PEOPLE LEADERS

Each of these companies reports highly diverse workforces, with substantial representation from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled, refugee and religious-minority communities. They also offer a broad range of retention and recruitment programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

ARRAY OF STARS INC.

Head office Toronto

Founded in 2013

Employees 20

It’s fitting that design and tech agency Array of Stars is a place where employee creativity and flexibility thrive—its work is to “bring the future to life every day.”

CAREPROS

Head office Edmonton

Founded in 2017

Employees 175

CarePros does the vital work of providing support to at-risk children and youth. Its employees are trained to serve clients using a trauma-informed lens.

FUZE HR SOLUTIONS INC.

Head office Montreal

Founded in 2006

Employees 145

Fuze places employees in roles ranging from entry level to executive, so it’s important to model best practices: More than 85 per cent of its employees are women.

HERBALAND NATURALS INC.

Head office Richmond, B.C.

Founded in 2009

Employees 225

Eighty per cent of the managers at Herbaland — which makes nutritional gummies — are women or people of colour.

JUNO COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Head office Toronto

Founded in 2012

Employees 37

Juno is on a mission to diversify tech. It’s the first school in Canada to offer Income Share Agreements, which allow students to pay reduced tuition upfront and the balance once they’re earning substantial income.

K2 GROUP

Head office Toronto

Founded in 2017

Employees 350

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, real-estate development firm K2 Group gave every team member a raise. It also gives employees paid time off for mental-health reasons.

LED SMART INC.

Head office Surrey, B.C.

Founded in 1995

Employees 65

LED Smart develops smart lighting systems. More than 90 per cent of its workforce and more than 80 per cent of its leadership team are people of colour.

NEIGHBOURLY PHARMACY INC.

Head office Toronto

Founded in 2015

Employees 2,036

Neighbourly operates pharmacies in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, employing local youth and low-income candidates as much as possible.

RUSSELL INDUSTRIES CORP.

Head office Burlington, Ont.

Founded in 1996

Employees 590

Project and maintenance firm Russell Industries keeps employees engaged and supported with a “zero-tolerance policy for jerks” approach to people management.

VERTICAL STAFFING RESOURCES

Head office Brampton, Ont.

Founded in 2013

Employees 452

Vertical places people in a diverse array of roles, and it has a mobile app to give job-hunters quick access to available opportunities.