Sodexo’s Commitment to Indigenous Reconciliation
We are pleased to release Sodexo Canada’s 2022 Indigenous Economic Reconciliation Report.
We value our relationships with our Indigenous clients and partners as well as communities, and Nations. This report presents all our actions in one place and highlights our commitment to these partnerships that enable growth, sustainability, and shared synergies.
Land Acknowledgement: We recognize that this publication was created on ancestral and traditional lands belonging to First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. We express our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who have served as the country's traditional stewards of its lands and waters while also acknowledging the past and present-day injustices that First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples have faced, and continue to face in Canada.
Leadership Actions
At Sodexo, we are proud to be part of many Indigenous communities’ journeys, as a business and as a long-term partner. It is our responsibility to contribute to and support community capacity-building efforts while we are present and to leave a positive legacy behind.
Indigenous Partner Relations
We are proud to collaborate with 27 active Indigenous partners and work closely with 32 vibrant Indigenous communities across Canada, spanning from coast to coast. Together, we are dedicated to building meaningful relationships and fostering economic growth and development within Indigenous communities.
I aspire to go beyond this traditional role and serve as an advocate for the company’s Indigenous workforce. I have a broader vision of my role in developing our Indigenous partnerships with Sodexo. My objective is to help the business expand while also bettering the lives of my people.
- Isabelle Napess, Director of Indigenous Relations
We have been on this Journey with our partners from Indigenous Nations across Canada for over 20 years now. As every partnership we have is unique, we continue to grow and learn from one another while ensuring quality of life services.
- Jonathan Kruger, Director of Indigenous Relations
Reconciliation efforts are critical to building a better future for all, and we are committed to working alongside our Indigenous partners. In the last fiscal year, we spent 21 million on Indigenous-owned suppliers contributing directly to fostering fair opportunity and growth.
- Johanne R. Bélanger, CEO of Sodexo Canada
Our goal is to support a progressive Indigenous economy establishing long-term partnerships. By extending Sodexo’s purchasing power, increasing our purchasing footprint in local communities, implementing strategies to combat food insecurity and developing tailored training programs.
- Stephane Champagne, Senior Vice President, Energy and Resources
Explore Ongoing Indigenous Initiatives at Sodexo
As a company operating in Canada and engaging with Indigenous communities, we have a responsibility and obligation to support reconciliation. By conducting our business with transparency and ideals centred on respect and fostering relationships, we believe we can make a difference.
Orange Shirt Day
In support of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, Sodexo Canada employees, clients, and partners from coast to coast came together to honour the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, celebrating resiliency and affirming the commitment that every child matters.
Breakfast Club of Canada
The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation partners with the Breakfast Club of Canada (BCC) to support food insecurity programs in vulnerable communities including Indigenous nations. In three years, we have donated over $400,000 to BCC through various initiatives. In 2022, the Club provided meals for 47 690 children every day in Indigenous communities.
HEC Montreal Sponsorship
Sodexo proudly supports the First Nation Executive Education (FNEE) Women and Leadership program. The FNEE is a school of excellence created for and by First Nations, offering programs to develop the skills of First Nations Women business leaders.
Introducing Bannock: McGill University Health Centre Glen
When George, a Cree man from Chisasibi, bravely told his care team at the McGill University Health Centre Glen site in Montreal that the menu items reminded him of his time at a residential school, it started an important discussion that will have a lasting impact. Thanks to the internal knowledge exchange at Sodexo, the help of First Nations and Inuit patients and the support of their clinical team, Sodexo Canada's dedicated food services team made changes.
The result led to the addition of bannock to the menu, a traditional Indigenous comfort food. The recipe has now been shared with multiple hospitals, health and social services centres, as well as university students in the Clinical Nutrition departments.
Empowering Indigenous Communities with Employee Development
Sodexo Canada is committed to promoting and fostering a culture of diversity and equal opportunities and to providing inclusive workplaces everywhere we operate.
Our Diverse Workforce
In our Energy and Resources segment, we are proud to have achieved a significant milestone. Currently, 40% of our dedicated workforce consists of talented individuals from local Indigenous communities.
Meet Housekeeping Supervisor and Trainer Kian Basso-Fontaine
Meet Security Manager Keith Smith
Meet Pastry Chef Marie-Léa Petiquay
Mark Guiboche: An Artist in Our Midst
Meet Former Chief Jonathan Kruger
Spotlight on Indigenous Leadership: Meet Tyler Cardinal
Spotlight on Sodexo DE&I: Meet Dana Beardy
What being Indigenous means to me: France Brunelle’s story
Business Development and Supply Chain
We work with more than 122 Indigenous-owned businesses and with 40+ Indigenous communities across Canada. This is just one of the ways we are supporting local economic development and building mutually beneficial partnerships.
Indigenous Suppliers
We are proud to have established partnerships with over 100 Indigenous-owned suppliers, fostering economic growth and sustainability. In our commitment to Indigenous economic reconciliation, we have invested over $21 million in purchasing goods and services from Indigenous-owned suppliers.
More information about Sodexo Canada’s commitment and focus on Indigenous prosperity can be found in the 2022 Indigenous Report.