Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Archives - SRDC

Research on Public Employment Service (PES) Accessibility for English-Speaking Quebecers

Wallaa Daramlly — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:28:39 +0000

Research on Public Employment Service (PES) Accessibility for English-Speaking Quebecers

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Scaling & Replicator Strategic Evaluation and Learning Support for FSC

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:12:24 +0000

SRDC is undertaking several evaluations within new categories of Future Skills Centre (FSC) projects. The SCALE initiative invited existing FSC partners whose projects were ready for the next scale-up phase to apply for additional funding to advance their projects along a clearly defined scaling pathway. The projects were selected to answer pressing strategic questions that represent gaps in knowledge and/or practice – and around which FSC investment strategies are oriented. The projects embrace ongoing testing of program feasibility and effectiveness derived from specified scaling objectives. The REPLICATE initiative funds FSC partners whose projects present the best evidence of effectiveness and impact to conduct replication projects with up to two or three different partners working in different geographical locations. The projects test the feasibility of replication as further proof of the effectiveness of the program and help to further build up a cohort of partnerships ready to move towards full scaling and sustainability, as well as test replication as a strategy for project sustainability.

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Newcomers with Remote Information and Career Help in British Columbia and Yukon (ENRICH BCY)

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:26:14 +0000

Led by Douglas College and in partnership with the Yukon Literacy Coalition, this project’s overarching goals are to enhance newcomer settlement and integration in rural and remote regions of British Columbia and the Yukon (BCY). Our approach emphasizes community engagement and local partnerships to co-design online tools and resources that complement rather than duplicate existing in-person services. Specific areas of focus include developing pre-arrival information to enhance migration pathways; facilitating social and economic integration to promote newcomer retention and address local skill and labour needs; supporting truth and reconciliation through the integration of First Nations history, culture, and governance into settlement services; and addressing gaps in existing community and settlement services to improve newcomers’ access to supports. Consultations (in person and remote) with newcomers, employers, First Nations representatives, community leaders, and service providers are used to i) collect information on local contexts, strengths, services, and needs, and ii) co-design and develop ideas for service enhancements to pilot with local communities. Our evaluation focuses on tracking outcomes, identifying areas for improvement, and capturing lessons learned for further enhancement related to program design and delivery.

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Strategic Evaluation and Learning Support for the Future Skills Centre 2025

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:58:11 +0000

Since 2020, the Future Skills Centre (FSC) has supported the development, refinement, or expansion of approaches to developing skills for workers from a variety of backgrounds and in a variety of sectors. These innovation projects are required to mobilize knowledge and evidence among key stakeholders, institutions and decision-makers for the purposes of improving policies and practices in Canada. SRDC is developing a mix of retrospective and prospective evaluation approaches for a subset of these projects, dependent on the timelines and stage of development of each project. These involve quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis using document and data review, interviews with project partners and their subcontractors, implementation evaluation, and theory of change or logic model development. SRDC’s learning and evaluation framework is designed to capture what has been learned from these projects for the future development of the skills ecosystem in Canada.

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Expanding Apprenticeship Success Through Improved and Enhanced System of Technology (EAST Project)

Wallaa Daramlly — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 20:11:39 +0000

SkillPlan, BC Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council, in partnership with Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), Provincial Building Trades Councils (PBTC), U7 SOLUTIONS, British Columbia Colleges (BCC), and the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), are providing online educational tools, resources, and materials to support apprentices progressing in and obtaining certification in an apprenticeship in the Red Seal trades. This project will be delivered across Canada. More specifically the project seeks to firstly improve the quality of training in the skilled trades by utilizing a structured, integrated, and accessible online training system and secondly to support Red Seal trades partners to create safe and inclusive workplaces of equity-deserving groups, including women, youth, newcomers, Indigenous and racialized persons, persons with disabilities, as well as low-skilled individuals by expanding training platform and developing new courses. SRDC is helping to test and measure the results of this project through a mixed-methods approach which will include administrative data from online platforms, surveys, and interviews.

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Pathway to Productivity: Using Pay-for-Performance to Facilitate SME Investment in Human Capital

Wallaa Daramlly — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:38:03 +0000

This initiative is testing the effectiveness of a Pay-for-Performance (PFP) funding model in encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to increase their investment in employee training across various industries. We are exploring the potential of PFP to promote more intentional employer planning and support of training activities, and more generally to build a culture of continuous learning within SMEs. Furthermore, we are seeking to understand how the PFP model previously implemented with our partners Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) can be adapted cross-sectorally, leveraging the existing expertise of SRDC and EMC along with the unique insights and employer networks of our new sectoral partners, The Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada), Food Processing Skills Canada, and BioTalent Canada.

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Inclusive Mentoring in Male-dominated Sectors

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:44:03 +0000

Mentor Canada and Mentorat Québec are leading this innovative 36-month project to address systemic barriers for women and gender-diverse individuals in male-dominated sectors. This project uses mentorship as a tool to foster inclusion and support systemic change and is funded by Women and Gender Equity Canada (WAGE).

Central to this project is the development of a comprehensive bilingual toolkit, designed with a GBA+ lens, to help organizations build capacity to design, implement, and evaluate inclusive mentoring programs. Training materials for mentors focus on increasing their understanding of the systemic barriers faced by women and gender-diverse individuals and equip them to act as agents of change. Additionally, the project provides resources for mentees to help them fully leverage the benefits of their mentoring relationships. Finally, engagement activities led by Mentor Canada will motivate stakeholders to adopt and embrace mentoring as a lever for inclusion in male-dominated sectors.

SRDC is evaluating this project to explore how mentorship drives and supports systemic change that advances the economic security of women and gender-diverse individuals. As a learning partner, SRDC is also contributing to the development of the toolkit and resources.

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Literature Review: Learning Disabilities Among Francophones in Canada

Wallaa Daramlly — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:13:41 +0000

SRDC was asked by the Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA) and their partners to conduct a literature review on the detection and support of French-speaking adults with learning disabilities who are seeking employment or career advancement. The aim of the project was to identify effective approaches and tools for the detection of learning disabilities in a French-speaking minority context, as well as best practices in the training, coaching, and support of French-speaking adults with learning disabilities, taking a holistic approach to the individual. It also aimed to propose adaptations to training programs to facilitate learning in this specific context, and to identify the elements needed to better equip employers to support these adults. The results of the project will make it possible to develop detection and support tools for this clientele and to better train and equip practitioners in adult education centres.

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Learning Outside Together: Phase Two of the Early Childhood Educator Outdoor Learning Program

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 18:56:36 +0000

Building on the learnings from the previous three years, the second phase of the Learning Outside Together: “Incorporating traditional wisdom and promising practices to futureproof child care programs” (LOT) initiative is funded by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. LOT is designed to increase confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to deliver land-based learning opportunities. This online professional development program focuses on supporting educators to create meaningful outdoor experiences with and for children, increase the length of time spent with children outdoors, and learn about Indigenous teachings, protocols and practices related to the land. This three-year project is a continuation of the joint partnership between the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS), and SRDC.

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HerJourney: Supporting Women Apprentices in Canadian Manufacturing

Wallaa Daramlly — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:45:38 +0000

HerJourney aims to increase the success, support, and retention of women apprentices in Red Seal trades within Canada’s manufacturing sector. Led by Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC), the project provides women apprentices with resources, training, mentorship, and leadership development services to strengthen their career success within manufacturing. EMC also provides employers with resources and supports to take action to mitigate the identified challenges that women apprentices experience in manufacturing workplaces.

As the lead research and evaluation partner, SRDC collaborates with EMC to conduct research to understand the scope and unique challenges faced by women apprentices in manufacturing. We evaluate the outcomes and process of the programs and services delivered to women apprentices and their employers, documenting evidence of success, promising practices, as well as challenges and lessons learned. We work with EMC to conduct knowledge dissemination throughout the project to increase visibility and understanding of the unique challenges faced by women apprentices in manufacturing and to encourage further collaboration towards sector-wide solutions.

HerJourney is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.

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