Fix systems, not women: 5 takeaways from Catalyst Honours

This year’s Catalyst Honours, Canada’s premier gender equity and DEI conference, brought together over 650 HR, DEI, and business leaders at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York and online on 7 October 2024. Featuring over six hours of programming and more than 130 companies in attendance, the event inspired participants and provided tools to foster more inclusive workplaces.

This year’s theme, the Catalyst Effect, was a powerful call to action. It encouraged attendees to collectively commit to DEI, creating a force so strong it sparks widespread change. In a year where DEI efforts have faced global pushback, this framing was particularly urgent. As Julie Cafley, Executive Director of Catalyst Canada, emphasized during her remarks, “We need to focus on fixing workplace systems, not fixing women.”

Through personal stories and strategies, the event’s 50+ expert speakers provided a key message: DEI is not only about fairness but about unlocking the full potential of a diverse workforce. In particular, this year’s nine Catalyst Honours Champions emphasized the need for sustained action in DEI and celebrating small wins, noting that progress takes time.

MC Angie Seth, Senior Reporter/Host at CBC, highlighted some of the positive changes, sharing that for the first time in history, a third of the top corporate board positions in Canada are held by women. While we have made great strides, she said, there is still much to be done to reach true gender equity across sectors.

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