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Ted Rogers School of Management’s Diversity Institute (DI) promotes diversity and inclusion as the key to Canada’s competitiveness

Founded in 1999 by Dr. Wendy Cukier, the Diversity Institute has conducted groundbreaking research on diversity and inclusion in Canada, developed impactful programs like the Newcomer Entrepreneurship Hub, championed legislative change on Bill C-25 and helped companies understand the opportunities of inclusion and develop tools to harness inclusion as a driver for success.

The Diversity Institute leads the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (external link) , and is a research lead for the Future Skills Centre (external link)  and an ecosystem partner in the 50 – 30 Challenge (external link) .

The facts speak for themselves: Inclusion is good for society and good for the bottom line.

The facts speak for themselves, inclusion is good for society and good for the bottom line:

If Canada made workplaces more accessible, it would add $16.8 billion to our GDP (external link, opens in new window)  by 2030

Investors that focus on companies who have a  (PDF file) gender diversity strategy (external link, opens in new window)  are rewarded with annual growth rates of 3.5%

Companies with racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely (external link)  to have higher financial returns

If women were enabled to fully participate in the economy, we would contribute $150 billion to our GDP by 2026 (external link) 

Canada faces a labour shortage and immigrants will account for 80% of population growth (external link) 

Companies with gender diversity are 15% more likely to have higher financial returns (external link) 

Research Areas

Diversity & Inclusion

Applying a systems-level ecological model to understanding barriers, making workplaces more inclusive, and promoting diversity in leadership.

Future Skills

Identifying, developing, replicating and scaling inclusive approaches that will strengthen the nation’s skills and training ecosystem.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

A network of academic experts, industry and community leaders, and government and social innovators dedicated to building an inclusive and highly competent workforce.

News + Events

February 27, 2025
The path forward to advancing economic equity for Black Canadians
The first annual State of Black Economics Report (SOBER) shows that Canada’s growing and increasingly diverse Black population is advancing economically, but there is more to be done.
February 25, 2025
Good Governance in Canada: Perspectives of Black Leaders
The Diversity Institute partnered with the Canadian Club of Toronto to host more than 350 people at an event highlighting the insights of Black leaders on best practices for corporate governance.
February 14, 2025
Canadian Club of Ottawa Welcomes Expertise and Research from the Diversity Institute and Future Skills Centre
At the Innovation in Infrastructure event, Wendy Cukier delivers the opening remarks by stressing the importance of inclusion to meeting Canada’s growing infrastructure needs.
February 3, 2025
Navigating the equity, diversity and inclusion backlash
From companies slashing equity, diversity and inclusion programs to the president of the world’s largest economy eliminating all EDI programs and roles at federal departments, EDI has never been more under threat. How to manage that backlash was the focus of a webinar led by Dr. Wendy Cukier on January 22.

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