Anna Innis
National Manager, Business Development & Community
Air Canada
Los Angeles, California
Air Canada has long been recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers. For the last six consecutive years, Mediacorp Canada Inc. has bestowed this honor to Air Canada for its ongoing commitment to D&I (Diversity and Inclusion). And, it’s my honour to offer a few reflections.
I joined Air Canada in the mid-1990’s in the U.S. Call Centre Office in Tampa, Florida. One of my first memories was a widely diverse environment of inclusion like I had never known. And, after spending over two decades with Air Canada; in 4 different states, 6 cities and 2 different countries, I see that it’s a company continuing to walk the walk creating a safe space of inclusion in our workplace and communities alike.
Over the last year, and during Covid, Air Canada formally founded a D&I Employee Working Group, giving employees a platform to share ideas and create necessary and positive initiatives. In February 2021, and in celebration of Black History Month, Air Canada hosted a Black History Month Roundtable Webcast with representatives from the airline as well as outside the industry. In addition, Air Canada featured weekly spotlight articles in our weekly employee publication where Black employees shared topics important to them.
In March 2021, Executive Leadership addressed the rise in anti-Asian sentiment and gave a platform to our colleagues to speak and share ideas to counter these acts of aggressions and discrimination. In May 2021, Air Canada’s D&I Team, hosted a roundtable discussion for its employees to safely speak and share ideas around the rise in anti-Asian sentiment witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
These are just a few examples of how Air Canada continues to create safe space for its employees at work and in the community, while promoting and celebrating D&I. Air Canada is among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is a company that celebrates Diwali, Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Pride Month, Women in Leadership and beyond.
I’m pleased to share information below with a recent press release and Air Canada’s Sustainability report, where a key pillar is “Our People”, highlighting over 30% of The Board is now comprised of women.
A few notable awards: Forbes' World's Best Employers 2020, Montreal Top Employers 2020 (Mediacorp), Employment Equity Achievement Award for Diversity & Inclusion from Employment, and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
It is a double honour to be writing this as the first woman on the Board of Directors for MAPLE Business Council as well as one of the women on Air Canada’s U.S. Leadership Team. There is always going to be more work to be done. That is true of everything worthwhile. Being able to share best practices and finding value in all our contributions; however, continue to make work a pleasure.
Thank you, Air Canada and thank you to the MAPLE Community.