Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (FMC) is committed to creating and maintaining a firm-wide culture of inclusion, where the unique potential of all our firm members is recognized. We understand that a diverse workforce enriches our firm, our professional practice and our communities. At FMC, diversity and inclusion are a central part of our overall national Strategic Plan.

To attract the best people to our team and be an employer of choice for all, we embrace a cross-section of cultures, ethnicities, genders, ages, orientations and backgrounds on our team. We know that expanding the diversity of our workforce also broadens our insight and perspective, which in turn enhances our ability to provide our clients with the best possible advice and service.

Although we have always done our best to attract a diverse population and provide a work environment which embraces individuals from varied backgrounds, in 2006 we decided to take a more strategic approach to our diversity and  inclusion efforts and developed the FMC Diversity and inclusion Initiative. Its mandate is to ensure that all members of our firm have the opportunity to develop their unique talents to nurture their ongoing success. In that context, we work with our team members to recognize and address individual beliefs, challenges and lifestyles in our work environment. We strive to foster an environment where everyone respects, supports and learns from each other’s skills, talents and differences.

National Diversity and Inclusion Initiative

Our National Diversity and Inclusion Initiative has local initiatives and representatives from each of our six offices across the country. Partners Kate Broer (Toronto) and Andrea Raso-Amer (Vancouver) serve as national co-chairs.

Recognition for Our Diversity and Inclusion Initiative

• In February 2011, FMC was named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, a special designation awarded to employers who have implemented exceptional workplace diversity and inclusion programs, addressing a wide range of initiatives related to five major employee groups – women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered/transsexual (LGBT) individuals. For more information, please read our official press release.
• In 2009, 2010 and again in 2011, FMC was named one of Canada’s Best Employers for New Canadians. Funded by the Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program, and managed by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers, the Best Employers for New Canadians competition is a special designation that recognizes the nation's best employers for recent immigrants. These winning employers offer programs to assist new Canadians in making the transition to a new workplace and a new life in Canada. The award was given, in part, as a result of FMC’s pioneering work in the legal community with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) Mentorship Program and with our Legal Internship Program.  
• In 2010, FMC was honoured by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) with the CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion, one of TRIEC’s Immigrant Success (IS) Awards. FMC received this award in recognition of its Legal Professional Internship.
• In November 2009, Michael Schafler, a partner in our litigation practice, was recognized for his contributions to the TRIEC Mentoring Program and was awarded a TRIEC Special Achievement Mentoring Partnership Award.

Involvement Through Sponsorships and Partnerships

FMC is a partner and sponsor of many external diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the following:

• Bronze sponsor of the White Knight Gala, an annual fundraiser to support human rights based charities. The 2011 beneficiaries include Egale's Safe School Campaign & The Triangle Program to help the eradication of bullying, violence and gay teen suicide.
• Cocktail Sponsor of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) annual gala, Renaissance: Reviving the Vision. The Gala honoured the accomplishments of Julian Falconer, Donald McLeod, Marion Reid and Charles Smith as CABL’s Individuals of Distinction and was a fundraiser for humanitarian relief in Haiti with a portion of the proceeds donated to Save the Children Canada.
• Gold Sponsor for the BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers’ (CABL BC) inaugural event, the showing of "The Making of a Judge," a documentary which tells the story of the Honourable Judge George E. Carter, who holds the distinction of being appointed the first Canadian-born Black judge.
• FMC is proud to be a Premier Level Sponsor for Experience Korea! Festival & Exhibition presented by the Ottawa Symphonic Ensemble & the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. All proceeds will go towards the artistic development of the Ottawa Symphonic Ensemble and its performing members.
• Platinum Level Sponsor of The Autists, an event to showcase and monetize the intellectual and artistic abilities of gifted individuals with autism, while putting them together with international stars — all in front of a wide audience of artists, musicians, collectors, curators, educators, arts patrons as well as the general public.
• Since 2007, FMC has been providing sponsorship and, more recently, pro bono legal services to, Out on Bay Street, an organization founded by members of the Rotman School of Business, to promote awareness of the role the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community plays in organizations, and fosters mentorship by exposing students to strong leaders and role models who have paved the way for the LGBT community.
• Founding member and first law firm Corporate Partner of and pro bono legal counsel to Pride at Work Canada/Fierte au travail Canada, a professional organization whose mandate is to support the LGBT community at workplaces across Canada
• FMC is a signatory and active participant in the Justicia Project of the Law Society of Upper Canada, designed to retain and advance women lawyers in private practice.  FMC is developing firm-wide maternity and parental leave and flex-work policies as part of this initiative.
• FMC sponsors and participates in Women in Capital Markets (WCM) events, a non-profit organization that promotes the entry, advancement, and development of women in the Capital Markets industry.  An FMC partner and Deputy Chair is a founding director of WCM, the founding Chair of WCM’s Heather L. Mein Memorial Scholarship Fund and sits on the WCM Advisory Council.
• FMC Women’s Marketing Initiative (WMI): This internal group comprised of women from the firm, plans events for women clients, most recently, the FMC WMI annual Lawyer-Client Women’s Golf Day.
• Sponsor of A Call to Action Canada: Diversity in the Legal Profession Summit Event, an initiative to promote diversity in the legal profession by challenging corporate law departments to leverage their law firm relationships to promote diversity in the profession
• First law firm participant in the Diversity Roundtable, a group of representatives from financial institutions, major corporations, government and professional services firms who meet bi-monthly to discuss matters of interest and share ideas in an effort to promote diversity in the workplace
• Member of Catalyst Canada, a non-profit corporate membership research and advisory organization working to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women in business and the professions
• A FMC partner participated as a Member of Catalyst Canada's Research Advisory Board investigating “Career Advancement in Corporate Canada: A Focus on Visible Minorities”
• Corporate member of the Women’s Exchange Network (WXN)
• Sponsor of the Black Law Students Association of Canada Annual Conference
• Sponsor of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Annual Conference, 2009
• Sponsor the Advocates’ Society Conference “Is There a Difference” conference for women advocates

Making Education a Priority

FMC makes education a priority with many internal initatives including the following:

• FMC is proud to be the first law firm to become a Corporate Partner of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) Mentoring Partnership program. Since its inception in late 2008, more than 35 FMC members have embraced the opportunity to act as mentors in the program. Additional firm personnel have also contributed to the program in various ways, such as conducting mock interviews of mentees, and providing feedback and advice to program participants.
• FMC is the first law firm corporate partner of the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC). Like TRIEC, CRIEC pairs skilled immigrants with established Canadian professionals in a mentoring relationship.
• In 2008, FMC established its Legal Professional Internship, the first program of its kind in the country, aimed at bridging the gap and providing hands-on experience to a foreign-trained lawyer new to Canada seeking Canadian professional employment through a six-month paid position with the firm.
• FMC is proud to be the first law firm corporate sponsor of the University of Toronto’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Program (ITLP). FMC not only participated in and supported the development of this program, but also helped to recruit 10 other law firms to commit to this important initiative. The only one of its kind in Canada, ITLP is a comprehensive 10-month annual program with the goal of helping its participants obtain their licence and find full-time professional employment in Canada.
• FMC funds Scadding Court “Investing in Diversity” scholarship. These post-secondary scholarships award $4,000 to youth leaders active in issues surrounding diversity, equity and anti-racism. The program, operated in affiliation with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), targets youth from marginalized communities who are actively working to improve their communities and city.
• FMC has partnered with Junior Achievement of Central Ontario to bring the Diversity in Action program to grade 6 and 7 students in Toronto and the GTA. This interactive program illustrates and teaches students the value of diversity and how it contributes to improving morale, creativity, teamwork and productivity.
• FMC actively participates in Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS), an academic and extra-curricular program teaching inner-city high school students about law and justice. The program represents a partnership of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Toronto District School Board.
• In 2006, in memory of a Toronto partner who demonstrated an appreciation of the importance of diversity at an early age, FMC endowed the Victor Hum Bursary in conjunction with the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. The bursary is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity in the law school community
• FMC was the first law firm sponsor of a Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) national scholarship for black law students. The FMC BBPA Scholarship is a $5,000 annual renewable scholarship awarded to a black law student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, commitment to diversity, and financial need. 
• Participant in the St. Stephen’s Community House Employment and Training Centre Connections Program, providing a six-week co-op placement for newcomers to Canada in gaining Canadian work experience
• Annual participant in the Aboriginal Law Summer Student Employment Program. Launched in 2006 by the Law Society of Alberta, the program seeks to encourage Aboriginal students to apply for jobs they might not otherwise consider and to foster ongoing relationships between Aboriginal students and practising lawyers.

Participation in Events and Activities

FMC continues to participate in various diversity events and activities, including the following:

• Partner, Kate Broer, and Associate, Denise Williams, spoke to the Financial Post about FMC’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives including being the first law firm sponsor of the BBPA Scholarship, November 30th, 2011
• FMC Partner Kate Broer spoke on the topic of "Facilitating Diversity: Similar countries, different experiences; how historical context informs how we address diversity today" at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting, August 5, 2011
• FMC Partner Andrea F. Raso Amer spoke on the topic of "Employment Law After the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: Many Aftershocks but No Seismic Shifts" at the Minority Corporate Counsel Association 10th Annual CLE Expo, March 16, 2011
• In celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, Sue Paish, CEO of Pharmasave and one of "Canada's 2005 Most Powerful Women" spoke to FMC’s Vancouver office about her journey to success.
• FMC Chief Executive Officer, Chris Pinnington, is recognized as a "2011 CEO in Action" and profiled for his commitment to workplace diversity in the March/April edition of the Diversity Journal. To read the full article see here.
• FMC has partnered with SOGIC (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference of the Canadian Bar Association) to present on topics relevant to the LGBT community in legal practice including a session hosted by FMC titled, “Out in the Profession,” at which FMC arranged for Justice Ian Nordheimer of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to speak.
• FMC Counsel Clayton Caverly and FMC Partner Kate Broer speak to Metro Morning, explaining why diversity and inclusion can only strengthen an organization, November 5th, 2010
• FMC Partner Andrea Johnson chaired and spoke on the topic of "Negotiating effectively" at the 3rd Women in Leadership Conference, May 27, 2010
• FMC Partner Michael Schafler co-hosted a workshop dealing with the ways and means that employers can effectively integrate skilled immigrants into their workforce at the ALLIES Learning Exchange Conference, Halifax, NS, May 6-7, 2010
• FMC Partner Kate Broer moderated a panel, “Implementing Diversity Strategies: Making a Difference”, at A Call to Action Canada's Second Annual Conference, April 27, 2010
• FMC operates the Vault Women's Initiative, which presents regular events directed to women partners and associates, and helps women advance and succeed at our firm
• FMC acted as co-host of the Women’s Exchange Network’s 2009 Fashionably Speaking event in Ottawa
• FMC members attended the Minority Corporate Counsel Association Diversity Conference in New York City in 2008-2010
• FMC members attended the National Association for Law Placement’s Diversity Summit in the United States in 2007, 2008 and 2009
• FMC Partner Kate Broer spoke on a panel “Bay Street Initiatives on Diversity” at the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Annual Conference in November 2009
• Kate Broer spoke on the topic of Generational Diversity, at the Women in Law Conference in Toronto on November 24, 2009
• On October 1, 2009, FMC Partner Barbara Grossman mentored a group of participants at The Advocates’ Society’s "Is There a Difference" networking conference for women in litigation, which examined gender bias in the litigation context
• Susan Brown, partner with FMC’s Ottawa office, acted as Program Chair and presented "Mentoring: A Career Must!" at the Women in Law Conference in Ottawa in March 2009. Andrea Johnson, also a partner with FMC’s Ottawa office, presented on achieving economic parity with men
• FMC members attended Creating and Sustaining Inclusive Work Environments: A Call to Action in April 2009
• FMC members attended Catalyst Canada’s conference, Advancing Women in Corporate Canada: Current State and Inspiring Solutions
• FMC’s Toronto office hosted the President of Work-Life Harmony Enterprises for a presentation entitled “Generational Diversity: Working Successfully with Multiple Generations”
• FMC members participate in the DiverseCity Nexus program
• FMC associates are leading two of FMC's international initiatives; Israel and China
• FMC has internally aired numerous Catalyst webcast case studies on workplace diversity, with post-program discussions for our members