For the third consecutive year, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) has recognized Stantec—a global architecture, engineering, and design firm—as one of the Top 50 STEM Workplaces for Indigenous STEM Professionals. AISES released its listing in the Spring 2022 issue of Winds of Change, the organization’s national magazine. The magazine focuses on advancement for Indigenous Peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.

Firms selected for the AISES Top 50 list are required to meet a list of criteria, including:

• Diversity recruitment efforts
• Recruiting for jobs in the STEM fields
• Actively recruiting within Indigenous audiences
• Sustained support of the AISES mission

Stantec continues to strengthen its connections to Indigenous communities and find new ways to make meaningful contributions by supporting local initiatives and collaborating with local and national Indigenous organizations. Embracing diversity of all kinds enables Stantec to provide a work environment and organizational culture that play a key role in attracting and retaining the best people with the right skills. 

“It is thrilling to be acknowledged by AISES for the third time for the effort we are putting forth to create an inclusive STEM work environment,” said Adam Leggett, Stantec’s Alaska Native program manager. “Over the past year Stantec has observed Canada’s National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous People’s Day during the month of June, as well as September’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In the US, we’ve sponsored events for Indigenous People’s Day in October and Native American Heritage Month in November. Activities like these help us provide a space where all employees feel seen, heard, and free to be true to themselves.”

Building stronger connections with communities in Alaska and beyond In Alaska, Stantec successfully works with Indigenous groups through formal business partnerships focused on Alaska Native employment efforts on major projects. In Canada, Stantec maintains 11 Indigenous partnerships that provide direct investments to support economic growth in these communities. The global firm is a certified member of ECO Canada, a not-for-profit industry-led human resources organization that is dedicated to building Aboriginal careers in the environmental field. Stantec is also working toward earning the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) certification from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. PAR provides a framework for organizations to develop an Indigenous Relations approach that is effective, sustainable, and successful.

A continued commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity From an equity standpoint, the company was recently recognized in The Globe and Mail’s 2022 Report on Business Women Lead Here list. Stantec was also recognized on the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for championing inclusion and named by Forbes as one of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies. In 2021, Stantec launched the Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship to provide talented students in historically underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) groups with financial aid, contributing to the creation of a critical mass which will fully represent the industry.

More information is available on Stantec’s Indigenous relations and partnerships.