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Another year has wrapped up in Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s Community Engagement program, and we have woven a narrative of empowerment through heartfelt engagement, showcasing the power of collective action. This year, our dedication to community involvement has reached new heights, leaving an indelible mark through volunteering, donations, and various initiatives. We were able to provide more than $7.8 million to organizations within the areas of our four pillars¡ªarts, education, environment, and health and wellness¡ªwhich have enriched lives and fostered a sense of unity.

At Â鶹´«Ã½, we recognize that each community has unique needs and opportunities, which is why we look for strategic partnerships that empower entire communities. A strong part of our culture is supporting equity, diversity, and inclusivity. We support programs that facilitate interaction with women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodiverse groups, and persons with disabilities and participate in community partnerships¡ªinitiatives that foster inclusiveness in the larger marketplace.

Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion

One of the hallmarks of our community engagement in 2023 was the emphasis on diversity and inclusion¡ªby fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard, we strengthen the bonds that hold us together. We curated events and initiatives to celebrate the rich tapestry of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives within our community.

In 2023, we continued engagements with organizations like the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers the (SASE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Pride@Work, Catalyst, Rainbow Tick, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), to name a few.

We saw 46 students from around the globe awarded scholarships through our fourth cohort of Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship (E&D Scholarship). Seven of these students attained internships around North America. We created his scholarship in 2020 when we recognized the need to increase our focus on finding more ways to support underrepresented populations in our industry. This annual scholarship awards $200,000 to students in STEAM fields, and to date, we¡¯ve provided 30 internships and 160 scholarships to amazing students in Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, Northern Mariana Islands, Jamaica, and Peru.

With an understanding of the value of education and how important it is for students to focus on the future without additional financial burdens, we awarded over $462,800 in scholarships. Continuing our partnerships with two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), we awarded Howard University and Tennessee State each $50,000 for student scholarships and programming.

Volunteering: A Force for Good

Our people are our greatest asset and we rallied together, dedicating countless hours to volunteering initiatives that touched the lives of many. Whether it was our local Developing Professionals Groups (DPGs) cleaning up local parks, NOMA volunteers mentoring students, or individuals heading to food banks to help sort donations, the spirit of altruism prevailed. Through these selfless acts, we forged bonds and a sense of pride in our shared commitment to making a positive impact became the driving force behind our collective actions.

We celebrated the 10th anniversary of our signature Company sponsored volunteer event, Stantec in the Community Week (SITC Week), that took place in June. We saw 6,199 employees worldwide donating their time, energy, and support to 323 organizations.?

Through our global volunteer initiative, Dollars for Doers, employees volunteered in their communities and helped raise over $67,000 for charities.

Empowering Our Communities

Once again, we provided $100,000 in funding for additional and vital support in our communities with our annual holiday giving campaign. We engaged with employees to ask for their input on which organizations they would like to receive funding¡ªand they responded with Feeding America, Food Banks Canada, Global Foodbanking Network, Code.org, One Tree Planted, The Nature Conservancy, Canadian Mental Health Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Beyond Blue, and Mind.

We also continued our collaboration with Oxfam in support of global disaster relief and with World Central Kitchen in support of disaster-affected people's food security and resilience efforts.

We¡¯ve continued supporting our internal community through the (BTF), which assists Â鶹´«Ã½ employees experiencing financial hardship as a result of a natural disaster or unexpected personal challenges.

Our contributions have surpassed $44 million since we began tracking these donations, sponsorships, and volunteer opportunities in 2007¡ªand we¡¯re excited to build on these achievements in 2024. We¡¯re committed to meeting our 2030 goal of investing an additional $30 million in community organizations around the world because we understand the importance of giving back to the community. Not only will we achieve our goal, but we¡¯ll also continue to assist charitable organizations in our communities in strengthening their ability to achieve their goals, work effectively, and sustain themselves over time.

As we reflect on the year gone by, the narrative that emerges is one of kindness, resilience, compassion, and shared purpose. Our engagement in 2023 serves as a testament to the positive change that can be achieved when individuals come together with a common goal. Let this be a source of inspiration as we look toward the future, knowing that our continued commitment to community involvement will shape a better world for generations to come.