BY: Jon Sarpong and Mark Marji

In late November 2008, the Maytree Foundation in partnership with the Toronto City Summit Alliance launched “Diverse City: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project,” an eight-program initiative that aims to increase diversity within political, economic and social leadership circles in the Greater Toronto Area. DiverseCity was created in response to a call from more than 600 Toronto region leaders at the Alliance’s 2007 Toronto Summit for a collective effort to diversify leadership to help the GTA better achieve, excel and prosper.

Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance worked with The Conference Board of Canada to develop a report called “The Value of Diverse Leadership.” The report found that, although Canada prides itself on being a diverse multicultural society, there remains a serious lack of inclusiveness at the top of its public, private and non-profit organizations. Through case studies of organizations that have accomplished increased diversity at the senior levels, the report also shows that there is some reason for optimism.

“The GTA is the most diverse region in North America and our diversity can be one of our most powerful competitive advantages if we realize its full potential,” says David Pecaut, Chair, Toronto City Summit Alliance and Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. “Through the Diverse-City project, and focusing on diverse leadership, the GTA community and organizations within the region have the opportunity to maximize their strength and effectiveness.”

“Evidence shows that diversity strengthens leadership by bringing broader perspectives, enhanced knowledge, and connections to new markets and social networks into organizations and communities,” says Anne Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Conference Board of Canada. It is hoped that the efforts of the DiverseCity project will generate increases in leadership diversity and help the Toronto region take important steps towards securing its future competitiveness, sustainability and quality of life.

With a more diverse leadership, the range of talents and perspectives broadens, bringing a wider array of knowledge, skills and experiences to organizations.

“We are trying to build a movement of individuals, businesses and institutions that recognize the social and economic prosperity possible in this city region,” says Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree. “We can do this by investing in building a leadership that reflects the diversity of people who live and work in the GTA.”

Our business and community leaders speak out about diversity:

“Everybody, regardless of background, has an equal chance to make a contribution in the community.”
Mike Akerewusi, Chief Development Officer, YMCA, Greater Toronto

“There is a gap between how we look as a society and our leadership. Through promotion and education, people will be impacted at all levels in society, and together participate in an equitable, shared power base where everyone belongs.”
Paulette Senior, C.E.O., YWCA Canada

“The broader population will recognize the economic benefits of diversity and be more willing to invest in a process to effect change across the board.”
Councillor Michael Thompson, Ward 37 Scarborough Centre

“Justice is democracy. There are many people from diverse backgrounds. If we are really democratic, the leadership should reflect that and promote a just society.”
Faduma Mohamed, Executive Director, Labour Community Services

“It’s an exciting beginning to leverage what we’ve known was always here in Toronto — our diversity — but now we’ll be actually tapping into it.”
Naki Osutei, Project Manager, Toronto City Summit Alliance