What a Year It’s Been: Growth, Grit, and Impact at Canadian Equality Consulting
If there is one thing we can say with certainty about 2025, it’s this: this year asked a lot of us.
It asked us to be adaptable in the face of uncertainty. It asked us to be courageous when the work became harder and more politicized. And it asked us to stay deeply grounded in our values even when external pressures pushed many organizations to retreat, pause, or deprioritize equity, inclusion, and people-centred work.
At Canadian Equality Consulting (CEC), we chose a different path.
Our Mission Hasn’t Changed Even When the Landscape Did
Our mission remains simple and unwavering: we build the best workplaces — for everyone.
We don’t measure success by revenue alone. Instead, we hold ourselves accountable across four core pillars that guide our strategy, our decisions, and how we show up every day:
- Sustainability – ensuring our organization can endure and adapt responsibly
- Impact of our work – creating meaningful, measurable change in workplaces
- People & culture – caring for our team with intention, equity, and trust
- Community and broader societal impact – giving back and using our platform responsibly
And while we did not meet our revenue target this year, we exceeded expectations across nearly every other dimension of impact and that matters deeply to us.
Navigating a Shifting and Challenging Context
2025 was a year of significant external pressure for many organizations across Canada.
We saw:
- tightening budgets
- increased economic uncertainty
- multiple elections and policy shifts
- tariffs and supply chain impacts
- and a growing wave of anti-DEI rhetoric and backlash
These realities shaped how organizations engaged with workplace culture work. Large-scale organizational assessments declined, while training, education, and practical skill-building surged — as leaders sought cost-effective, adaptable ways to support their people through constant change.
Rather than resisting this shift, we listened closely.
Adapting Our Services to Meet the Moment
This year, we intentionally redesigned and expanded our offerings to meet clients where they were not where we wished they could be.
We:
- Designed new HR and people & culture services that support organizations holistically from compliance to culture
- Responded quickly to client needs for practical, legally-informed, values-aligned guidance
- Gained new clients almost immediately after launching these services
In 2025 alone, we proudly supported 93 clients, with a 40% client retention rate. A reflection of deep trust, strong relationships, and shared values. We don’t take that loyalty lightly.
Innovation Starts at Home
At CEC, we believe that if we advise organizations on equitable and inclusive practices, we must hold ourselves to the same or higher standard.
This year, we undertook significant internal experimentation and learning.
We tested multiple performance management approaches, gathered feedback, reflected honestly on what wasn’t working and ultimately designed our own performance management framework. The result is a system that is:
- equitable and bias-aware
- transparent and growth-oriented
- practical, humane, and effective
We launched it internally and are now proud to offer it to small businesses and nonprofits who want an alternative to outdated, punitive performance systems. (Truly — try it. We stand by it.)
We also:
- Formalized our 4-day work week pilot into Flexible Fridays
- Conducted a comprehensive review of all internal policies
- Ensured our policies reflect leading practices in flexibility, care, equity, and inclusion
Continued building a culture rooted in trust, autonomy, and mutual respect
Investing in Our Team Deeply and Intentionally
One of the most meaningful moments of the year was our annual in-person team retreat in Victoria, BC.
In a fully remote organization, gathering in person is sacred and we treated it that way.
The retreat included:
- collective learning and knowledge sharing
- wellness activities and intentional rest
- strategic planning and reflection
- long dinners, incredible food, and shared laughter
- and yes — whale watching
It was a reminder that relationships are the foundation of sustainable impact.
Building Community Beyond Our Organization
In 2025, we also doubled down on community-building both for our clients and the broader public.
We:
- Launched and grew a Client Community of Practice, creating space for shared learning and connection
- Held 11 free webinars with nearly 1,000 registrants, because access to knowledge matters
- Expanded our e-learning and microlearning platforms, launching 11+ new micro-courses, tools, and templates to meet people where they are
We also expanded our partnerships, launching new strategic collaborations with:
- Calgary Wild
- Women in Nuclear Canada
- Excellence in Manufacturing
These partnerships allow us to extend our reach while staying grounded in sector-specific realities.
Using Our Platform Responsibly
This year, our voices were needed and we used them.
CEC participated in 10+ media interviews and public commentary, contributing to national conversations on:
- workplace culture
- the future of work
- equity, inclusion, and belonging
We also redesigned and relaunched our website to better reflect who we are, what we offer, and the impact we’re committed to making.
And critically, we continued to give back:
- $35,000+ donated in 2025 to charities and nonprofits advancing equality across Canada.
Zooming Out: The Impact So Far
Looking beyond this year alone, we’re humbled by what has been built collectively since CEC’s founding:
- 700+ clients supported
- 3+ million people impacted directly through our project work
- $100,000+ donated to grassroots and nonprofit organizations advancing equity
These numbers matter but the stories, relationships, and ripple effects matter even more.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we move into 2026, we do so with hope and excitement.
Hope rooted in:
- evidence of impact
- trust from our clients
- resilience within our team
- and a clear sense of purpose
We will continue to innovate. We will continue to challenge outdated systems. We will continue to do things differently even when it’s harder.
All in service of helping people feel good at work, and transforming the world of work for the better.
Thank you to our clients, partners, community, and extraordinary team. We are deeply grateful and we’re just getting started.
Additional Resources
Start Your 2026 Inclusive Workplace Journey: Download the Inclusive Workplace Starter Kit
To help organizations begin or deepen this work, CEC has created a free Inclusive Workplace Starter Kit. A practical, actionable resource full of tools to build equity, belonging, and psychological safety.
A hands-on guide to strengthen your culture and support your people.
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Contact us to learn more: hello@canadianequality.ca