Our success relies on diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective.
Serving a membership as diverse as ours and investing in a global market means cultivating an environment that embraces inclusion, diversity and equity (IDE) in everything we do. We know diversity of thought, background, culture and perspective is critical to creating long-term value.
OPTrust is highly diverse across several dimensions of IDE, and we are actively engaged in building on our unique strengths. In 2021, OPTrust dedicated resources with the launch of a three-year strategic roadmap to become a leading organization in IDE practices.
We are on a journey and recognize there is much more to accomplish in the coming years to make meaningful progress towards a more inclusive organization for employees, members and the communities and lands where OPTrust operates.
Celebrating International Women’s Day (March 9, 2020)
Diversity Highlights
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Gender balance
We believe gender equity representation in senior level positions is an achievable goal for OPTrust. Our Board of Trustees has a strong historical record of gender parity and our Executive Team has 30 per cent female representation. We actively invite different genders and diverse candidates to join our team. -
Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee
We have an Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee chaired by a member of our Executive Team that serves as an advisory body to help the organization look at everything it does through an IDE lens to advance our goals. -
Women in Capital Markets and 30% Club Canada
We are members of Women in Capital Markets (WCM) and the 30% Club Canada, and partner on a wide range of initiatives to accelerate progress on gender diversity in investments and in the spheres where we can collectively exert collective influence. -
Raising awareness on Indigenous communities
We recognize the Indigenous land on which we conduct our operations with a land acknowledgement sign and continue to raise broader awareness in the organization on Indigenous communities. -
Creating an inclusive environment
We have introduced new resources to ensure that the OPTrust team is comfortable being their authentic selves at work, including adding the option to include pronouns and proper name pronunciation in email signatures. We have also launched internal educational campaigns around gender identity, the importance of using people's correct pronouns and taking the time to learn how to pronounce each other’s names.
IDE in Action
On #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay, OPTrust took time to learn about the issues faced by the Indigenous community that succeeded in protecting the Sacred Headwaters, known as the Klabona, from industrial activities.
OPTrust connected with a rainbow of identities in the LGBTQ2S+ community through an educational session with Stephanie Woolley from PFlag, a panel discussion with David Thompson, Emily O'Donohue and Michael Kwag, and a booth at #PrideToronto StreetFair.
On March 8, we recognized International Women’s Day by hosting a panel discussion about the Power of the Pack with female leaders in the financial services industry.
As part of our #BlackHistoryMonth initiatives, we engaged in a conversation with our team members about belonging beyond stereotypes.
The idea that we’re in a post-racial society has not even come close to being materialized despite the global reckoning and Black Lives Matter Movement sparked in 2020. There is no question that Black people are often viewed by others through the lens of stereotypes and misconceptions, which are not rooted in the reality of the rich and beautiful history of Black people the world over.
December 3 is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We were honoured to have Danielle Peers share their personal stories and experiences as a person with disability.
We were honoured to learn from Nadia McLaren about the importance of the medicine wheel as a symbol for Indigenous communities and the connection to the seasons, elements, stages of life and roles that ground a community, and how it was irreparably damaged by Canada’s residential school system.
Leading up to #PrideMonth, we launched an education campaign on the power of #pronouns and hosted a series of training sessions on gender diversity. Throughout June, we continued the conversation and hosted an event with Rick Prashaw, who shared his son Adam’s transgender journey and stories on human rights, workplace justice and more.
We hosted a series of impactful sessions for our team including Dr. Lee Airton from Queen's University on creating a gender-friendly workplace and fostering an inclusive climate that welcomes all the ways people experience gender.
We shared a moment of silence to honour and remember the 215 children who died at the former Kamloops (Tk'emlúps) Indian Residential School and the families who continue to experience an unimaginable loss. #215children #everychildmatters
To celebrate #InternationalWomensDay 2021, over the past week we’ve shared inspirational words of wisdom from 10 female leaders at OPTrust.
As part of our #BlackHistoryMonth initiatives, we hosted a panel for our employees about combatting anti-Black systemic racism.
As a Black Canadian woman in a position of senior leadership at one of Canada’s largest pension plans, I have a responsibility to add my voice to the current discourse on racism. I’m encouraged by the tide of optimism and change sweeping the globe.
In the 30% Club Canada’s updated Investor Statement of Intent (https://lnkd.in/eYYXpVca) they call on companies to take prompt and considered action to achieve and exceed the 30% gender diversity target and to enhance the presence of other underrepresented groups including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, other visible minorities, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and persons with disabilities on their boards and at the executive management level.
Diversity and belonging is an organizational imperative - a shared responsibility. We all must be open to learning and sharing. Thank you to our virtual panelists for your insights on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.
Celebrating Pride Month looked a little different in 2020. But that didn’t stop us from coming together to show our Pride. We celebrated the rich and diverse history of the LGBTQ+ community. While Pride Month concludes, creating a sense of inclusion and belonging for every person of diverse sexual and gender identities is part of our cultural DNA each day.
In 2020, leadership expert, Vanessa Judelman interviewed Audrey and Kourtnie Forbes, a Black female executive and her daughter as they discuss racism in Canada.
Sunday June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day! We celebrate Indigenous heritage, diversity and culture while acknowledging and reflecting on the achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada.
Connecting with others doesn’t just feel good.
It’s good for our Mental Health. This Mental Health Week, connect with others and get real about how you feel.
Visit www.mentalhealthweek.ca to learn more.
In 2020, to celebrate Black History Month, we hosted an event – Diversity and Inclusion: Being Black on Bay Street. We believe that making progress in diversity is about finding areas of commonality, and driving cultural change.