BDO Canada launches Reconciliation Action Plan

Three-year plan sets out commitments across community, people and culture, and Indigenous partnerships, and confirms BDO's intent to pursue CCIB PAIR certification

Toronto, ON – Today, BDO Canada released its 2026-2029 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), Walking together: Rooted in relationship, guided by responsibility, outlining a three-year roadmap to advance truth and reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

The plan aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action #92 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and confirms BDO's commitment to pursue Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) certification through the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB).

Covering the period from June 2026 to May 2029, the RAP is organized around three pillar areas: Community; People and Culture; and Indigenous partnerships and economic development.

A relationship-based approach

The RAP was informed by engagement and consultation grounded in listening, reflection, and accountability. The multi-method engagement process included interviews and sharing circles with BDO employees, conversations with Indigenous clients, partners, and collaborators, written feedback, and a review of internal policies and peer practices. Engagement activities were designed to be culturally safe and to avoid overburdening Indigenous participants. Insights were then synthesized thematically to protect confidentiality.

Three framework areas with multi-year commitments

The 2026-2029 plan organizes BDO's reconciliation work around three pillars. Each carries multi-year commitments with assigned responsibility, timeframes, and alignment to specific UNDRIP articles and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action #92:

• Community: Strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities through cultural humility training, leadership development, allyship, and formalized community partnerships with organizations such as Indspire. Establish an Indigenous Advisory Circle to provide continued guidance on community engagement, cultural protocols, and reconciliation efforts.
• People and culture: Build firm-wide Indigenous talent pathways. Expand the Indigenous Student Bursary Program with structured mentorship, appoint a dedicated lead for BDO's Truth and Reconciliation Program, develop cultural leave guidance, and implement culturally relevant supports such as access to Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
• Indigenous partnerships and economic development: Advance a distinctions-based Indigenous market strategy informed by the National Indigenous Economic Strategy, implement an inclusive procurement strategy to expand relationships with Indigenous suppliers and subcontractors, and uphold the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in client and community engagement.

Implementation will be guided and overseen by BDO's Indigenous Steering Committee, comprised of Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders. Accountability is further supported by BDO's Executive Leadership Team through executive sponsorship, appropriate resourcing, and oversight of delivery.

BDO will publish an annual progress report on the RAP's commitments, with qualitative and quantitative indicators where appropriate. The firm will maintain internal quarterly reporting on actions and milestones to identify progress, barriers, and emerging priorities, enabling timely course correction. As actions are completed, new actions may be introduced and timelines refined based on input from Indigenous partners, clients, and employees.

Learn more by reading BDO Canada’s 2026-2029 Reconciliation Action Plan, Walking together: Rooted in relationship, guided by responsibility.