The Gov’t of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge and the Universities who’ve signed on so far.

The 50-30 Challenge is an initiative of the Government of Canada and partner community organizations intended to

“act as a framework to accelerate diversity actions already taking place in many Canadian organizations and to encourage other Canadian organizations in adopting practices to improve equity.”

“The 50 – 30 Challenge asks that organizations aspire to two goals:

1.Gender parity (“50%” women and/or non-binary people) on Canadian board(s) and/or senior management; and

2.Significant representation (“30%”) on Canadian board(s) and senior management of other equity-deserving groups: Racialized, Black, and/or People of Colour (“Visible Minorities”), People with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples. The program and participants recognize Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples, including those that identify as First Nation Peoples, Métis Nation, and Inuit, as founding Peoples of Canada and underrepresented in positions of economic influence and leadership.”

“The 50 – 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage,” Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, Government of Canada, https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/07706.html, accessed July 27, 2022.

In addition to corporations, small businesses, charities, and other community organizations, post-secondary institutions are invited to participate.

Universities that have signed the Challenge so far are:

University du Quebec a Trois Rivieres

Universite TELUQ

University of Alberta

University of Calgary – Department of Community Health Sciences

University of Manitoba

University of New Brunswick

University of Windsor

University of St. Boniface