Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Recognized by the Government of Canada for Outstanding Employment Equity

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 20, 2016) - The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority received an Employment Equity Achievement Award from the Government of Canada, alongside 31 other Canadian employers, for outstanding achievement in employment equity in the workplace.

The Employment Equity Achievement Awards recognize federally regulated private-sector employers for their commitment to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. The awards also provide a forum for showcasing and sharing best practices in implementing employment equity.

The Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour recently presented the award to the port authority - which has a workforce of approximately 340 people - for its representation of women and visible minorities in the transportation industry.

"Workplace diversity in our organization is a strength we are proud of," said Sandi Case, Vice President, Human Resources and Labour Relations at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. "For us, it's a reflection of the communities we live and work in and it allows us to benefit from the unique skills and experience that diverse work teams bring to the organization. We are honoured to be one of the first organizations to receive an Employment Equity Achievement Award in this inaugural year."

The port authority tracks its progress on achieving employment equity with a consultant who confidentially gathers employee data and measures it against Canadian labour market statistics. The evaluations indicate how the port authority is performing against other companies at employing women, visible minorities, people with disabilities and Aboriginal Peoples. The port authority's Employment Equity Committee reviews the information and develops strategies to remedy any identified gaps. Strategies may include targeted recruitment for specific designated groups or creating opportunities to introduce employees from designated groups to the workforce.

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for the stewardship of the federal port lands in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. It is accountable to the federal minister of transport and operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. The port authority manages the Port of Vancouver, which is Canada's largest port and the third largest tonnage port in North America, responsible for Canada's trade with more than 170 world economies. Located in a naturally beautiful setting on Canada's west coast, the Port of Vancouver is responsible for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers, and integrates environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives into all areas of port operations. Enabling the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods in 2015, the port sustains an estimated 100,000 supply-chain jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $9.7 billion in GDP across Canada.

For more information:

Audio quote: Sandi Case, Vice President, Human Resources and Labour Relations at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Government of Canada news release on the inaugural Employment Equity Achievements Awards

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development