ONYX INITIATIVE | PARTNERS

PARTNERS

Onyx Initiative works with a wide range of organizations in order to address the systemic gap in the recruiting and selecting of Black University and College students for roles in the Corporate world. Our partners contribute with more than just financial aid. Their ideas and in-kind support in helping build this initiative has been invaluable.

"If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it."

JOHN LEWIS

Founding Partners

Bell Canada

Proud to support the Onyx Initiative as a Founding Partner, Bell is working to increase Black representation on our team by building the Onyx approach into our career recruitment pipeline in order to reach more Black students in colleges and universities across the country. The Onyx Initiative is a key component of our strategy to advance the company’s targets for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour representation among intern and new graduate hires to at least 40%. Committed to offering a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports career advancement for all team members, Bell is working to address systemic racism and inequality with a range of new initiatives, including partnerships with Onyx, Black Professionals in Tech Network and BIPOC TV & Film’s Hire BIPOC project, as well as support for the Black Professionals at Bell. The $5 million Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund is dedicated to the mental health and wellbeing of racialized Canadians, with inaugural funding for Black Youth Helpline and the National Association of Friendship Centres.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Onyx Initiative to create a new pipeline between post-secondary institutions and corporate Canada that will further strengthen Bell’s talent pool as we continue to build our diverse and inclusive workplace. Engaging and investing in our people is a strategic imperative for Bell and partnerships like the Onyx Initiative are critical to ensuring our company remains one of Canada’s top employers for young people and a leading diversity employer.” — Jennifer Palov, VP, Total Rewards and HR Services, Bell Canada

PwC

Join our community of solvers at PwC Canada. We have more than 7,800 partners and staff in locations from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Vancouver, British Columbia. With more than 100 years of excellence in Canada, we provide actuarial, assurance, cybersecurity, privacy and financial crime, deals, management and technology consulting, risk assurance and tax services. We invite you to bring your passion to PwC Canada and discover how your unique perspective can make an impact.

“We’re committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone belongs and are provided opportunities to reach their full potential. That’s why we’re intentional in how we attract, hire and support typically under-represented communities, including Black talent in professional services, via our partnership with The Onyx Initiative.” — Kevin Chan, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, PwC

Premier Partners

BMO Financial Group

BMO’s Zero Barriers to Inclusion strategy, supports equal access to opportunities and enables growth for our colleagues, our customers, and the communities we serve. We are committed to building a more just society, especially for groups facing systemic barriers. It's all part of our purpose-driven commitment to boldly grow the good in business and life. Onyx is an integral partner in supporting BMO’s strategy and purpose by collaborating to decrease the gap in the representation of Black students and new graduates in Corporate Canada.

“BMO is excited to launch a partnership with Onyx to support the next generation of talent with mentorship and career readiness. The Onyx Initiative closely aligns BMO’s strategy and values while strengthening our efforts to breakdown systemic barriers.” — Vanessa Lewerentz, Chief Inclusion Officer, BMO Financial Group

TD Canada Trust

The Onyx Initiative's unique blend of recruitment, retention and mentorship for Black university and college students will create the next generation of Black leaders in Canada. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to TD's culture and core values and we're proud to be a founding member of the Onyx Initiative. We are better when we have diversity of experience, diversity of thought, diversity of opinion, and diversity of approaches and styles. At TD, our goal is to embed diversity and inclusion throughout our recruitment and retention processes, which is why our early talent philosophy is all about building a pipeline for diverse employees and driving business productivity, innovation and growth.

"Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to TD's culture and core values and we're proud to be a founding member of the Onyx Initiative. The Onyx Initiative's unique blend of recruitment, retention and mentorship for Black university and college students is supporting the next generation of Black leaders in Canada." — Girish Ganesan, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, TD Bank Group

CILAR

Real change that gets to the heart of eliminating systemic barriers is needed now more than ever before. That’s why CILAR is committed to working with incredible partners like Onyx, who magnify the voices of our talented and diverse young black community. With their leadership in developing this incredible program, we're excited to support the talented change-makers that will become a catalyst to lead our organizations in the Innovation Economy.

"As we all work towards eradicating systematic racism, it’s important to have leaders who have been fortunate to take the elevator up in their career, to now send the elevator down for others. CILAR together with Onyx will place a particular focus on black youth development to provide equal opportunity in our fast-growing innovation economy." — Armughan Ahmad, Co-Founder, CILAR