The University of Toronto has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity for 2025. 

Now in its 18th year, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers recognizes employers across Canada with exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs.  Each year, the editors evaluate organizations based on successful diversity initiatives that support women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minorities/racialized persons, those with lived experience of disability, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Additional dimensions of diversity are also considered, including programs focused on supporting neurodiversity and newcomers to Canada, and the editors make note of organizations that have specific measures in place to track progress towards their diversity goals. 

“Employees who feel a strong sense of belonging and connection are enormous assets to any organization. Developing an inclusive workplace culture is one of the best ways to satisfy that need for belonging and connection,” says Kristina Leung, managing editor at Mediacorp Canada. “At its core, an inclusive workplace recognizes that every employee is a person with a unique history, background and culture, and ensures that policies, programming, and benefits reflect their diverse needs.” 

Jodie Glean-Mitchell, U of T’s Executive Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, said, “During a time when equity, diversity and inclusion efforts are under attack, this recognition demonstrates the community’s understanding that our strength and excellence is intricately tied to the diverse tapestry of people and perspectives at the University, and that we must all be committed to championing inclusive environments where everyone can experience the sentiment of belonging.” 

The University of Toronto was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2025) for many reasons, including: 

• Our Institutional Equity Office, comprised of the Antiracism and Cultural Diversity, Sexual and Gender Diversity and AODA portfolios, offer professional development training and resources, engage in community building and outreach, provide complaint resolution supports and work collaboratively to enhance University policy and guidelines. 

• Recruitment initiatives such as the diversity in recruitment staff manual for hiring managers, interview panelists and search committee members; the First Nations House Job Fair, and the Diversity Internship for HR graduates who self-identify as Indigenous, racialized or having a disability. 

• Institution-wide faculty working groups such as that which reviews the recruitment and retention of Black faculty, Black student recruitment and success, and representation in curriculum and academic programming. 

 Also included on U of T’s recognition page was the following testimonial from David Kim, Warden, Hart House: 

“Recently, the university initiated the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group which enabled me to connect with peers — students, staff and faculty — to share powerful stories and experiences that resonated with members of Asian communities and to identify priorities we’d like to see in the institution to address the various forms of racism, whether overt or more subtle, that we see on our campus environments. With each of these experiences, I’ve found that I feel more empowered in my own voice and identity as a leader at U of T and to engage in meaningful conversations with my colleagues and with students about these issues. If anything, being able to do so in a way that resonates with me has been one of the most significant outcomes as this has enabled me to support my peers in a caring and authentic way.”

To learn more about equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives at the University of Toronto, read our most recent EDI Report.