EllisDon Steps up Gender Inclusivity Efforts with New Safety Vest Campaign

EllisDon has launched the Fit Your Frame campaign, aimed at providing construction safety vests to women and gender-nonconforming persons whose frame and body type are not best served by traditional vest offerings.

"Traditional safety vests are not built to fit women or gender-nonconforming persons, and we wanted to change that," says Jennifer Khan, vice president of inclusive diversity. "Every day, EllisDon is working towards more inclusive measures on our sites and in our offices; I hope that this will continue to ripple throughout the industry so that everyone, and I mean everyone, feels welcome."

EllisDon has partnered with Md Bespoke, a Black-owned Canadian custom clothing manufacturer, to produce vests that will uphold the quality and function of traditional vests, with better fitting and size options.

"It is so important to feel like you belong in a workplace, and I know from personal experience what that can do mentally to you when you feel like you do not belong," says Tess Durrant, chief operating officer of safety at BeSpoke.

Fit Your Frame is led by 2gether, EllisDon's inclusive diversity leadership group geared towards reflecting all forms of gender expression. The campaign launched in January 2023 and will continue nationwide throughout all EllisDon's area offices and sites. The vests will be distributed to EllisDon employees.