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Maintaining our place as an employer of choice

We were proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and one of Atlantic Canada’s Best Places to Work, underscoring our commitment to fostering a vibrant and supportive work environment where our people can thrive and contribute their best.

Employee engagement is at the heart of our social programs. We understand that happy, healthy, safe, and fulfilled employees are a catalyst for success, innovation, and lasting societal impact. We regularly gather and analyze employee engagement data to inform the strategic talent and culture decisions we make.

Highlights from our 2023 annual employee engagement survey

Overall employee engagement score: 88%

What our people say engages them about working and growing their careers at BDO.

• 91%—Our approach to DEI.
• 88%—Our approach to supporting their growth and development.
• 90%—Our approach to flexibility and well-being.
• 89%—Our approach to sustaining our people's pride in and commitment to BDO.
• 89%—Our approach to innovation.

Our multi-award-winning talent experience makes us proud, and we strive to enhance the people experience by continuing to invest in and strengthen:

• Our commitment to DEI.
• Our efforts to build and maintain trust.
• Our position as an employer of choice.
• A culture of recognition within our firm.

“I am honoured to lead our talent and culture strategy at BDO Canada, where we are passionate about creating a differentiated talent experience. Our people are our greatest asset and the driving force behind our sustainability vision. We cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone can grow, thrive, and make a positive impact. We have also invested in new learning and development programs to help them advance their careers. We encourage everyone to be curious, pursue their passions, explore new possibilities, and collaborate with others. As a leader and a mentor, I am proud of our people's achievements and contributions to our firm and our communities. We believe that by investing in their potential, we are investing in our future and our impact as a firm.”

Kerri Plexman, Managing Partner, Talent & Culture

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) extends beyond eliminating barriers. We aspire to cultivate a work environment that embodies security, support, and acceptance for all.

DEI is the cornerstone of our employee experience. Our efforts in this space are critical to our success in attracting, engaging, and developing our people, resulting in the delivery of exceptional client service.

Our vision is to see our firm reflect the rich diversity inherent in our clients and communities. A firm that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A firm where difference is valued and celebrated.

“I believe that it is our responsibility as a global firm to hold ourselves to the highest possible standard to ensure that our workplaces provide a safe and inclusive environment for all. This allows our team members to bring the most authentic version of themselves to work every day, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, beliefs, or background.”

Sinéad Scanlon, National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader

Our approach to DEI

Our approach to DEI is centred on collaboration and strong leadership that work to integrate these values into the fabric of our policies and practices.

DEI cannot be achieved by any one group—it requires deep and meaningful engagement, a willingness to challenge each other, and a commitment to changing the systems and processes that have been in place for many years. Our collaborative approach to advancing DEI is demonstrated by the cross-functional structures we have in place.

Through our dedicated National DEI Advisory Council, our senior leadership team advocates for DEI priorities and ensures they are sufficiently resourced and achieved. Each of our DEI pillars is enabled by an Executive Leadership Team sponsor, who advocates for the pillar agenda, fosters senior leadership support, and removes barriers to progress.

Shaping tomorrow's DEI landscape, our highly skilled and specialized consulting teams support organizations on their own DEI journeys, providing them with tools and strategies to dismantle barriers, foster inclusion, and unlock the full potential of their diverse workforce.

Our National DEI Advisory Council

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader

Sinéad Scanlon

Program managers

Glory Keong
Fiona Rowan

DEI pillars

Women
Persons with Disabilities
Indigenous Peoples
Racialized Groups
Pride at BDO

Executive Leadership Team sponsors

Sonia Edmonds
Jeff Chapman
Bob Lawrence
Mike Abbott
Jeanny Gu
Rachel Gervais

Pillar leads and teams

Lorraine Walker
Kelly Hagen
Stephen Meade
Zinnia Khubbar
Rebecca Armstrong
Jordon Brant
Beverly Warnar
Vivian Liu
Steve Brown
Charlotte Zhen
Liz Knight
Emily Heinrich

Representatives from collaborating business functions

Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Total Rewards, Events, and others.

Our DEI priorities

Our National DEI Advisory Council advanced the following priorities in 2023:

• Embedding principles of DEI into our processes and ways of working.
• Enabling continuous learning and awareness on key DEI topics.
• Developing a diverse talent pipeline.
• Supporting career progression through equitable access to mentorship, sponsorship, and development.
• Establishing DEI performance metrics to foster accountability and drive better decision-making.

Celebration, education, and awareness

Our pillar leads and teams play a critical role in designing and executing events that move the needle on DEI by creating awareness, inspiring change, and motivating action.

Black History Month - We were honoured to be joined by Devon Clunis, the first Black Chief of Police in Canadian history. Together, we explored the powerful themes of Black resistance, Canadian Black history, tokenism and allyship, and more.

International Women’s Day - Bobbie Racette, an Indigenous woman and award-winning entrepreneur, led an inspiring session on providing equitable employment opportunities, uplifting women, and breaking barriers. Women leaders from our ELT shared insights on the theme #DigitALL, and we celebrated our 2023 Women in Search of Excellence (WISE) Award winners.

Mental Health Awareness Month - We came together as a firm to hear Dr. Khush Amaria, Senior Clinical Director at MindBeacon, discuss happiness and what it means to live a value-driven life. Dr. Amaria explored the need to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health, engage in open conversations, and foster a culture of support and understanding.

National Indigenous History Month - Dr. Elder Odelle Pike opened our firm-wide webcast with a prayer and teachings about the ceremonial smudge. BDO partners Mike Abbott, the Indigenous Pillar’s ELT sponsor, and Blair Smith each shared their personal journey of reconciliation and highlighted our firm’s work in Indigenous communities. We also heard from a panel of staff who are working with Indigenous clients and communities before ending the webcast with a performance by two Inuit throat singers, Sophie Angnatok and Ashley Dicker.

Pride Season Celebration - Our firm tuned in to hear Tara Robertson, an advocate for driving systemic change, speak about the importance of pronouns and their impact on identities and experiences. We also delved into the history and evolution of the 2SLGBTQIA+ movement and acronym. Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, the band Queer as Funk closed the event with a performance.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - We observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a firm-wide webcast aimed at keeping reconciliation at the forefront of our conversations. We shared ideas on how we can continue to build stronger relationships and a greater understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month - We joined as a firm virtually to recognize the important contributions of people with disabilities. This included a captivating interview with Becky Armstrong, a manager in our Internal Accounting team, and a member of Canada’s hugely successful paradragon boat team. We also heard from our people in a panel discussion that explored the definition of a disability, some of the challenges faced, and how to be an ally.

Our 2023 diversity snapshot

For years, we have captured information on the diverse identities of our people. This ongoing process enables us to measure outcomes, make informed decisions, and enhance all facets of our talent processes, spanning recruitment, onboarding, advancement, performance, retention, and overall employee experience.

In 2023, we increased the uptake of our self-identification tool. This is indicative of the work we have done to foster a culture of acceptance and the celebration of diversity. While we are proud of the progress we have made so far, we will continue to enhance psychological safety and support for our people to empower them to bring their whole selves to work.

We recognize that gender and age are just some of the many indicators of diversity and that people at BDO identify beyond the binary gender system. Going forward, we plan to report externally on additional indicators of diversity tracked at BDO, such as gender identity and identification with our five DEI pillars.

Gender

Our diversity data by gender and age across our key governance categories for 2023 :

2023 promotions

Percentage breakdown of promotions awarded to female employees:

• 62.1 % - Percentage of women promoted.
• 36.1% - Percentage of women promoted to partner level.

To see a full breakdown of our workforce by age and gender, as well as data related to hires, attrition, and promotions, please see Appendix E.

Our firm’s rich tapestry of voices

Our employees come from diverse cultural backgrounds, bringing with them a wealth of experiences and perspectives. As a firm that operates on a global scale, we believe linguistic diversity fosters understanding and collaboration across borders. By embracing diversity, we strengthen our ability to innovate, problem-solve, and adapt in an ever-evolving global landscape. 

We are proud to highlight the rich tapestry of languages spoken within our workforce.

62 different languages are spoken by our people:

English, French, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Punjabi, Arabic, Urdu, Russian, Tagalog, Korean, Portuguese, Gujarati, Italian, Japanese, German, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Persian, Afrikaans, Turkish, Greek, Malayalam, Polish, Marathi, Romanian, Serbian, Dutch, Hebrew, Yoruba, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Kannada, Sindhi, Albanian, Croatian, Czech, Finnish, Haitian, Khmer, Malay, Nepali, Swedish, Thai, Amharic, Bosnian, Burmese, Danish, Hausa, Irish, Norwegian, Pashto, Slovak, Somali, Swahili, Tajik

Women: Promoting gender equality at BDO

At BDO, we dare to imagine a gender-equal world—a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination towards women. We are proud to offer programs and initiatives that are specially tailored to foster the advancement and empowerment of women within our firm.

In 2023, BDO Global released its fourth edition of the International Women’s Day Report, titled #EmbraceEquity, which shares stories of BDO firms embracing equity in the workplace and personal stories from women across our organization.

The Women in Search of Excellence Awards

In 2023, we celebrated our second Women in Search of Excellence (WISE) Awards, recognizing BDO women who support and promote excellence within our firm and their communities.

Hear what our 2023 WISE award winners had to say about their experience at BDO:

“Receiving the Women in Search of Excellence award in 2023 is a personal tribute to the cumulative effect of small but significant steps taken in my journey—a testament to the value of every seemingly small effort and interaction in the workplace. It underscores the belief that every encouraging word, each supportive action, and the incremental progress made, no matter how seemingly insignificant, collectively contribute to fostering an environment where women thrive.”

Annik Blanchard, Partner, Audit & Assurance

“BDO not only empowers me to excel as a valued partner within the firm, but also affords me the flexibility and resources necessary to thrive in my role as a mother. The inclusive and supportive environment at BDO ensures that women are recognized and rewarded for their dedicated efforts both personally and professionally, contributing to our collective success.”

Janna Collins, Partner, Tax

“BDO has supported not only my career over the last 15 years, but also my professional and personal development. BDO offers so many opportunities for growth equally across all employees. I was encouraged to take my full maternity leave and felt confident that my position would be ready and waiting for my return. I have since begun mentoring other women and started networking groups within Advisory to ensure that we all support each other as we progress through our careers.”

Kristina Kalinowski, Partner, Advisory

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be one of the 2023 BDO Women in Search of Excellence award recipients. In my journey, my colleagues and the leaders at BDO have played an instrumental role in shaping my professional and personal growth. The supportive culture and commitment to diversity at BDO have created an atmosphere where I feel accepted and empowered to excel. The mentorship programs and leadership opportunities provided by BDO have been invaluable, allowing me to navigate the complexities of the business world confidently. Furthermore, the firm's emphasis on work-life balance has enabled me to maintain a healthy equilibrium between my career and personal responsibilities.”

Glory Keong, Senior Manager, Corporate ESG Strategy

“I was truly humbled to have been selected as a recipient of the Women in Search of Excellence award from BDO Canada. I’m so proud to be part of BDO, which showcases diversity, equity, and inclusion in a very meaningful way. I’ve always enjoyed being a mentor and coach to those around me and this has provided me with more confidence to continue to break down the bias and inspire other women around me to enhance their confidence as well. Thank you for reminding me to continue to walk tall!”

Wendy McDonald, Senior Manager, Assurance

Creating women-centred spaces

Mentorship, sponsorship, and networking for women are powerful conduits for personal and professional success. As we continue demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the development of BDO women at all levels, we have implemented, enhanced, and continued programs available to anyone who identifies as a woman.

Accelle—An online community and collaborative support network for women that provides access to masterclasses, panel discussions, and other educational resources.

Group mentoring sessions—Facilitated by female members of our Board, ELT, and SLT, these sessions support the career development of women in leadership by sharing advice and experience.

Networking events—More than 246 BDO women across the country participated in engaging in-person events centred around common interests and shared hobbies. These diverse and engaging events provided opportunities for BDO women to build meaningful connections, share experiences in a supportive environment, address personal development goals, and empower each other.

SHE-E-O conferences—SHE-E-O conferences in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal created opportunities for our “Power Women” clients to share information, navigate challenges specific to women in leadership, and build lasting relationships within local business communities.

Persons with Disabilities: Creating opportunities for everyone

We are on a journey with the aim to become a barrier-free organization by 2040, achieving a high level of accessibility for persons with disabilities and creating an innovative and collaborative environment that better serves the needs of our people, clients, and communities.

We consistently strive to stay up to date with accessibility legislation and guidelines and ensure we are compliant with key regulations such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other relevant bodies of legislation.

In 2023, we launched our five-year Accessibility Plan, aligned with the AODA and equivalent provincial accessibility legislation, as well as the principles contained in the federal government’s Accessible Canada Act (2019). Our firm actively contributed to the development of this act, emphasizing our commitment to leading the way in creating a more inclusive future for all.

We will continue to revise our Accessibility Plan based on the feedback and experiences of our employees and clients, evolving legislation, and best practices.

“By working together and embracing accessibility, we will strengthen our organization, amplify our impact, and create a more equitable firm.”

Bruno Suppa, Chief Executive Officer

New accessibility request tool removes barriers

In 2023, we launched an internal accessibility request tool to provide access to an easy, efficient, and on-demand way to make special requests including for travel, events, documents, and equipment.

Becky Armstrong: A BDO success story on the water and in the office

Becky Armstrong's inspiring journey is a testament to the power of determination. Despite being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 1994 and gradually losing her vision, Becky achieved her CPA qualification, continues to excel as a critical part of our Internal Accounting team, and represented Canada in the para division of the World Dragon Boat Championship.

Read her incredible story.

“Dragon boating was a very inclusive environment we all felt. Once we sat on that boat, there was no more disability. We were all the same people with the same paddle, and it was just a sport. Twenty paddlers, one heartbeat.”

Becky Armstrong, Manager, Internal Accounting

Hoopfest 2023

A group from BDO participated in Hoopfest, a wheelchair basketball fundraising event by Wheelchair Basketball Canada (WBC), to raise funds for WBC’s developmental programs.  

Indigenous Peoples: ReconciliACTION and inclusion

Our Indigenous Pillar is composed of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff from across the firm who come together to make progress toward our journey of reconciliation. By sharing unique perspectives, engaging in education opportunities, and supporting awareness activities, we create an environment rich with diverse experiences and knowledge.

Our Indigenous Steering Committee is comprised of employees and partners who work in Indigenous communities across Canada.

Indigenous Steering Committee members

Mike Abbott, Managing Partner, Markets & Industry

Jordon Brant, Senior Manager, Human Resources

Brian Callander, Partner, Audit & Assurance

Laura Johnson, Senior Manager, Advisory

Glory Keong, Senior Manager, Corporate ESG Strategy

Karlee May, Manager, Marketing

Fiona Rowan, Senior Project Specialist, Corporate ESG Strategy

Beverly Warnar, Manager, Human Resources

Sharing knowledge, resources, and learnings

Indigenous Book Club

Our Indigenous Book Club continued inspiring our people to read books from talented Indigenous authors.

Podcast Sharing Circle

We launched our first Podcast Sharing Circle in 2023, discussing important topics such as residential schools, survivor stories, lived experiences, and intergenerational trauma.

BDO Orange Shirt Design Contest

We partnered with three Indigenous artists to design imagery that represented our journey of reconciliation. The winning artist, as voted for by BDO staff, was Travis Fleury, an Indigenous artist based out of Calgary. We worked with an Indigenous-owned printing company to produce 1,000 shirts with Travis’s inspiring artwork and sent them out to staff across the country.

Our commitment to truth and reconciliation

We recognize the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the 94 calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Through our process of reconciliation with our Indigenous partners, clients, and employees, we acknowledge that we must examine and ensure these relationships reflect best practices consistent with the objectives of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. To this end, much of the work we have done in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations has focused on sustainable economic development, skills training, and capacity development.

With offices located throughout the country, our people work with more than 200 Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada to help achieve their goals. Many of these relationships have been in place for decades.

Together, with input from leadership, including our CEO, Bruno Suppa, we laid the groundwork for our commitment statement to truth and reconciliation, which was announced firm-wide during our National Truth and Reconciliation Week webcast.

Racialized Groups: Empowering communities at BDO and beyond

Our Racialized Groups Pillar experienced a pivotal year in 2023, making great strides in developing the relationships and initiatives required to advance the narratives of representation and inclusivity.

Educating ourselves and inspiring others

Relevant educational resources, carefully curated, can be accessed on our firm’s intranet site, creating a centralized hub for enlightenment and self-education.

Leading by example, our pillar leads demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning by actively participating in events such as the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and the BFUTR Summit, led by the Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN). These events are opportunities for our pillar leads to learn about new ideas from thought leaders and translate these insights into actionable change within our firm.

Engaging with the community

Discussions around the power, nuance, and value of DEI initiatives sparked an extraordinary exchange of ideas when the University of Ottawa's BIPOC Business Society visited our Ottawa offices in 2023.  

Pride at BDO: Celebrating visibility

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone who identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+. In 2023, we continued to strengthen this commitment through data, education, and celebration.

Marching for equality

Our people proudly participated in two Pride parades in 2023, in London, Ont. and Montreal, Que., where we marched alongside the local 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, allies, and organizations in a powerful display of unity. We intend to continue to demonstrate our support and allyship at future Pride events across Canada in 2024.

Elevating voices and sharing stories

We understand the importance of providing a platform for our employees to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs on their own journeys.

Emily Heinrich, our Pride at BDO Pillar Lead, took the virtual stage at the Pride in the Workplace Panel, hosted by the Telfer Student Council at the University of Ottawa. Her presentation touched on important topics such as the positive impacts, motivations, and barriers associated with driving 2SLGBTQIA+ activism and advocacy, personally and professionally.

Health and well-being

We continue to invest in programs and initiatives that encourage our people to be the healthiest version of themselves—physically, mentally, and financially.

Our goal is to provide our people with the resources to:

• Prioritize their physical and mental health
• Enhance their productivity, both at work and at home
• Support their family’s health needs

We take pride in offering accessible, inclusive, and affordable group health benefits, insurance, and retirement solutions for our employees and their families.

Seeking, receiving, and addressing feedback from our employees is a cornerstone of our health and well-being program. We welcome suggestions on how to improve our offerings through regular surveys and our AssistMe platform, where comments can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

Our National Human Resources team reviews our health and well-being offerings regularly.

Our health and well-being commitments:

• Provide our people with a safe and healthy work environment.
• Respect the confidential nature of any disclosed medical information.
• Collaborate with our people in the event of injury or illness to ensure a structured and safe return to work.
• Ensure our Health and Safety program complies with provincial legislation requirements and the needs of all parties.
• Make our internal and external communications accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities.
• Enhance wellness initiatives to raise awareness and support for physical, mental, and financial health. 
• Regularly seek input from our people on their health and well-being needs, as well as on the relevance and effectiveness of our programs.
• Continue to meet with our wellness service providers to proactively identify new items, align programs with changing needs, and ensure continuous enhancement.

Supporting our BDO families

We recognize the important role family plays in our people’s lives. We are proud to support their diverse needs, responsibilities, and experiences to ensure they feel supported in and outside of work. We will continue to evolve our family support benefits and programs to ensure they are inclusive, relevant, and flexible.

• Gender affirmation coverage—For the 2023 benefit plan year, gender affirmation coverage was added to the health options with a lifetime maximum amount of $10,000 for treatments that are not covered by provincial health programs.
• Increase to fertility drug coverage—Our health coverage options already included the cost of infertility treatment, including administration fees, embryo freezing, and assisted hatching to a maximum of two cycles per lifetime. New in 2023, the fertility drug lifetime maximum amount increased from $3,000 to $10,000.
• Wellness reimbursement—Reimbursements through our wellness reimbursement program have increased from 75% to 100%. The reimbursement list has also been expanded to include fitness devices, adult/elder care expenses, emergency childcare expenses, prenatal classes, and financial planning expenses.

Mental health

We are doing our part to lift the stigma around mental health by fostering an environment where discussions about emotional well-being are not only normalized, but encouraged.

The following resources are readily available to our people at all levels to support their mental health journeys:

• Standalone mental health paramedical practitioner allowance
• Mental health training for people leaders
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Access to Not Myself Today, a corporate mental health program by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
• Access to the Healthcare Online virtual care app
• PlanRight financial advisor one-on-one sessions to support financial health
• Policies and reimbursements to support time off for mental well-being

Events throughout 2023 were dedicated to increasing awareness, providing support, and fostering openness around mental health:

• Three firm-wide events educated our people about the mental health and support resources available to them.
• Our Prioritize Your Mental Health in 2023 campaign provided resources and support for:
  • creating focus and productivity
  • staying mentally healthy
  • connecting socially
  • inspiring each other
• We continued to feature mental health advocates in firm-wide webcasts throughout the year to inspire and empower our people to be open about their own journeys.
• An information session was held during Talent Week on the features of the Employee and Family Assistance Program and how it can provide work-life solutions to help families thrive. 

Learning and development

The unique contributions of our people deliver distinct value to our firm and our clients. How we train, develop, and nurture our talent is a key factor in our success.

Our Learning & Development (L&D) team is guided by a strategy that reimagines the way we support personal and professional growth and remains responsive to the ever-evolving needs of our people, the firm, and our clients.

Through a culture of continuous learning, our L&D team strives to accelerate our talent’s professional and career growth by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to drive better business performance. These opportunities encompass formal, social, and experiential solutions that bridge the gap between current skills and future needs.

We continue to believe that career paths should not only align with our firm’s vision, but equally empower and enable our people to achieve their personal goals, realize their ambitions, and live their passions.

L&D strategy and priorities

In December 2023, Dr. Keith Keating was appointed as Chief Learning & Development Officer, underscoring our steadfast commitment to employee growth and development.

In this pivotal role, Dr. Keating aspires to redefine our L&D strategy, unlocking the full potential of our firm.

"Learning and development at BDO Canada is guided by a strategy that reimagines the way BDO supports the growth of our people, the most important resource for our organization. Through an enhanced focus on holistic development and integrating learning sciences, BDO's initiatives are designed to go beyond learning to drive continuous growth. Our learning and development strategy aligns with the needs of our people and clients, ensuring we meet the needs of the market now and in the future."

Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer

L&D priorities

• Accelerated experiential skills development.
• Effective and automated performance enablement and assessment.
• Development of leadership capabilities.
• Development of core skills for our industry.

Our 2023 investments in L&D

• 190,368 hours: The total time our people spent training.
• 32 hours: The average amount of training our people received on a per-person basis.
• $2,775: The average amount of money spent on training per full-time equivalent (FTE).

Appendix F outlines the time we’ve dedicated to supporting our people through training.

Our L&D program highlights

On-demand learning

We have made a significant investment in providing all staff and partners with access to an on-demand digital learning library featuring resources on technology skills, leadership training, industry-specific learning, ESG and DEI, and many other competencies that are important to succeed in today’s fast-paced digital age.

Talent Week 2023

Over three action-packed days of learning during Talent Week 2023, BDO leaders shared valuable insights on topics relevant to our firm’s success, including:

• DEI
• Visionary leadership
• Generative AI and its impact on the future of work
• How to prepare for an AI-driven future by building resilience and mindfulness, and managing energy

Accelerated Development Program

In 2023, we celebrated the success of the Accelerated Development Program (ADP) pilot by expanding it to multiple service lines.

Once per month, learners came together virtually in small cohorts to share their knowledge and experiences and apply new learnings around essential skills from the program. Participants in this program had an opportunity to build connections, learn from BDO guest speakers, and hear practical tips to help them continue developing in their careers.

Enabling Performance program

Performance management programs that are well-understood, equitable, and accessible help our people excel. Our Enabling Performance (EP) program aims to empower our people in steering their own professional development, contribute to our culture of continuous improvement, and align their individual goals with our strategic objectives.

In 2023, we included new digital tools in setting performance goals and tracking progress.

ESG training program

In alignment with our commitment to ESG initiatives, our firm strategically invested in an internally-crafted ESG training program. Developed collaboratively by ESG practice leaders and the L&D team, this program aims to:

• Heighten awareness of the critical ESG landscape across our business.
• Drive the firm's ESG plan, advancing environmental goals in decarbonization and sustainable energy and waste management.
• Equip our professionals to advocate for ESG in the market, fostering client education on ESG risks and showcasing our firm's ESG services.

Supporting our people’s advancement

We are passionate about supporting our people as they advance in their careers and take on new roles, opportunities, and challenges. We pride ourselves on our ability to bring people together at pivotal points in their careers to learn from their peers and leaders in a safe and inclusive space.

Some of the programs that set us apart include:

• Group mentoring sessions—Women-only and mixed-gender group sessions for all staff, led by female members of our Board, ELT, and SLT, with the aim of providing insights on the topics that matter most to our people.
• Future Leaders Program—A leadership development experience aimed at high-potential managers offering a combination of leadership coaching, mentoring, and formal group career coaching sessions.
• Senior Manager Development Program—A multi-year leadership development experience that prepares top talent for a leadership role.
• ACCELLE Elite—A six-module leadership accelerator featuring masterclasses and group coaching sessions for women at the senior manager level across all service lines.
• Talent Coach Academy—A three-month boot camp led by external professional leadership coaches designed to help BDO partners learn the fundamentals of effective leadership coaching.
• The BDO Harvard Global Executive Leadership Program—Offered to our senior executive leaders annually through BDO Global, this transformative leadership development experience is delivered by leading experts at Harvard University and offers the latest academic thinking on business models for professional service firms.

Embedding DEI principles through education

In support of our DEI priorities, our L&D team provides ongoing consultation and content curation services. Within this framework, we carefully curate learning content, develop learning paths, and assemble collections specifically tailored to enhance the DEI experience.

In 2023, our New Manager and New Partner conferences incorporated exclusive sessions led by our firm’s DEI leaders, focusing on the nuanced aspects of guiding inclusive teams. The objective was to intricately integrate DEI concepts into the fabric of leadership mindsets, equipping them to champion DEI initiatives in their newfound roles.

Community impact

We are dedicated to supporting the vibrant, dynamic communities in which we live, work, and play.

Our nationwide initiatives harness the collective strength of our people across the country to deliver greater value to the causes with which we are aligned and spark global change at the local level. We are very proud of our people's commitment to generously donating their time, funds, and energy to uplift and support local causes.

We meet our communities where they are and help them address the challenges and opportunities that matter to them. This allows us to deliver a greater impact and empowers our people to support the causes that are closest to their hearts.

In 2023, we invested almost $2.5 million into our communities, by sponsoring and donating to national and local causes that align with our values and priorities. This is an increase of 18.1% compared to 2022, demonstrating our commitment to community impact.

Please see Appendix G for a breakdown of the dollar value of our community investments.

Drive Away Hunger: Coming together to transform lives and communities

Over the years, we have provided almost 8.5 million meals to people across Canada facing food insecurity. With the continued rise of inflation and food costs, the need for our support has never been greater.

According to Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2023 report, there were almost two million visits to food banks across Canada in March 2023, representing a 32% increase compared to March 2022, and a 78.5% increase compared to March 2019, which was the highest year-over-year increase in usage ever reported.

In September 2023, we came together again as a firm to go the distance for our annual Drive Away Hunger campaign. This firm-wide initiative motivates our people from coast to coast to do what they can to raise funds for food banks across Canada.

In 2023, we expanded our campaign to include more than just physical activities. Beyond those who ran, walked, cycled, and kayaked great distances, our colleagues got creative and baked, read, and sewed to raise critical funds for food banks across Canada.

• $3M: The total amount we have raised in our 16 years of supporting Drive Away Hunger.
• 8.49M: The equivalent number of meals we have provided to families since we began supporting Drive Away Hunger.
• 12,816KM: The distance our employees travelled in September 2023 for our BDO Goes the Distance fundraising event—enough to walk across Canada twice, and then some!
• $337,226: The amount our people raised for Drive Away Hunger in 2023. Every penny goes directly to local food banks or through Food Banks Canada.

“BDO is one of our longest-standing partners of the Drive Away Hunger program, actively engaging employees in the communities in which they live and work to fight food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same.”

Justine Hendricks
President and CEO, Farm Credit Canada

“We are very proud to raise funds for Drive Away Hunger and hopefully our results will inspire other organizations to go that extra mile. We invite them—challenge them—to show us they can do better than us. Win/win for everyone if they do!”

Carol Kruck
National Drive Away Hunger Lead

Supporting our local communities: Office spotlights

Our offices support local organizations, programs, and causes aligned with our values and their hearts.

Here are some of the initiatives we’d like to highlight.

St. John’s, N.L.
Raised $2,865 for the Cancer Care Foundation and $2,420 for the Bowl for Kids Sake initiative, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada signature event.

Montreal, Que.
Spent over 200 hours volunteering and raised over $100,000 as the title sponsor for the BDO Cedars CanSupport Dragon Boat Race. Acted as title sponsor for the 16^th year in a row.

Ottawa, Ont.
Raised $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity and $15,045 for the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa. Also hosted a community dinner-show fundraiser for a youth with a rare medical condition, raising $9,188.

North Bay, Ont.
Raised $1,800 for the Children’s Aid Society as part of the School Supply Drive Match Program and the Joy Project Match Program.

Oakville, Ont.
Participated in a toy drive for Halton Region’s Miracle on Main Street and collected donations of food, feminine hygiene products, and pet supplies for De Mazenod Door Outreach, and Community Fridges in Hamilton.

Collingwood, Ont.
Raised $1,375 for the Coldest Night of the Year initiative by Home Horizon Collingwood.

Owen Sound, Ont.
Supported the Salvation Army’s Family Christmas Sponsorship Program and raised $1,000 to help families through the holidays.

Walkerton, Ont.
Raised $5,000 for the Paisley Fire Department during the Firefighters Breakfast event.

London, Ont.
Supported the London Knights junior hockey team through Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area (BBBS) and held a 50/50 draw that raised $8,248 for BBBS.

Thunder Bay, Ont.
Raised $4,000 through barbecues, bake sales, and other initiatives to support the Children’s Aid Society.

Portage la Prairie, Man.
Raised $2,000 for the Blue Jeans Fund and $1,000 during the 24-Hour Relay for Life. Donated funds raised to organizations such as the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada. Our offices across Manitoba sponsored the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, equating to $5,000.

Edmonton, Alta.
Raised over $10,000 for Make-A-Wish Canada and participated in the Grand Slam Slo-Pitch Tournament.

Grande Prairie, Alta.
Supported the Odyssey House emergency shelter for women and children through handmade gifts and other donations, contributing approximately 500 total volunteer hours.

Vernon, B.C.
Raised over $1,800 and donated food and gifts for the North Okanagan Youth & Family Services Society (NOYFSS) Adopt-a-Family Program, in our eighth year supporting the initiative.

Kelowna, B.C.
Sponsored a Skemxist Bear for the Pow Wow Between the Lakes event, participated at the Pathways Abilities Society appreciation lunch, and volunteered as part of the Coldest Night of the Year event.

Impactful sponsorships: Powering potential across Canada

Our commitment to communities and people runs deep. Across Canada, we sponsor an extensive range of national, regional, and local organizations that share our commitment to diversity, sustainability, and community impact. We are very proud of the change they inspire.

The groups we support include not-for-profit organizations, charities, chambers of commerce, sports programs, associations, and organizations across a broad range of industries, from technology and financial services to agriculture and many others. Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers, Women in Mining, and Startupfest are just some examples of the impactful initiatives we support.

We also sponsor national and local community organizations like the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation, United Way British Columbia, the Spirit of Winnipeg Awards, and many other changemakers doing good across Canada.

Regardless of industry or scale, we believe in empowering communities across Canada.

Sponsor of Golf Canada

In 2023, we agreed to a new multi-year sponsorship of Golf Canada.

Through this sponsorship, we’re supporting Canadian tournaments that showcase the best golfers in Canada and worldwide. We’re also helping to make a meaningful impact in First Tee–Canada, a youth development program that breaks down barriers to access affordable, inclusive, and life-enhancing experiences through golf.

Innovating for growth

Our commitment to ESG excellence drives us to harness AI and digital technologies, transforming challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. This is a foundational aspect of our approach to innovation, reflecting our belief that innovation is not optional but a critical component of our sustained success.

Our investment in innovation in 2023 was 53%, underscoring a reinforced commitment to driving technological advancement and sustainable growth.

At the forefront of our innovative efforts is our Innovation & Change team. This group:

• Creates and operationalizes purposeful innovations that deliver measured and tangible benefits.
• Empowers the firm to embrace and execute innovative ideas, creating value for our clients and advancing towards a sustainable future.
• Fosters collaboration with leaders across service lines and represents the voices of our people.
• Optimizes our use of digital technologies and adapts our business model to meet the demands of a dynamic marketplace.

2023 product and service highlights

We’ve channeled innovation to propel our products and services to new heights, enriching the experiences of our clients and people.

Idea crowdsourcing

Our new ideation and crowdsourcing platform offers a formalized process for continuously capturing, collaborating on, and evaluating innovative ideas, enabling our teams to explore and refine ideas that leverage technological advancements.

Since its mid-year launch, our crowdsourcing platform has seen an influx of over 100 ideas, demonstrating a vibrant culture of curiosity and engagement across the firm.

Enhancing strategic partnerships

To accelerate innovation and enhance our capabilities, we've entered into strategic partnerships that bring external expertise and resources into our ecosystem.

Our journey in AI innovation reached a new milestone when we received the Microsoft AI Impact Award 2023, a testament to our pioneering efforts in the application of AI to drive digital transformation.

Market Intelligence Hub

Designed exclusively for our people, the Market Intelligence Hub integrates advanced analytical tools and AI to offer real-time access to critical market insights and trends.

Intelligence Marketplace

This external platform leverages contemporary research methodologies and technologies to deliver in-depth market analyses, enabling our clients to navigate the complexities of their respective industries with confidence.

Case studies: Our tech-powered ESG solutions in action

Discover how our innovative and forward-thinking strategies leverage technology to drive our ESG commitments.

Revolutionizing data analysis with BDO Harmony

Challenge: Navigating vast data sets and ensuring precision in reporting presented our firm with significant challenges, highlighting the need for a more sophisticated approach to data analysis.

BDO solution: We introduced BDO Harmony, leveraging advanced technology to enable the comprehensive analysis of data, far beyond the capabilities of conventional sampling. Utilizing Microsoft Power BI for enhanced error identification and data filtering, Harmony was engineered to meet the evolving needs of data analysis, streamlining processes, and improving accuracy and efficiency.

Impact: BDO Harmony marked a transformative shift for us, significantly cutting data processing times, increasing operational efficiency, enhancing decision-making, and elevating the quality of insights provided to clients.

Charting new paths with AI impact assessments

Challenge: In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, our firm faced the challenge of harnessing the potential of this emerging technology while navigating its significant implications and potential impacts on our operations. The need to balance innovation with responsibility highlighted the imperative for a systematic approach to assess AI's risks and benefits comprehensively.

BDO solution: We implemented a robust AI impact assessment process designed to evaluate the effects and professional considerations of AI integration within our operations through a multifaceted lens. By identifying potential challenges and uncovering opportunities, our assessments provided a foundation for informed decision-making, ensuring that our adoption of AI technologies aligned with our commitment to sustainability and professional practices.

Impact: The impact assessments have enabled us to explore integrating AI in ways that will enhance operational efficiency and foster innovation, while also upholding our ESG commitments. Through this initiative, we've set a precedent for appropriate l AI integration within our firm, guiding our journey toward a sustainable and technologically advanced future.

Leading change with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Challenge: Our firm faced the challenge of modernizing internal processes to significantly boost productivity and unleash creativity across teams, crucial for maintaining our competitive edge and innovation leadership.

BDO solution: We embraced an opportunity to be at the forefront of technological innovation by participating in the early access program (EAP) for Microsoft 365 Copilot. This strategic move, powered by our early investments in AI readiness, placed us among the first to integrate this advanced AI tool into our daily operations. The implementation process was meticulously planned and executed, ensuring Microsoft 365 Copilot seamlessly augmented how our people work, enhanced decision-making and communication, and automated routine processes.

Impact: Being part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot EAP has elevated our operational efficiency and redefined the future of work for our firm. Our success with this tool underscores our commitment to leading by example, leveraging innovative technologies to drive sustainable growth and inspire change across the business landscape.