Our D&I Council comprises more than 25 employees with representatives from each department across our organization. In 2020, the team launched five new programs, hosted 10+ events, invested $115,000 in organizations that support marginalized communities, and launched the Equity and Empowerment Initiative.

Equity and Empowerment Initiative

Diversity and Inclusion is a top priority for Interac. In 2020, against the backdrop of a health crisis and economic crisis, we witnessed tragic racial injustices showcasing the realities of systemic racism and the need for positive change.

To help drive change at Interac, we focused our efforts on employee based, public facing and community- oriented fronts, beginning with open forums to give our employees the opportunity to speak honestly about their experiences.

Leveraging insights from our employees, we launched the Equity and Empowerment Initiative (EEI) involving ten workstreams focused on combating anti-Black racism and other forms of discrimination within our walls and in our communities. Interac also supported five organizations through that initiative, including the Black Business and Professional Association, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals, Pathways to Education, Visions of Science, and Tech Spark – all of which are committed to empowering Black professionals and providing them the resources they need to reach their full potential.

The Equity and Empowerment Initiative continues to be a priority for the Diversity & Inclusion Council as the team launches new programming to combat anti-Black racism in 2021. That includes implementing mandatory anti-racism training for all Interac and 2Keys employees, implementing a new anti-racism policy to better outline Interac’s position on anti-racism and expected behaviours in the workplace, and working with new community partners aimed at promoting young Black professionals in the workforce.