Racism, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, and other types of discrimination—and the resulting inequities—are systemic problems. While we know we’re not going to solve these problems on our own, we formed a DEI Committee in 2020 to help address them. It’s part of our commitment to be accountable to our people, create a more equitable and inclusive environment, and be a positive example for our industry.
2023 DEI Report
Our initiatives
There’s always more to do, but here’s some of the work we’ve done over the last year.
- Presented regular training events with external partners like Bloom to broaden our understanding of systems of oppression present in and outside our work.
- Compiled always-available resources for cultural recognition events throughout the year, like Black History Month; National Women’s Day; Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride, and more.
- Celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day with educational resources and a company-wide session by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary to hear more about their cultural backgrounds, practices and traditions.
- Formal observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
- Continued mandatory basic accessibility training for all new employees and in-depth training also available for Customer Experience staff according to WCAG 2.1 standards.
How we're doing
Our annual DEI reports inform and help us prioritize initiatives—from policies and internal accountability to education and training to community outreach.
Identity and lived experience
Gender Identity
In 2021, fewer participants were cis-gender men. Cisgender women made up over half of the participants. In 2020, there was a fairly close split between people who identified as cisgender men and cisgender women.
In 2022, the number of cisgender men increased, making the distribution between cisgender men and women more even. Cisgender women still make up over half of Evans Hunt employees.
In 2023, the majority of EH employees identified as cisgendered women (54%), with a decrease of 9% in representation of cisgender men.
Gender and sexual diversity
While LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual, or other) and LGBTQ2S+ (which represents the inclusion of two-spirit in Canada) are widely recognized in North America, Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) is a more inclusive and modern replacement of the LGBTQ etc. acronym.
2021's results were very similar to 2020's. The vast majority of participants did not identify as Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD).
The number of team members who identified as GSD slightly increased in 2022. However, most staff did not identify as GSD.
Similar to last year, most employees did not identify as GSD (81%) and fewer identified as GSD (a 4% decrease).
Race and ethnicity
An ethnic group or ethnicity is a population group whose members identify with each other on the basis of common nationality or shared cultural traditions. The term race refers to the concept of dividing people into populations or groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics which usually result from genetic ancestry. While race is technically a social construct that ignores the scope of human diversity, we used a mix of race and ethnicity here to distinguish underrepresented minorities, which vary based on country.
Similar to 2020, most participants identified as white/caucasian. This number rose to 75 percent when only considering members of our leadership team. There were slight increases in East Asian, Multiracial, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Latino/ Latinx/Hispanic participants in 2021. But compared to Calgary's makeup, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
Similar to 2021, most staff identified as white/caucasian in 2022. There was a small increase in those who preferred not to answer. Compared to Canadian demographics, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
In 2023, most employees identified as White/Caucasian (72%), an increase of 5%. More people (7%) chose not to answer this year, than last year.
Age
Similar to 2020, most of the participating employees were between 25-54. There was no significant representation for individuals under 25 or over 54.
In 2022, most participating staff were 25–54, which is about the same as previous years. There was an increase in staff under 24 and over 54.
Most employees were still under 44 years of age (71%) but this proportion decreased by 4%. Employees aged 35 to 44 represent the largest share (35%), which decreased by 3%.
Caregiver status
Similar to 2020, the split between parents/caregivers and non-parents/caregivers in 2021 was close to 50:50.
The number of employees who were not parents or carers increased in 2022 to just over half.
Similar to 2022, most EH employees were not parents or carers (56%).
Education level
On average, team members have a higher level of education than Calgary's general population. But it's important to note that one of the main factors that determine post-secondary education in Canada is parental education level. And immigrants and racialized people are less likely to be able to access post-secondary education opportunities.
Close to three-quarters of participating EH team members have completed a bachelor's degree. Because of changes to how we phrased the question, we can’t directly compare the 2021 results to 2020.
In 2022, more than three-quarters of participating team members have completed a bachelor's degree, post-graduate work or advanced degree, which is a small decrease compared to 2021.
Similar to previous years, in 2023, most employees held a Bachelor’s degree (62%).
Neurodiversity/disability
A disability may include cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities, hearing impairment, intellectual disabilities, mobility impairment, vision impairment or blindness, and others. A genetic condition may include cancer, cerebral palsy, chronic pain condition, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV infection, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and others. A mental illness may include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Neurodiversity may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, and others. We recognize that many neurodivergent conditions, genetic conditions, mental illnesses, and disabilities overlap and are not mutually exclusive.
In 2021, a larger share of participants (close to 1 in 3) identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, as having a mental illness, and/or as having a disability. In 2020, one-quarter of team members identified as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Similar to 2021, nearly one in three participants identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Most employees did not identify as having as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability, but 1 in 5 staff members identified with at least one.
Inclusion and belonging
We know that having a diverse team is actually the last part of the equation and that belonging, inclusion, and equity must come first. Inclusion is the "process of creating an environment that supports and encourages all employees, giving particular attention to and elevating the perspectives of those from maginalized identities." (Holloway, 2019)
As part of our survey, we included a series of questions that explore:
- our corporate culture
- the extent to which our team members experienced discrimination and harassment
- our hiring and recruitment policies and practices
- how we reviewed team members' performance and the opportunities that exist for career development
- how much team members felt like they belonged, and how satisfied they were with DEI training and resources
The ratings below reflect our team's aggregate data. Percentages can help simplify a data set, but they can also mask important differences—especially ones that affect marginalized identities. We ran an in-depth analysis to find out if those with different positions of power at Evans Hunt had different experiences from each other.
We learned that:
- Overall, 2023 results are similar to 2022, with no significant decreases in scoring. However, there were notable increases in satisfaction with career development resources and DEI training.
- Similar to previous years, the majority of staff felt that everyone has equal access to employment opportunities. Some staff felt that career opportunities may be dependent on role, identity (age, gender) and/or ability to advocate for themselves.
- For example, employees who identified with a mental illness were less likely to agree that everyone at EH has equal access to employment opportunities and career development.
- Belonging scores were similar to last year but we continued to see that some race and ethnic groups were less likely to feel that they see others like them in management roles.
Corporate culture
- A large majority of team members agreed that specific aspects of Evans Hunt’s culture are positive and have improved since 2020.
- New in 2021 were questions to help us gain insight into levels of burnout at the company.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were similar to 2021.
- There was a notable improvement in discriminatory jokes not being tolerated in 2022. However, scoring on transparent communication decreased this year.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were consistent from 2022 to 2023, with agreement high across all statements.
YesI agree that leadership at Evans Hunt is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion.
93%YesI agree that discriminatory jokes are not tolerated at Evans Hunt.
87%YesI agree that Evans Hunt provides an environment for the free and open expression of ideas, opinions and beliefs.
91%
Discrimination and harassment
- The majority of team members agreed that Evans Hunt policies discourage discrimination and that staffers can report concerns of harassment or discrimination without jeopardizing job security.
- This section showed much improvement compared to results from the previous year’s survey.
- The majority of team members have not witnessed (63%) or experienced (70%) a microaggression, but there are still 30% who have and 33% who are unsure.
- Similar to 2021, the majority of team members have not witnessed (61%) or experienced (74%) a microaggression, but there are still 1 in 5 people who have witnessed a microaggression and 16% who experienced it.
- New in 2022 was a statement about how quickly discrimination and harassment reports were handled, which is an area for Evans Hunt to focus on in the future.
- Scores across this category did not differ significantly from last year.
- The majority of staff said they had not witnessed or experienced a microaggression. However, 1 in 5 employees still said they witnessed microaggressions either internally, with clients, or both.
YesIf I have a concern about harassment or discrimination, I know where and how to report it.
90%YesI agree that Evans Hunt's policies and procedures discourage discrimination.
93%YesIf I flagged a concern, I do not think it would jeopardize my job security or the company’s perception of me.
67%YesWhen I report harassment or discrimination to EH, it’s handled in a timely manner.
76%
Hiring and opportunities
- A majority agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds, teams reflect diversity, and everyone has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
- There was a significant increase in agreement from 2020 on hiring from diverse backgrounds, while increases were modest for the other two areas.
- Similar to 2021, a majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
- There was an increase in staff agreeing that teams are diverse, but a decrease in agreement that everyone has equal access to opportunities.
- Nearly all employees agreed that EH hires from diverse backgrounds and more people agreed that teams at EH are diverse.
- Nearly three-quarters of staff agreed that everyone has equal access to opportunities at EH, but staff identifying as having a mental illness were significantly less likely to agree with that statement.
YesI agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
90%YesI agree that my team at work is diverse.
81%YesI agree that everyone at Evans Hunt has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
73%
Career development
- Overall scores in this section have improved, but more work needs to be done to help staff understand their compensation, how fair that compensation is, and what a career development path looks like.
- Lower scores reflect more uncertainty than disagreement with the statements, except for knowing how others are compensated in similar roles (63% disagreed with this statement).
- The majority agree that job performance is evaluated fairly and that resources are available for career development, but about 20% are unsure or neither agree nor disagree.
- Overall, scores remained similar to 2021, with continued work needed to help staff understand their compensation.
- Staff who have worked 5–7 years were less likely to know how others in similar roles were compensated.
- Most staff agreed that their job performance is evaluated fairly.
- Just over half of employees agreed their compensation is fair, but almost a quarter were unsure.
- This year, significantly more staff agreed they have the necessary resources to pursue their career development path.
YesI agree that my job performance is evaluated fairly.
78%YesI feel that my compensation is fair, relative to others in a similar role at EH
52%YesI’m satisfied with my career development path at EH
70%YesResources are available to me that I need to pursue my career development path
77%YesI am recognized for my accomplishments
78%
Belonging
- All scores in this section improved from the previous year except for three areas.
- New to 2021 was a statement about seeing people like themselves in leadership roles at Evans Hunt, which two-thirds agreed with.
- Compared to 2020, a smaller majority said they felt like they belonged and could be their authentic selves at Evans Hunt.
- Overall, scores in this category showed improvement, but there were decreases in agreement from staffers who can see others like themselves at EH and in director roles.
- This was especially true for employees identifying as minority race/ethnicity, minority religion, as having a disability, genetic condition, mental illness and/or neurodiverse, and gender and sexually diverse.
In 2023, results remained largely unchanged from previous years, with most staff feeling like they belong.
YesI can see other people like me at Evans Hunt.
86%YesI can see other people like me in director roles at Evans Hunt.
71%YesI can see other people like me on the leadership team.
68%YesI have things in common with others at Evans Hunt.
89%YesI can be successful as my authentic self at Evans Hunt.
88%YesI feel like I belong
85%
Training and resources
The vast majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs and are satisfied with the 2021 training. This represents a large increase over 2020.
- There was a decrease in agreement that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs in 2022.
- Some employees felt that DEI training had stalled compared to previous years. A few noted they wanted future training to be more interactive and relevant to our evolving industry.
- The share of employees who agreed that EH had done a good job providing DEI training increased significantly from 2022 to 2023.
- The majority were satisfied with the DEI training they had received.
YesEvans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs.
93%YesIn general, I’m satisfied with the DEI training programs at Evans Hunt.
85%
2022 DEI Report
Our initiatives
There’s always more to do, but here’s some of the work we’ve done over the last year.
- We added a Head of People and a dedicated HR team.
- We created DEI committee guidelines, terms of reference, and formalized a process for adding new members.
- Formal observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, along with company-wide educational sessions and resources.
- Mandatory basic accessibility training for all employees and hosted company-wide accessibility projects. More in-depth training was also provided for customer experience teams and anyone else interested in learning more about web accessibility best practices and standards (WCAG 2.0).
- Optional DEI educational sessions for team members were sourced and funded, and we created an ongoing list of educational resources.
How we're doing
Our annual DEI reports inform and help us prioritize initiatives––from policies and internal accountability to education and training to community outreach.
Identity and lived experience
Gender Identity
In 2021, fewer participants were cis-gender men. Cisgender women made up over half of the participants. In 2020, there was a fairly close split between people who identified as cisgender men and cisgender women.
In 2022, the number of cisgender men increased, making the distribution between cisgender men and women more even. Cisgender women still make up over half of Evans Hunt employees.
In 2023, the majority of EH employees identified as cisgendered women (54%), with a decrease of 9% in representation of cisgender men.
Gender and sexual diversity
While LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual, or other) and LGBTQ2S+ (which represents the inclusion of two-spirit in Canada) are widely recognized in North America, Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) is a more inclusive and modern replacement of the LGBTQ etc. acronym.
2021's results were very similar to 2020's. The vast majority of participants did not identify as Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD).
The number of team members who identified as GSD slightly increased in 2022. However, most staff did not identify as GSD.
Similar to last year, most employees did not identify as GSD (81%) and fewer identified as GSD (a 4% decrease).
Race and ethnicity
An ethnic group or ethnicity is a population group whose members identify with each other on the basis of common nationality or shared cultural traditions. The term race refers to the concept of dividing people into populations or groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics which usually result from genetic ancestry. While race is technically a social construct that ignores the scope of human diversity, we used a mix of race and ethnicity here to distinguish underrepresented minorities, which vary based on country.
Similar to 2020, most participants identified as white/caucasian. This number rose to 75 percent when only considering members of our leadership team. There were slight increases in East Asian, Multiracial, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Latino/ Latinx/Hispanic participants in 2021. But compared to Calgary's makeup, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
Similar to 2021, most staff identified as white/caucasian in 2022. There was a small increase in those who preferred not to answer. Compared to Canadian demographics, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
In 2023, most employees identified as White/Caucasian (72%), an increase of 5%. More people (7%) chose not to answer this year, than last year.
Age
Similar to 2020, most of the participating employees were between 25-54. There was no significant representation for individuals under 25 or over 54.
In 2022, most participating staff were 25–54, which is about the same as previous years. There was an increase in staff under 24 and over 54.
Most employees were still under 44 years of age (71%) but this proportion decreased by 4%. Employees aged 35 to 44 represent the largest share (35%), which decreased by 3%.
Caregiver status
Similar to 2020, the split between parents/caregivers and non-parents/caregivers in 2021 was close to 50:50.
The number of employees who were not parents or carers increased in 2022 to just over half.
Similar to 2022, most EH employees were not parents or carers (56%).
Education level
On average, team members have a higher level of education than Calgary's general population. But it's important to note that one of the main factors that determine post-secondary education in Canada is parental education level. And immigrants and racialized people are less likely to be able to access post-secondary education opportunities.
Close to three-quarters of participating EH team members have completed a bachelor's degree. Because of changes to how we phrased the question, we can’t directly compare the 2021 results to 2020.
In 2022, more than three-quarters of participating team members have completed a bachelor's degree, post-graduate work or advanced degree, which is a small decrease compared to 2021.
Similar to previous years, in 2023, most employees held a Bachelor’s degree (62%).
Neurodiversity/disability
A disability may include cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities, hearing impairment, intellectual disabilities, mobility impairment, vision impairment or blindness, and others. A genetic condition may include cancer, cerebral palsy, chronic pain condition, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV infection, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and others. A mental illness may include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Neurodiversity may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, and others. We recognize that many neurodivergent conditions, genetic conditions, mental illnesses, and disabilities overlap and are not mutually exclusive.
In 2021, a larger share of participants (close to 1 in 3) identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, as having a mental illness, and/or as having a disability. In 2020, one-quarter of team members identified as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Similar to 2021, nearly one in three participants identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Most employees did not identify as having as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability, but 1 in 5 staff members identified with at least one.
Inclusion and belonging
We know that having a diverse team is actually the last part of the equation and that belonging, inclusion, and equity must come first. Inclusion is the "process of creating an environment that supports and encourages all employees, giving particular attention to and elevating the voices of those from underrepresented backgrounds."
As part of our survey, we included a series of questions that explore:
- our corporate culture
- the extent to which our team members experienced discrimination and harassment
- our hiring and recruitment policies and practices
- how we reviewed team members' performance and the opportunities that exist for career development
- how much team members felt like they belonged, and how satisfied they were with DEI training and resources
The ratings below reflect our team's aggregate data. Percentages can help simplify a data set, but they can also mask important differences—especially ones that affect marginalized or underrepresented voices. We ran an in-depth analysis to find out if those with different positions of power at Evans Hunt had different experiences from each other.
We learned that:
- Scores remained high for EH hiring from diverse backgrounds and also improved notably for diversity in teams. Compared to 2021, however, fewer people agreed that everyone has access to equal employment opportunities within Evans Hunt.
- Compared to previous years, staff were more likely to feel like they belong and have things in common with others at EH. However, many minority groups felt less likely to agree they could see others like them on the leadership team or in director roles.
- Policy familiarity was down in 2022. EH has more work to do to make sure staff are familiar with company policies as they change.
- While scoring on DEI training remained high in 2022, there was a drop from 2021. Some employees felt that DEI training had stalled compared to previous years.
Corporate culture
- A large majority of team members agreed that specific aspects of Evans Hunt’s culture are positive and have improved since 2020.
- New in 2021 were questions to help us gain insight into levels of burnout at the company.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were similar to 2021.
- There was a notable improvement in discriminatory jokes not being tolerated in 2022. However, scoring on transparent communication decreased this year.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were consistent from 2022 to 2023, with agreement high across all statements.
YesI agree that leadership at Evans Hunt is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion.
90%YesI agree that discriminatory jokes are not tolerated at Evans Hunt.
90%YesI agree that Evans Hunt provides an environment for the free and open expression of ideas, opinions and beliefs.
92%
Discrimination and harassment
- The majority of team members agreed that Evans Hunt policies discourage discrimination and that staffers can report concerns of harassment or discrimination without jeopardizing job security.
- This section showed much improvement compared to results from the previous year’s survey.
- The majority of team members have not witnessed (63%) or experienced (70%) a microaggression, but there are still 30% who have and 33% who are unsure.
- Similar to 2021, the majority of team members have not witnessed (61%) or experienced (74%) a microaggression, but there are still 1 in 5 people who have witnessed a microaggression and 16% who experienced it.
- New in 2022 was a statement about how quickly discrimination and harassment reports were handled, which is an area for Evans Hunt to focus on in the future.
- Scores across this category did not differ significantly from last year.
- The majority of staff said they had not witnessed or experienced a microaggression. However, 1 in 5 employees still said they witnessed microaggressions either internally, with clients, or both.
YesIf I have a concern about harassment or discrimination, I know where and how to report it.
93%YesI agree that Evans Hunt's policies and procedures discourage discrimination.
91%YesIf I flagged a concern, I do not think it would jeopardize my job security or the company’s perception of me.
63%YesWhen I report harassment or discrimination to EH, it’s handled in a timely manner.
60%
Hiring and opportunities
- A majority agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds, teams reflect diversity, and everyone has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
- There was a significant increase in agreement from 2020 on hiring from diverse backgrounds, while increases were modest for the other two areas.
- Similar to 2021, a majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
- There was an increase in staff agreeing that teams are diverse, but a decrease in agreement that everyone has equal access to opportunities.
- Nearly all employees agreed that EH hires from diverse backgrounds and more people agreed that teams at EH are diverse.
- Nearly three-quarters of staff agreed that everyone has equal access to opportunities at EH, but staff identifying as having a mental illness were significantly less likely to agree with that statement.
YesI agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
92%YesI agree that my team at work is diverse.
74%YesI agree that everyone at Evans Hunt has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
70%
Career development
- Overall scores in this section have improved, but more work needs to be done to help staff understand their compensation, how fair that compensation is, and what a career development path looks like.
- Lower scores reflect more uncertainty than disagreement with the statements, except for knowing how others are compensated in similar roles (63% disagreed with this statement).
- The majority agree that job performance is evaluated fairly and that resources are available for career development, but about 20% are unsure or neither agree nor disagree.
- Overall, scores remained similar to 2021, with continued work needed to help staff understand their compensation.
- Staff who have worked 5–7 years were less likely to know how others in similar roles were compensated.
- Most staff agreed that their job performance is evaluated fairly.
- Just over half of employees agreed their compensation is fair, but almost a quarter were unsure.
- This year, significantly more staff agreed they have the necessary resources to pursue their career development path.
YesI agree that my job performance is evaluated fairly.
73%YesI know how others in roles similar to mine at Evans Hunt are compensated.
73%YesResources are available to me that I need to pursue my career development path
62%YesI am recognized for my accomplishments
78%
Belonging
- All scores in this section improved from the previous year except for three areas.
- New to 2021 was a statement about seeing people like themselves in leadership roles at Evans Hunt, which two-thirds agreed with.
- Compared to 2020, a smaller majority said they felt like they belonged and could be their authentic selves at Evans Hunt.
- Overall, scores in this category showed improvement, but there were decreases in agreement from staffers who can see others like themselves at EH and in director roles.
- This was especially true for employees identifying as minority race/ethnicity, minority religion, as having a disability, genetic condition, mental illness and/or neurodiverse, and gender and sexually diverse.
In 2023, results remained largely unchanged from previous years, with most staff feeling like they belong.
YesI can see other people like me at Evans Hunt.
80%YesI can see other people like me in director roles at Evans Hunt.
71%YesI can see other people like me on the leadership team.
62%YesI have things in common with others at Evans Hunt.
93%YesI can be successful as my authentic self at Evans Hunt.
83%YesI feel like I belong
85%
Training and resources
The vast majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs and are satisfied with the 2021 training. This represents a large increase over 2020.
- There was a decrease in agreement that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs in 2022.
- Some employees felt that DEI training had stalled compared to previous years. A few noted they wanted future training to be more interactive and relevant to our evolving industry.
- The share of employees who agreed that EH had done a good job providing DEI training increased significantly from 2022 to 2023.
- The majority were satisfied with the DEI training they had received.
YesEvans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs.
87%YesIn general, I’m satisfied with the DEI training programs at Evans Hunt.
80%
2021 DEI Report
Our initiatives
There's always more to do, but here's a list of some of the work we've done so far
- Organized company-wide ally skills, DEI in the workplace, and Indigenous education training sessions.
- Created a formal diversity, equity and inclusion policy.
- Revised our hiring, interview and onboarding policies, including unconscious bias training and formal interview training for hiring managers and supporting interviewers.
- Source and fund optional DEI-focused educational sessions for team members, and created an ongoing list of educational resources.
- Began holding presentations for each department on how to create more inclusive work across our disciplines.
- Normalized the sharing of pronouns throughout the company.
- Held the first session in a program we’re developing with the Immigration Education Society (TIES) and a virtual youth career day with Immigrant Services Calgary.
How we're doing
Our annual DEI reports inform and help us prioritize initiatives—from policies and internal accountability to education and training to community outreach.
Identity and lived experience
Gender Identity
In 2021, fewer participants were cis-gender men. Cisgender women made up over half of the participants. In 2020, there was a fairly close split between people who identified as cisgender men and cisgender women.
In 2022, the number of cisgender men increased, making the distribution between cisgender men and women more even. Cisgender women still make up over half of Evans Hunt employees.
In 2023, the majority of EH employees identified as cisgendered women (54%), with a decrease of 9% in representation of cisgender men.
Gender and sexual diversity
While LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual, or other) and LGBTQ2S+ (which represents the inclusion of two-spirit in Canada) are widely recognized in North America, Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) is a more inclusive and modern replacement of the LGBTQ etc. acronym.
2021's results were very similar to 2020's. The vast majority of participants did not identify as Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD).
The number of team members who identified as GSD slightly increased in 2022. However, most staff did not identify as GSD.
Similar to last year, most employees did not identify as GSD (81%) and fewer identified as GSD (a 4% decrease).
Race and ethnicity
An ethnic group or ethnicity is a population group whose members identify with each other on the basis of common nationality or shared cultural traditions. The term race refers to the concept of dividing people into populations or groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics which usually result from genetic ancestry. While race is technically a social construct that ignores the scope of human diversity, we used a mix of race and ethnicity here to distinguish underrepresented minorities, which vary based on country.
Similar to 2020, most participants identified as white/caucasian. This number rose to 75 percent when only considering members of our leadership team. There were slight increases in East Asian, Multiracial, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Latino/ Latinx/Hispanic participants in 2021. But compared to Calgary's makeup, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
Similar to 2021, most staff identified as white/caucasian in 2022. There was a small increase in those who preferred not to answer. Compared to Canadian demographics, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
In 2023, most employees identified as White/Caucasian (72%), an increase of 5%. More people (7%) chose not to answer this year, than last year.
Age
Similar to 2020, most of the participating employees were between 25-54. There was no significant representation for individuals under 25 or over 54.
In 2022, most participating staff were 25–54, which is about the same as previous years. There was an increase in staff under 24 and over 54.
Most employees were still under 44 years of age (71%) but this proportion decreased by 4%. Employees aged 35 to 44 represent the largest share (35%), which decreased by 3%.
Caregiver status
Similar to 2020, the split between parents/caregivers and non-parents/caregivers in 2021 was close to 50:50.
The number of employees who were not parents or carers increased in 2022 to just over half.
Similar to 2022, most EH employees were not parents or carers (56%).
Education level
On average, team members have a higher level of education than Calgary's general population. But it's important to note that one of the main factors that determine post-secondary education in Canada is parental education level. And immigrants and racialized people are less likely to be able to access post-secondary education opportunities.
Close to three-quarters of participating EH team members have completed a bachelor's degree. Because of changes to how we phrased the question, we can’t directly compare the 2021 results to 2020.
In 2022, more than three-quarters of participating team members have completed a bachelor's degree, post-graduate work or advanced degree, which is a small decrease compared to 2021.
Similar to previous years, in 2023, most employees held a Bachelor’s degree (62%).
Neurodiversity/disability
A disability may include cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities, hearing impairment, intellectual disabilities, mobility impairment, vision impairment or blindness, and others. A genetic condition may include cancer, cerebral palsy, chronic pain condition, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV infection, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and others. A mental illness may include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Neurodiversity may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, and others. We recognize that many neurodivergent conditions, genetic conditions, mental illnesses, and disabilities overlap and are not mutually exclusive.
In 2021, a larger share of participants (close to 1 in 3) identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, as having a mental illness, and/or as having a disability. In 2020, one-quarter of team members identified as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Similar to 2021, nearly one in three participants identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Most employees did not identify as having as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability, but 1 in 5 staff members identified with at least one.
Inclusion and belonging
We know that having a diverse team is actually the last part of the equation and that belonging, inclusion, and equity must come first. Inclusion is the "process of creating an environment that supports and encourages all employees, giving particular attention to and elevating the perspectives of those from maginalized identities." (Holloway, 2019)
As part of our survey, we included a series of questions that explore:
- our corporate culture
- the extent to which our team members experienced discrimination and harassment
- our hiring and recruitment policies and practices
- how we reviewed team members' performance and the opportunities that exist for career development
- how much team members felt like they belonged, and how satisfied they were with DEI training and resources
The ratings below reflect our team's aggregate data. Percentages can help simplify a data set, but they can also mask important differences—especially ones that affect marginalized identities. We ran an in-depth analysis to find out if those with different positions of power at Evans Hunt had different experiences from each other.
We learned that:
- Overall, 2023 results are similar to 2022, with no significant decreases in scoring. However, there were notable increases in satisfaction with career development resources and DEI training.
- Similar to previous years, the majority of staff felt that everyone has equal access to employment opportunities. Some staff felt that career opportunities may be dependent on role, identity (age, gender) and/or ability to advocate for themselves.
- For example, employees who identified with a mental illness were less likely to agree that everyone at EH has equal access to employment opportunities and career development.
- Belonging scores were similar to last year but we continued to see that some race and ethnic groups were less likely to feel that they see others like them in management roles.
Corporate culture
- A large majority of team members agreed that specific aspects of Evans Hunt’s culture are positive and have improved since 2020.
- New in 2021 were questions to help us gain insight into levels of burnout at the company.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were similar to 2021.
- There was a notable improvement in discriminatory jokes not being tolerated in 2022. However, scoring on transparent communication decreased this year.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were consistent from 2022 to 2023, with agreement high across all statements.
YesI agree that leadership at Evans Hunt is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion.
90%YesI agree that discriminatory jokes are not tolerated at Evans Hunt.
76%YesI agree that Evans Hunt provides an environment for the free and open expression of ideas, opinions and beliefs.
90%
Discrimination and harassment
- The majority of team members agreed that Evans Hunt policies discourage discrimination and that staffers can report concerns of harassment or discrimination without jeopardizing job security.
- This section showed much improvement compared to results from the previous year’s survey.
- The majority of team members have not witnessed (63%) or experienced (70%) a microaggression, but there are still 30% who have and 33% who are unsure.
- Similar to 2021, the majority of team members have not witnessed (61%) or experienced (74%) a microaggression, but there are still 1 in 5 people who have witnessed a microaggression and 16% who experienced it.
- New in 2022 was a statement about how quickly discrimination and harassment reports were handled, which is an area for Evans Hunt to focus on in the future.
- Scores across this category did not differ significantly from last year.
- The majority of staff said they had not witnessed or experienced a microaggression. However, 1 in 5 employees still said they witnessed microaggressions either internally, with clients, or both.
YesIf I have a concern about harassment or discrimination, I know where and how to report it.
88%YesI agree that Evans Hunt's policies and procedures discourage discrimination.
90%YesIf I flagged a concern, I do not think it would jeopardize my job security or the company’s perception of me.
76%
Hiring and opportunities
- A majority agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds, teams reflect diversity, and everyone has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
- There was a significant increase in agreement from 2020 on hiring from diverse backgrounds, while increases were modest for the other two areas.
- Similar to 2021, a majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
- There was an increase in staff agreeing that teams are diverse, but a decrease in agreement that everyone has equal access to opportunities.
- Nearly all employees agreed that EH hires from diverse backgrounds and more people agreed that teams at EH are diverse.
- Nearly three-quarters of staff agreed that everyone has equal access to opportunities at EH, but staff identifying as having a mental illness were significantly less likely to agree with that statement.
YesI agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
93%YesI agree that my team at work is diverse.
65%YesI agree that everyone at Evans Hunt has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
81%
Career development
- Overall scores in this section have improved, but more work needs to be done to help staff understand their compensation, how fair that compensation is, and what a career development path looks like.
- Lower scores reflect more uncertainty than disagreement with the statements, except for knowing how others are compensated in similar roles (63% disagreed with this statement).
- The majority agree that job performance is evaluated fairly and that resources are available for career development, but about 20% are unsure or neither agree nor disagree.
- Overall, scores remained similar to 2021, with continued work needed to help staff understand their compensation.
- Staff who have worked 5–7 years were less likely to know how others in similar roles were compensated.
- Most staff agreed that their job performance is evaluated fairly.
- Just over half of employees agreed their compensation is fair, but almost a quarter were unsure.
- This year, significantly more staff agreed they have the necessary resources to pursue their career development path.
YesI agree that my job performance is evaluated fairly.
71%YesI know how others in roles similar to mine at Evans Hunt are compensated.
71%
Belonging
- All scores in this section improved from the previous year except for three areas.
- New to 2021 was a statement about seeing people like themselves in leadership roles at Evans Hunt, which two-thirds agreed with.
- Compared to 2020, a smaller majority said they felt like they belonged and could be their authentic selves at Evans Hunt.
- Overall, scores in this category showed improvement, but there were decreases in agreement from staffers who can see others like themselves at EH and in director roles.
- This was especially true for employees identifying as minority race/ethnicity, minority religion, as having a disability, genetic condition, mental illness and/or neurodiverse, and gender and sexually diverse.
In 2023, results remained largely unchanged from previous years, with most staff feeling like they belong.
YesI can see other people like me at Evans Hunt.
86%YesI can see other people like me in director roles at Evans Hunt.
66%YesI can see other people like me on the leadership team.
64%YesI have things in common with others at Evans Hunt.
69%YesI can be successful as my authentic self at Evans Hunt.
78%YesI feel like I belong
79%
Training and resources
The vast majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs and are satisfied with the 2021 training. This represents a large increase over 2020.
- There was a decrease in agreement that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs in 2022.
- Some employees felt that DEI training had stalled compared to previous years. A few noted they wanted future training to be more interactive and relevant to our evolving industry.
- The share of employees who agreed that EH had done a good job providing DEI training increased significantly from 2022 to 2023.
- The majority were satisfied with the DEI training they had received.
YesEvans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs.
98%YesIn general, I’m satisfied with the DEI training programs at Evans Hunt.
92%
2020 DEI Report
Where do we go from here?
Our first step was to understand where people were at. How they felt, what their experiences were, and what we needed to focus on. The DEI team used the first annual report as guidance to create and prioritize the year’s initiatives.
How we're doing
Our annual DEI reports inform and help us prioritize initiatives—from policies and internal accountability to education and training to community outreach.
Gender Identity
In 2021, fewer participants were cis-gender men. Cisgender women made up over half of the participants. In 2020, there was a fairly close split between people who identified as cisgender men and cisgender women.
In 2022, the number of cisgender men increased, making the distribution between cisgender men and women more even. Cisgender women still make up over half of Evans Hunt employees.
In 2023, the majority of EH employees identified as cisgendered women (54%), with a decrease of 9% in representation of cisgender men.
Gender and sexual diversity
While LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual, or other) and LGBTQ2S+ (which represents the inclusion of two-spirit in Canada) are widely recognized in North America, Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) is a more inclusive and modern replacement of the LGBTQ etc. acronym.
2021's results were very similar to 2020's. The vast majority of participants did not identify as Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD).
The number of team members who identified as GSD slightly increased in 2022. However, most staff did not identify as GSD.
Similar to last year, most employees did not identify as GSD (81%) and fewer identified as GSD (a 4% decrease).
Race and ethnicity
An ethnic group or ethnicity is a population group whose members identify with each other on the basis of common nationality or shared cultural traditions. The term race refers to the concept of dividing people into populations or groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics which usually result from genetic ancestry. While race is technically a social construct that ignores the scope of human diversity, we used a mix of race and ethnicity here to distinguish underrepresented minorities, which vary based on country.
Similar to 2020, most participants identified as white/caucasian. This number rose to 75 percent when only considering members of our leadership team. There were slight increases in East Asian, Multiracial, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Latino/ Latinx/Hispanic participants in 2021. But compared to Calgary's makeup, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
Similar to 2021, most staff identified as white/caucasian in 2022. There was a small increase in those who preferred not to answer. Compared to Canadian demographics, racialized identities are still underrepresented at Evans Hunt.
In 2023, most employees identified as White/Caucasian (72%), an increase of 5%. More people (7%) chose not to answer this year, than last year.
Age
Similar to 2020, most of the participating employees were between 25-54. There was no significant representation for individuals under 25 or over 54.
In 2022, most participating staff were 25–54, which is about the same as previous years. There was an increase in staff under 24 and over 54.
Most employees were still under 44 years of age (71%) but this proportion decreased by 4%. Employees aged 35 to 44 represent the largest share (35%), which decreased by 3%.
Caregiver status
Similar to 2020, the split between parents/caregivers and non-parents/caregivers in 2021 was close to 50:50.
The number of employees who were not parents or carers increased in 2022 to just over half.
Similar to 2022, most EH employees were not parents or carers (56%).
Education level
On average, team members have a higher level of education than Calgary's general population. But it's important to note that one of the main factors that determine post-secondary education in Canada is parental education level. And immigrants and racialized people are less likely to be able to access post-secondary education opportunities.
Close to three-quarters of participating EH team members have completed a bachelor's degree. Because of changes to how we phrased the question, we can’t directly compare the 2021 results to 2020.
In 2022, more than three-quarters of participating team members have completed a bachelor's degree, post-graduate work or advanced degree, which is a small decrease compared to 2021.
Similar to previous years, in 2023, most employees held a Bachelor’s degree (62%).
Neurodiversity/disability
A disability may include cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities, hearing impairment, intellectual disabilities, mobility impairment, vision impairment or blindness, and others. A genetic condition may include cancer, cerebral palsy, chronic pain condition, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV infection, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and others. A mental illness may include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Neurodiversity may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, and others. We recognize that many neurodivergent conditions, genetic conditions, mental illnesses, and disabilities overlap and are not mutually exclusive.
In 2021, a larger share of participants (close to 1 in 3) identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, as having a mental illness, and/or as having a disability. In 2020, one-quarter of team members identified as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Similar to 2021, nearly one in three participants identified as being neurodiverse, as having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability.
Most employees did not identify as having as neurodiverse, having a genetic condition, a mental illness, and/or a disability, but 1 in 5 staff members identified with at least one.
Inclusion and belonging
We know that having a demographically diverse team is only part of the equation. It's impossible to benefit from the positive effects of diversity without inclusive practices. As part of our 2020 survey, we included a series of questions that explored:
- our corporate culture
- the extent to which our team members experienced discrimination and harassment
- our hiring and recruitment policies and practices
- how we reviewed team members' performance and the opportunities that existed for advancement
- to what extent team members felt like they belonged, and if they felt they’ve been given the training and resources to mitigate unconscious bias
Corporate culture
- A large majority of team members agreed that specific aspects of Evans Hunt’s culture are positive and have improved since 2020.
- New in 2021 were questions to help us gain insight into levels of burnout at the company.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were similar to 2021.
- There was a notable improvement in discriminatory jokes not being tolerated in 2022. However, scoring on transparent communication decreased this year.
- Overall, corporate culture scores were consistent from 2022 to 2023, with agreement high across all statements.
YesI agree that leadership at Evans Hunt is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion.
82%YesI agree that discriminatory jokes are not tolerated at Evans Hunt.
61%YesI agree that Evans Hunt provides an environment for the free and open expression of ideas, opinions and beliefs.
88%
Discrimination and harassment
- The majority of team members agreed that Evans Hunt policies discourage discrimination and that staffers can report concerns of harassment or discrimination without jeopardizing job security.
- This section showed much improvement compared to results from the previous year’s survey.
- The majority of team members have not witnessed (63%) or experienced (70%) a microaggression, but there are still 30% who have and 33% who are unsure.
- Similar to 2021, the majority of team members have not witnessed (61%) or experienced (74%) a microaggression, but there are still 1 in 5 people who have witnessed a microaggression and 16% who experienced it.
- New in 2022 was a statement about how quickly discrimination and harassment reports were handled, which is an area for Evans Hunt to focus on in the future.
- Scores across this category did not differ significantly from last year.
- The majority of staff said they had not witnessed or experienced a microaggression. However, 1 in 5 employees still said they witnessed microaggressions either internally, with clients, or both.
YesIf I have a concern about harassment or discrimination, I know where and how to report it.
66%YesI agree that Evans Hunt's policies and procedures discourage discrimination.
48%
Hiring and opportunities
- A majority agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds, teams reflect diversity, and everyone has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
- There was a significant increase in agreement from 2020 on hiring from diverse backgrounds, while increases were modest for the other two areas.
- Similar to 2021, a majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
- There was an increase in staff agreeing that teams are diverse, but a decrease in agreement that everyone has equal access to opportunities.
- Nearly all employees agreed that EH hires from diverse backgrounds and more people agreed that teams at EH are diverse.
- Nearly three-quarters of staff agreed that everyone has equal access to opportunities at EH, but staff identifying as having a mental illness were significantly less likely to agree with that statement.
YesI agree that Evans Hunt hires people from diverse backgrounds.
61%YesI agree that my team at work is diverse.
59%YesI agree that everyone at Evans Hunt has access to equal opportunities regardless of their differences.
77%
Career development
- Overall scores in this section have improved, but more work needs to be done to help staff understand their compensation, how fair that compensation is, and what a career development path looks like.
- Lower scores reflect more uncertainty than disagreement with the statements, except for knowing how others are compensated in similar roles (63% disagreed with this statement).
- The majority agree that job performance is evaluated fairly and that resources are available for career development, but about 20% are unsure or neither agree nor disagree.
- Overall, scores remained similar to 2021, with continued work needed to help staff understand their compensation.
- Staff who have worked 5–7 years were less likely to know how others in similar roles were compensated.
- Most staff agreed that their job performance is evaluated fairly.
- Just over half of employees agreed their compensation is fair, but almost a quarter were unsure.
- This year, significantly more staff agreed they have the necessary resources to pursue their career development path.
YesI agree that my job performance is evaluated fairly.
75%YesI know how others in roles similar to mine at Evans Hunt are compensated.
75%
Belonging
- All scores in this section improved from the previous year except for three areas.
- New to 2021 was a statement about seeing people like themselves in leadership roles at Evans Hunt, which two-thirds agreed with.
- Compared to 2020, a smaller majority said they felt like they belonged and could be their authentic selves at Evans Hunt.
- Overall, scores in this category showed improvement, but there were decreases in agreement from staffers who can see others like themselves at EH and in director roles.
- This was especially true for employees identifying as minority race/ethnicity, minority religion, as having a disability, genetic condition, mental illness and/or neurodiverse, and gender and sexually diverse.
In 2023, results remained largely unchanged from previous years, with most staff feeling like they belong.
YesI can see other people like me at Evans Hunt.
84%YesI can see other people like me on the leadership team.
69%YesI have things in common with others at Evans Hunt.
64%YesI can be successful as my authentic self at Evans Hunt.
86%
Training and resources
The vast majority of team members agree that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs and are satisfied with the 2021 training. This represents a large increase over 2020.
- There was a decrease in agreement that Evans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs in 2022.
- Some employees felt that DEI training had stalled compared to previous years. A few noted they wanted future training to be more interactive and relevant to our evolving industry.
- The share of employees who agreed that EH had done a good job providing DEI training increased significantly from 2022 to 2023.
- The majority were satisfied with the DEI training they had received.
YesEvans Hunt has done a good job of providing DEI training programs.
19%