Canadian Leadership Statement to Positive and Progressive Indigenous Relations

Our team in Canada proudly participates in the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program run by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. As part of our journey with the PAIR's values, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Canada, Chris Doel, recently signed a Statement to Positive and Progressive Indigenous Relations, outlining four key areas to affirm our commitment to becoming good business partners, good places to work, and are committed to prosperity for Indigenous communities.

We are committed to fostering a just and inclusive society and recognizing the importance of Indigenous Peoples' history, unique cultures, and vast contributions. We acknowledge the importance of working collaboratively, respecting Indigenous rights, cultures, and traditions, and ensuring that our actions contribute to meaningful reconciliation. By actively listening, learning, and supporting initiatives that empower Indigenous voices, we strive to build partnerships based on trust, transparency, accountability, respect, and shared values for a sustainable and inclusive future.

Through collaboration and partnership with Indigenous communities, we aim to create meaningful opportunities to empower Indigenous self-determination and empower economic independence. We are dedicated to providing Indigenous Peoples with equitable Indigenous employment, promoting cultural inclusivity, building lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships, and embracing the unique perspectives and aspirations of Indigenous communities.

Our Commitments:

Leadership Actions: We are committed to championing an organizational focus on Indigenous relations and the commitments made within this statement, as well as publicly reporting on our progress and outcomes in supporting Indigenous rights and interests.

Employment: We are committed to creating equitable employment opportunities, partnering with Indigenous educational institutions, developing pathways for Indigenous students into careers in engineering and design, and providing ongoing cultural competency training for all employees.

Business Development: We believe in creating and nurturing long-term partnerships that provide shared value and opportunities while enabling us to co-create engineering and design solutions that reflect the values and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples.
Community Relationships: With sustainability at our core, we will continue to identify opportunities to engage Indigenous communities and stakeholders to incorporate Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and priorities in our engineering and design solutions, especially with respect to clean water, safety, energy, comfort, and resilience.

Truth & Reconciliation: We acknowledge the historical wrongs committed against Indigenous peoples and understand the lasting and ongoing impacts of colonization on individuals, families, and communities. Guided by Call to Action 92 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business’s PAIR program, we are committed to progressive and meaningful action towards truth and reconciliation.

We recognize the historical and continued stewardship of the land, ecosystems, and people from the Indigenous community and readily accept our corporate environmental and social responsibility to do the same.