocus policies, programs and practices.

The report, created with Women in Communications and Technology and the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, found women are underrepresented in information and communications technology roles. The report suggests strategies to advance women in the sector.

Research shows persons with disabilities, despite being highly qualified, face discrimination that hinders their professional growth. At a spring event hosted by DI and Women of Influence, women with disabilities discussed the challenges and offered solutions, like Canada’s 50 – 30 Challenge.

This spring, a virtual event hosted by DI and Women of Influence, Inclusive Leadership: Women Breaking Glass Ceilings in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), women who have managed to break the glass ceiling in science spoke about what needs to change to make STEM-related careers more equitable.

In January, DI and the Women’s Executive Network hosted a workshop on ways to improve and track progress in implementing EDI best practices. They highlighted DI’s Diversity Assessment Tool (external link)  App, a free application that helps organizations improve their EDI strategies.

Funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and in partnership with businesses and diversity organizations, the 50 – 30 Challenge encourages organizations to advance gender parity and diversity on boards and/or in senior leadership. Many organizations joined in 2024. Make yours next: sign up to access  free tools by March 31, 2025.

WEKH’s flagship annual report provides insights into the landscape of women’s entrepreneurship, drawing from the most recent research and data. The research shows the impact of Canada’s $7-billion Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which aims to grow  women-owned businesses’ access to financing, networks and expertise to start up, scale up and access new markets.

The report, created in partnership with the Black Business and Professional Association and FSC, found that the Black community is diverse—more than 60% were born outside of Canada—but the experience of anti-Black racism persists. Building on research and programs, BACEL considers entrepreneurs’ stages of development and the needs of youth, women and men.

While all entrepreneurs face challenges, research shows Black entrepreneurs are disproportionately burdened by systemic barriers, prejudice and limited access to resources. Addressing structural barriers and racism faced by Black-led businesses will enhance the well-being of Black communities and make a lasting contribution to Canada's economic development.

Published in July with FSC and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, the report identifies Northern Indigenous women entrepreneurs’ challenges accessing skills and resources needed to build livelihoods in tourism. They shared how discrimination, loss of culture, lateral violence, intergenerational trauma, and mental health issues affect their success.

In the fall, DI hosted a networking event supported by Toronto’s Business Incubation and Commercialisation Grant Program. More than 100 entrepreneurs connected with 21 mentors from diverse sectors, gaining valuable insights to advance their ventures.

This report with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business explores themes like motivations, support services, government services and financing. It looks at the experiences of Indigenous women entrepreneurs where more support is needed.

At the 3rd session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent event in Geneva, DI’s Nancy Mitchell, Director of Research, Special Projects, hosted a session with the Hon. Jean Augustine, Hon. Kamal Khera, Gaynel Curry, Tamara Thermitus and Nadine Spencer on the barriers that women of African descent face in the economy and strategies for change.

Cukier was recognized by the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship with the inaugural Mary A. Kilfoil Award for Outstanding Contributions to Advancing Innovation in Entrepreneurship
Education. She also received the King Charles III Coronation Medal awarded by Senator Donna Dasko and former Senator Ratna Omidvar at a ceremony in Toronto.

Sabine Soumare, WEKH’s executive director, was part of the Ontario delegation attending the Francotech conference in Paris in October at the initiative of the General Secretariat of the Francophonie Summit in partnership with Business France and the Alliance of Francophone Employers. This initiative promotes innovation in France to strengthen the Francophone economic space and foster business contacts.

In August, Cukier, Dr. Tania Saba (Université de Montréal) and Anjum Sultana (Plan International Canada), participated in the International Women 20 Summit (W20) in Rio de Janeiro as part of the Canadian delegation. Cukier also participated in a webinar led by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Committee on SMEs’ issues, with an aim sharing insights on the Canadian government’s approach to supporting women entrepreneurs.

ADaPT for Black Youth builds on the success of the ADaPT program by preparing youth for a changing workforce. It helps them develop skills for success, including those to build digital and professional competencies and to  secure work. Stay tuned for more on the  ADaPT for BC Newcomers program in 2025.

Created by DI in partnership with the Scadding Court Community Centre, the program was launched in 2018 and consists of 40 in-class hours for newcomers with experts on topics like finance, procurement and social media and one-on-one mentorship.