FMC is a leading Canadian law firm that has been actively promoting diversity and inclusion. It was the first law firm to partner with TRIEC in 2008 through TRIEC's mentoring program for skilled immigrants. Through TRIEC, FMC has hired skilled immigrants, provided mentoring matches, and laid the groundwork for its own internship program. FMC's commitment to diversity initiatives stems from its belief that it is good for business, clients require it, and it is the right thing to do.

1. 2010 ALLIES Learning Exchange
Putting Ideas into Action
The Frontlines of Employer Engagement
Fraser Milner Casgrain’s Perspective
Michael D. Schafler
Partner, Toronto

2. Our Profile
• One of Canada’s leading business and litigation law firms
• More than 1400 members of FMC, including more than 500 lawyers
• Six full-service offices located in the country’s key business centres
• Our focus:
– We strive to excel as a workplace of choice for our people
– Our professionals possess knowledge and expertise on
regional, national and cross-border matters, regardless of
where you choose to do business in Canada
– Consistently deliver the highest quality legal services and
counsel to our clients
– An ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusiveness to
broaden our insight and perspective on our clients’ needs

3. FMC and TRIEC
• In furtherance of its Diversity and Inclusiveness Initiative,
FMC was the first law firm to become a corporate partner
in TRIEC’s Mentoring Partnership Program in 2008

4. Toronto Region Immigrant Employment
Council (TRIEC)
• TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program pairs skilled immigrants with
established Canadian professionals in a mentoring relationship
designed to break down the barriers immigrants face when trying to
enter the Canadian labour market
• FMC is the first law firm to be recognized as a corporate partner of TRIEC
• Mentoring skilled immigrants is the guiding force behind FMC’s
commitment to fostering a diverse work culture without barriers,
something to which many of our clients are very sensitive
• FMC’s relationship and experience with TRIEC laid the groundwork
for our participation in the mentoring program
• Through TRIEC, we have hired a number of skilled immigrants in various
departments throughout our firm
• Currently, more than 20 FMC members participate in TRIEC’s
mentoring program for skilled immigrants – close to 50 matches since we
started in 2008

5. Why?
• Our business required it
• Our clients are largely engaged in diversity initiatives,
and require their legal service providers to do so, too
• Key stakeholders understand the value that skilled
immigrants bring to the table
• The “bonus” – it is the right thing to do

6. 2010
• FMC was honoured by the Toronto Region Immigrant
Employment Council (TRIEC) with the CBC Toronto
Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion, one of TRIEC’s
Immigrant Success (IS) Awards. FMC received this
award in recognition of its innovative Legal Professional
Internship Program.

7. 2009 and 2010
• FMC was named one of Canada’s Best Employers for New
Canadians.
– a special designation that recognizes the nation's best employers
for recent immigrants
– winning employers offer programs to assist new Canadians in
making the transition to a new workplace and a new life in
Canada
– it is our belief that the award was given, in part, as a result of
FMC’s pioneering work in the legal community with the Toronto
Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) Mentorship
Program and with FMC’s Legal Professional Internship Program

8. November 2009
• Michael Schafler, a partner in our litigation practice, was recognized
for his contributions to the TRIEC Mentoring Program and was
awarded a TRIEC Special Achievement Mentoring Partnership
Award.
April 2009
• Chia-yi Chua, a partner in our tax practice, was honoured as one of
the country’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants by Canadian Immigrant
Magazine as part of their Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Awards of
2009. Chia-yi was selected from among 75 short-listed finalists
selected by a panel of judges.

9. How?
• Business Strategy – formulate and execute
• People – “champion”
• Institutionalize – create a “program”, members,
administrators, TRIEC interface
• Publish – email, information seminars, success stories,
awards
• Reward – incent your people to align their behaviour with
the business plan

10. “Champion”
– A person who advances the cause
– Need “top down” support (CEO, Managing Partner)
– Should be senior enough to have some influence on
others
– Must be committed, determined and motivational

11. Our Strategy: Diversity and Inclusiveness
• Developed in 2006 with representatives on a national Committee
from each of our six offices across the country (Montréal, Toronto,
Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver)
• Mandated to ensure that all members of FMC have the
opportunity to develop their unique talents to nurture their
ongoing success
• We work with our team members to recognize and address
individual beliefs, challenges and lifestyles in our work environment
• We strive to foster an environment where everyone respects,
supports and learns from each other’s skills, talents and differences

12. Other Diversity Program Highlights
FMC Legal Professional Internship
• As the first program of its kind in Canada, FMC established this six-
month paid internship to help an internationally trained lawyer
become qualified to practise law in Canada
• Help bridge the gap and provide hands-on experience for new
foreign-trained lawyers seeking Canadian professional employment
• Our goal is to help launch candidates’ Canadian legal careers by
providing them with valuable knowledge, skills and experience to
allow them to successfully transition to a professional career in the
law in Canada
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
• FMC Partnering regarding Scadding Court Diversity Scholarship
(effective May 2010)

13. Diversity Program Highlights
Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA)
• FMC sponsors the BBPA national scholarship for black law students
– a $5,000 annual renewable scholarship awarded to a black
law student who has demonstrated outstanding academic
achievement, commitment to diversity, and financial need
A Call to Action Canada: Diversity in the Legal Profession
• FMC is a sponsor of the Diversity in the Legal Profession Summit
Event, an initiative to promote diversity in the legal profession by
challenging corporate law departments to leverage their law firm
relationships to promote diversity in the profession
Pro Pride at Work Canada
• Co-founding Corporate Partner of Pro Pride at Work Canada, a
professional organization created to support the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community at work

14. The Value of Initiatives Like TRIEC?
The above represents a list of active Corporate Partners in 2009
The above represents a list of active
Corporate Partners in 2009