Data is critcal in the construction industry but for Seamus Kiely, a Toronto-based superintendent at EllisDon who is taking a lead role in Pride Month celebrations at the firm, progress in creating a more inclusive workforce can also be measured in good vibes.
The 2025 EllisDon Impact Report indicated 69 per cent of new employees hired in the previous year identify with one or more underrepresented groups, and that overall, 58 per cent of EllisDon employees were linked with underrepresented groups.
Kiely, a member of EllisDon’s PEACE committee (Proud Employees for Allyship, Community and Education), also noted a welcome uptick in the number of volunteers contributing to the EllisDon Pride float for the Toronto Pride Parade June 28 – there are 12 this year, up from three in 2025.
Those indicators are positive but Kiely, an engineer, recently focused on how satisfying it is to see signs of acceptance extending into public work spaces.
His current job is a highrise purpose-built rental project at the old bus terminal site in Toronto.
“I’m standing on a street right downtown, and my jobsite is on one side of it, and there is a separate jobsite on the other side of it, and that separate jobsite is flying the EllisDon PEACE flag,” he said. “I am staring at it right now…that in itself is amazing.”
It is the fourth year EllisDon is participating in the Toronto Pride Parade and the second year for a float, Kiely said. There is also a ball game scheduled with other construction firms and supporters during Pride Month and other special events throughout the calendar year.
In the past 18 months there has been a shadow hanging over DEI initiatives, at least south of the border, where U.S. President Trump has attacked inclusiveness programs. Kiely acknowledged the new “hostility” in the U.S. but said advocates are “driving on” in Canada.
Visibility adds to openness
Topping the agenda for members of the LGBTQ2S+ construction community in 2026 is pushing to increase visibility in their work environments, Kiely said.
“We just try to get more open ourselves,” he said.
“When we walk in somewhere, we notice straight away, it feels like flight or fight. It’s nice to have little tokens out there that people pick up on instantly that don’t necessarily have to be spoken out loud.”
Kiely created a video for Pride Month in which he discusses how uplifting it was for his work colleagues to meet his life partner at work. With strong support from EllisDon’s leadership group, starting at the top with CEO Kieran Hawe, more LGBTQ2S+ employees are feeling like they are fully part of the workflow, Kiely said.
“I feel more in tune with my team,” he said. “Everyone is more comfortable with each other. You just do better work, personally, removing the stigma.
“You can be more comfortable bringing that to work on a Monday morning, being able to talk to people about what you did on the weekend.”
Hawe described the benefits of pursuing inclusive diversity, as EllisDon labels the program, in the Impact Report:
“As a company, we must continually strive to enhance our diversity.
“Creating an environment that attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds will increase our talent pool and bring different perspectives to our initiatives, entrepreneurial ideas and strategic growth. Diverse thinking is essential for our company’s success.”
Other EllisDon inclusive diversity programs include Together, Gender Equality and Human Empowerment; VIBE, Celebrating Black Excellence; and the Indigenous Employee Circle.
Kiely said EllisDon operates on the premise that every employee is a leader, and it is a matter of stepping into a leadership role – as he has with the PEACE committee – when they are ready.
“It’s a little easier when you know you have the support of the company, when you have the CEO resharing things, reposting.”
Pride Month is not only a celebration of their supportive work environment, but it is also a recruiting tool, as other firms notice EllisDon’s leadership, Kiely said.
“I’ve had a few messages on socials in the last week or so, and they’re really nice, positive ones,” he said.
“Maybe they’re not ready to join us just yet, but it does show that there is change happening.”
