Top Employer: Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.

Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):

Diamond Schmitt Architects offers specialized learning opportunities through its in-house Diamond Schmitt University -- programs include "Details + Donuts", drop-in sessions featuring a member of the management team live sketching a detail from the firm's portfolio, and DSU Tours (walking tours hosted by the firm's Principal, exploring notable projects from Diamond Schmitt's portfolio)
Diamond Schmitt Architects helps employees save for the future with matching RSP contributions and provides retirement planning assistance to encourage employees to think long term
Diamond Schmitt Architects takes a thoughtful approach when helping employees manage unexpected challenges, offering compassionate leave top-up for those called upon to care for a loved one (to 80 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks)

Diamond Schmitt Architects employees meet in the library at the organization's Toronto studio

Employer Background

Industry	Architecture
Established in Canada	1975
Major Canadian locations	Toronto ON, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada	284
Full-time employees worldwide	289
Workforce engaged on a contract basis	3.8%
Average age of employees in Canada	41 years
Longest serving employee	33 years

Work Environment Rating: B+

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B

Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B

Outside salary surveys	participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months
Employee salary reviews	individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months
Long-term savings	matching RSP
Long-term planning	retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options
Year-end bonuses	available to all employees
Referral bonuses (max)	new employee referral bonuses (up to $2,000) for some positions
Additional financial benefits	profit-sharing plan available to some employees, corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.)

Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: B+

Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 75% of the premiums
Flexible coverage	health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels
Minimum hours worked for coverage	25 hours per week
Waiting period for coverage	90 days
Family coverage option	yes
Dental coverage	routine
Paid sick days	employees receive 8 days off each year
Health plan includes	traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), employee assistance (EAP) plan, semi-private hospital room, physiotherapy, medical travel insurance, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy)
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $1,500 each year
Health spending account	up to $500 each year
Wellness spending account	up to $250 each year
Additional health and wellness initiatives	health challenges organized by the company's benefits provider (with redeemable points as rewards for completing activities)
Maternity top-up (mothers)	up to 100% of salary for 1 week
Parental top-up (mothers)	up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers)	up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks
Adoption top-up	up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks
Additional family-friendly benefits	phased-in return to work for new parents, compassionate top-up to 80% of salary for 17 weeks

Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A

Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Vacation jump	vacation increases after 8 years of employment
Maximum vacation allowance	employees move to a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation over their career
Paid summer shutdown	employees receive 8 days off during the summer months
Paid holiday shutdown	during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off
Personal paid days off	employees can schedule 2 personal days off each year, as needed
Unpaid leave of absence option	yes

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B

Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
Managers receive performance review training	yes
360° feedback option	as part of the review process, performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work
Confidential employee feedback	employees can also provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance
Exit interview	exit interview option is available for departing employees
Performance recognition	online recognition platform, individual performance bonuses
In-house survey period	in-house surveys are conducted every 6 months

Training & Skills Development Rating: B+

Community Involvement Rating: A+

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 7, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

Diamond Schmitt Architects actively recruits post-secondary students for paid co-op work terms ranging between four to eight months -- students work collaboratively to help develop their architectural skills, including detailing, documentation and drawing preparation
Diamond Schmitt Architects incorporates employee feedback when selecting charitable initiatives to support and matches employee donations in kind, up to $1,500 per employee per year
Diamond Schmitt Architects supports all new parents with maternity and parental leave top-up payments, to 80 per cent of salary for up to 12 weeks (additionally, mothers also receive 100 per cent of salary for one week) -- and offers returning parents the option to ease back into work with phased-in options

Diamond Schmitt Architects employees collaborate at work (Photo credit: Jim Ryce)

Highlights

Industry	Architecture
Established in Canada	1975
Major Canadian locations	Toronto ON, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada	284
Full-time employee growth in the past year	1.8 %
Average age of employees in Canada	41 years
Longest serving employee	33 years
Long-term savings	matching RSP
Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 75% of the premiums
Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, compressed work week, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), reduced summer hours
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
In-house training initiatives	apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, mentoring, paid internships
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Performance recognition	individual performance bonuses

Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Chantel Watkins, and Sonja Verpoort, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 21, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):

In addition to numerous completed LEED projects, Diamond Schmitt Architects' building portfolio includes ten net-zero certified projects, with an additional five projects underway as well as one completed net-zero ready project
Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to leave the car at home with on-site shower facilities and indoor bicycle storage to accommodate over 60 bikes
Diamond Schmitt Architects helps employees develop their environmental skills and knowledge with bi-weekly lunch and learn sessions and webinars focused on sustainability, as well as training opportunities for certifications including Passive House and WELL AP -- the firm also created a unique 'ecoMetrics' database of its completed projects to help designers better understand energy reduction methods

Diamond Schmitt Architects staff connect in the studio lounge (Photo credit: Jim Ryce)

Highlights

Industry	Architecture
Major Canadian locations	Toronto ON, Vancouver BC
Full-time employees in Canada	284
Employee green team	sustainability committee
Senior executive who oversees initiatives	principal executive committee
Publishes sustainability report	yes
Green highlights	numerous projects have achieved certifications and recognition, from LEED Platinum and Gold-certification to Commercial Interiors designation (over 45 projects registered and an additional 17 underway), numerous projects designed to meet other environmental building accreditations, including 10 net zero (and 5 underway), advocates for the increased use of wood timber in construction projects (recognizing wood as a renewable building material and positive attributes that contribute to healthier indoor environments), offers employees Passive House training (also has several projects targeting Passive House certification) and WELL AP certifications, hosts biweekly lunch and learn sessions and webinars focused on sustainability, created an "ecoMetrics" initiative (a live database of building energy simulation models from completed projects to better understand energy reduction methods), recently launched DSUonline in 2022 (virtual learning management system that helps reduce the need to travel for training)
Noteworthy initiatives	committed to the industry's 2030 Challenge, which includes a commitment to design all projects as carbon neutral by 2030, founding signatories of the Canadian Architectural Professionals Declare Planetary Health Emergency and Commit to Urgent and Sustained Action initiative (2019)
Building footprint includes	leased space has achieved LEED Commercial Interiors standard, energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, 100% biodegradable interior materials (with natural and raw materials where possible), installed view dynamic glass on office exterior that helps to regulate amount and speed of shading
Extended recycling	glass, soft plastics, metal, polystyrene, batteries, light bulbs, e-waste, (organics planned for near future), paper use reduction strategy (incorporates the increased use of a digital project management program for document sharing and 3D visualizations), sample library (surplus tile, fabric, wood and metal samples are donated to a local school board for art project materials)
Commuter amenities	shower facilities and indoor bicycle storage to accommodate over 60 bikes, walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking
Community partnerships	Habitat for Humanity (employee volunteers help to build a house), sponsors the annual Green Building Festival (local industry conference on sustainable design)

Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, reduced summer hours
Commuter amenities	walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking
Onsite workplace features	located in an early 20th-century industrial loft-style building (which the firm renovated to LEED Commercial Interior standards), the office features exposed brick walls and plenty of natural lighting, a 3D printer modelling room, expanded bicycle storage, sit-stand workstations, nap room, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom
Employee lounge amenities	comfortable seating, music, television, lounge (referred to as the quiet room) can be used for mindfulness activities

Employee social committee name	Diamond Schmitt Social Committee (est. 1995)
Past social events	Nowruz (Persian New Year), Chinese New Year celebrations, ski day, winter holiday party (at Revival in Toronto and Notch 8 in BC), pub nights, Pi Day celebration (pie baking competition and raffle), ThunderTruss (in-house band) appearances at holiday parties
Cultural aspects	business-casual dress daily, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, employee sports teams
Employee communications	company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box

Career planning	in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory
In-house training initiatives	apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, mentoring, in-house training, online training, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Unique training & development programs	Diamond Schmitt University and DSUonline (virtual learning management system), office-wide design meetings (current projects are presented to the office)

Scope of charitable involvement	local, national
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities
Total employee volunteer hours (on company time)	over 400 hours last year
Some of the community organizations supported	Heart and Stroke Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Hospital for Sick Children,
Charitable giving	matches employee donations

Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.

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Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)

Employer Background

Work Environment Rating: B+

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B

Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B

Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: B+

Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B

Training & Skills Development Rating: B+

Community Involvement Rating: A+

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 7, 2025)

Highlights

Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Chantel Watkins, and Sonja Verpoort, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 21, 2025)

Highlights

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