Hire Immigrant Ottawa (HIO) today awarded Export Development Canada (EDC) with one of its 2016 Employer Excellence Awards, which recognizes local employers for their innovative workplace policies and practices around the recruitment and integration of skilled immigrant employees.

EDC is Canada’s trade finance agency, and the leading provider of financing, insurance and bonding for Canadian companies of all sizes that do business outside of Canada.

“Having a diverse and representative workforce is a strategic business advantage for EDC, especially given our global mandate,” says Stephanie Butt-Thibodeau, Senior Vice President, Human Resources. “Diverse and inclusive workplaces don’t just happen, they need to be developed through dedicated programs aimed at achieving specific goals. This is something EDC has been working towards, and it will continue to be a priority.”

As part of its evaluation of EDC, HIO highlighted a number of workplace features and employee programs that make EDC an Ottawa employer of choice. These include unconscious bias training, a diversity and inclusion committee, and robust communications to increase awareness throughout the organization.

“Increasing the diversity of our employee base and our workplace culture has definitely made EDC a better organization,” says Butt-Thibodeau. “The importance of this work is further highlighted when it results in external recognition by an organization like Hire Immigrants Ottawa.”

The awards will be presented today, March 9, 2016, at the Employer Council of Champions Summit at the Shaw Centre, 5 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa.

For more information on careers at EDC, visit our careers page.

About EDC

Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians.

For more information and to learn how we can help your company, call us at 1-800-229-0575 or visit www.edc.ca.