Dimensions Canada recognition program – Letter of intent
Aboriginal Peoples
Arctic and Northern Regions
Community, Regional & Enterprise Development
Creative Arts, Culture and Heritage
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
Governance and Public Policy
Information and Communication Technology
Oceans, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Social Justice
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with unit
Memorial Deadline: Thursday 2nd, April 2026
External Deadline: Wednesday 8th, April 2026
Description
Dimensions Canada publicly recognizes postsecondary institutions seeking to increase equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in their environments and across the research ecosystem. This will support equitable access to funding opportunities, increase equitable and inclusive participation, and embed EDI-related considerations in research design and practices.
The Dimensions program was co-developed during a pilot period (2018-2023) with a cohort of 17 postsecondary institutions from across Canada. It is intended to be “inclusive by design”—each part co-created in collaboration with those members of the research ecosystem who will use it and, hopefully, benefit from it.
This flagship initiative of the Tri-agency EDI Action Plan is administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
There are four stages of recognition intended to reflect the journey of carrying out EDI work and achieving success. A Dimensions recognition acknowledges institutions that are inclusive of equity-deserving groups including women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups, and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, as well as individuals who identify as or belong to more than one of these groups. Institutions should recognize circumstances wherein other groups may also face barriers. The program encompasses all disciplines and is open to all eligible postsecondary institutions.
Application deadline: April 8, 2026
See here for more information.