Joel Schlesinger © Postmedia Network Inc.
Brookfield Residential, one of North America’s leading home builders and developers, believes deeply in the importance of equity and diversity.
An inclusive business is a successful business, according to Tiffany Ardolino, Brookfield’s vice-president of single-family homes for Alberta.
“The best solutions are born from bringing together people of different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences,” says Ardolino.
“Encouraging diversity, especially with respect to gender, is critical to the growth and resilience of the construction sector,” she says.
The challenge, however, is that women have long been under-represented, most notably in leadership positions and skilled trades. Recognizing this, Brookfield is committed to encouraging diversity within the industry.
“The industry is dynamic; it offers diverse opportunities across a breadth of skill sets. It is rewarding, tangible and important work,” says Ardolino.
Brookfield Residential recently announced the Brookfield Properties Women in Real Estate Awards in support of the Westman Centre for Real Estate at the Haskayne School of Business, with four undergraduate and two master’s scholarships.
“We are working towards strengthening the talent pipeline for the industry and improving accessibility to roles within Brookfield,” Ardolino explains.
Examples include Brookfield’s support and participation in Equitek, a global organization connecting diverse skilled workers with job opportunities, and Project Destined, a paid internship program for university students from under-represented backgrounds.
It also supports the Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards and other initiatives through industry associations such as BILD Calgary.
Internally, the Brookfield Women’s Network provides space for women to share expertise and tools to support professional development. This year, the company also celebrated its inaugural Brookfield Women in Construction Week, recognizing women’s contributions in the field.
“We still have room for improvement, but we are committed to finding new and positive ways to advocate for more inclusivity, growth and empowerment of women and an equal workplace for all at Brookfield,” Ardolino notes.
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Calgary Economic Development.