How EllisDon’s Employee‑Led Groups Are Supporting the Next Generation

Through its employee‑led groups, EllisDon is putting inclusive diversity into action by partnering with post‑secondary institutions across the country to help remove financial barriers to education and support the next generation of construction professionals.

This year marks an important milestone. In addition to celebrating the first recipients of the EllisDon VIBE Scholarship, EllisDon is expanding its support through new bursaries launched by Together and PEACE. Together, these initiatives are creating more pathways into construction and the built environment for students across Canada.

An Inaugural Milestone

EllisDon is proud to celebrate the inaugural recipients of the EllisDon VIBE Scholarship!

Scholarship recipients were selected from University of Toronto Scarborough and University of British Columbia. This first cohort represents a meaningful step forward — where employee‑led commitment translates into direct support for students building careers in construction.

By supporting Black students pursuing careers in construction and related fields, the VIBE Scholarship, administered by the post-secondary institutions, helps expand access and remove barriers in an industry that benefits from a broader range of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences.

Building on Momentum

The VIBE Scholarship is part of a broader effort across EllisDon’s employee‑led groups to create more accessible entry points into construction. Through partnerships with educational institutions, these groups are working to meet students where they are and help make the path into the industry more attainable.

That commitment continues through new bursaries launched by Together and PEACE, each designed to support students who have historically faced barriers to entering construction.

Together: Women in Skilled Trades Award

Through Together, EllisDon’s employee‑led group focused on gender equity, the company is proud to support women pursuing careers in construction through the EllisDon Women in Skilled Trades Award, established in partnership with Conestoga College.

This annual $2,500 award, managed by Conestoga College, supports women and those identifying as female who are enrolled in post‑secondary or apprenticeship programs related to construction. More than financial support, the award helps reduce barriers to entry — expanding access to an industry that needs more diverse voices, perspectives, and lived experiences shaping the work.

By investing in women at the start of their careers, Together is helping address longstanding gaps in the industry and support the next generation of skilled‑trades professionals.

PEACE: EllisDon Building Pride Bursary

PEACE is also expanding access to construction careers through the EllisDon Building Pride Bursary, established at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

The $2,500 bursary, managed by BCIT, supports students who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, demonstrate financial need, and are enrolled in eligible construction and construction‑management programs. The bursary is designed to help reduce financial barriers while creating more inclusive, welcoming pathways into the trades for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Through this initiative, PEACE is taking tangible action to ensure more students can see themselves — and their futures — in construction.

The Ripple Effect

Taken together, these scholarships and bursaries reflect what’s possible when employee‑led groups turn commitment into action. From celebrating the first VIBE Scholarship recipients to expanding access through Together and PEACE, EllisDon is helping open doors, back potential, and support a construction industry shaped by a wider range of voices and experiences.