The City of Toronto: Your 2025 Reach Forum Corporate Member of the Year
The Reach Forum Corporate Member of the year is awarded to Canadian purchaser who goes above in beyond in our shared mission of success for Disabled-Owned businesses.
The City of Toronto.
2025 Corporate Member of the Year.
The City of Toronto has long been a national leader in championing supplier diversity and inclusive procurement practices. Through its Social Procurement Program, launched in 2016, the City has embedded equity into its $1.8 billion annual procurement spend by increasing access for businesses owned by Indigenous, Black, women, and other equity-deserving groups. This initiative not only diversifies the City’s supply chain but also fosters economic growth and community development.
From 2017 to 2023, the City awarded nearly $103 million in contracts to certified Indigenous, Black, and diverse suppliers. These efforts have not only opened doors for diverse suppliers but have also set a benchmark for inclusive procurement practices across the country.
We are honoured to receive the Corporate Member of the Year Award, a testament to our ongoing dedication to supplier diversity and our role as a leader in fostering inclusive economic opportunities.
How does The City of Toronto contribute to the Canadian Disabled-Owned business community?
The City of Toronto adopted the Social Procurement Policy in 2016. Under this policy, the Social Procurement Program aims for the achievement of strategic social, economic and workforce development goals using the City of Toronto’s purchasing power. The City of Toronto is a corporate member of IWSCC and other identity-based community organizations to diversify the City’s supply chain. The City of Toronto values diversity, embedding policy for diverse business in the supply chain will only continue to strengthen our relationships with Canadian Disabled-Owned businesses and persons with disabilities
The City of Toronto gains invaluable diverse perspective and collaboration when investing in Canadian Disability-Owned businesses and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
How do Diverse Suppliers access opportunities with The City?
Diverse Suppliers can access City of Toronto opportunities by registering through Ariba as a City of Toronto Diverse Supplier. There is a live Doing Business with the City presentation that happens once a month where you can ask questions and hear from the various units virtually. Please let us know if you’d like to attend this virtual session, and we will register you for that date.
It is important to note, when registering your Ariba Profile, this is an opportunity for you to indicate commodities your company aligns under. The commodities selected will trigger notifications to these Ariba postings sent to your email when available, providing you with streamlined access to our upcoming procurement opportunities you can bid on. You may also find helpful the City of Toronto’s “Doing Business with the City” webpage, where you can view Supplier FAQs.
If you would like to bid on City business opportunities, please visit the City’s internet website dedicated to Doing Business With the City.
You can also find all the city’s procurement posting on the Public City of Toronto SAP Ariba Page.
If you are interested in connecting directly with City of Toronto officials, we kindly ask you register prior with the Lobbyist Registrar. Registering as an In-House Lobbyist by moving through the steps will best support you and the City of Toronto’s understanding of your business. It is important to make note of any attempts you have make to lobby your business to City Officials. If you have any additional questions, kindly connect with their office directly through the email lobbyistregistrar@toronto.ca.
Reach: The National Forum for Disabled Entrepreneurship celebrates Canadian Disabled-Owned businesses like LearnAbility every year. Lear more about the Forum’s speakers, award winners, and award nominees when you visit the official page here.
