On October 17, 2017, Interactive Ontario will launch a Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit for the Interactive Digital Media Industry. The toolkit provides interactive digital media (IDM) companies with pragmatic and actionable advice for enhancing their talent management strategies with the goal of improving team diversity while fostering an inclusive culture. The strategies in the toolkit are tailored to the unique needs of the IDM sector to help leaders attract and retain top talent from diverse backgrounds. Through implementation of these strategies, IDM companies will increase employment opportunities in the sector for talent currently underrepresented due to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, religion, age, ability and other identities.
The impetus for the toolkit came from anecdotal and statistical evidence that the sector lags in diversity – Interactive Ontario’s recent Measuring Success report indicated that women account for just 25 per cent of IDM sector employees, with 20 per cent of companies employing no women at all. The toolkit was made possible by support from the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Canada Media Fund, Ubisoft and Humber College.
A more diverse workforce will allow digital media companies to create stronger content and tell a wider range of stories. Companies will reach new audiences, while providing important opportunities for participation in the flourishing digital economy by those who are currently underrepresented.
Interactive Ontario will launch the toolkit at the October 17 edition of the monthly iLunch series, entitled Improving Talent Management Using IO’s New Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit. iLunch takes place from 12pm-2pm at Ubisoft’s Toronto office (224 Wallace Ave).
