Ryan Kidney receives 2025 ISANS Award for championing diversity and inclusion

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) is proud to announce that Ryan Kidney, Director of Human Resources at Dexter Construction, has been awarded the 2025 ISANS Award. This distinguished honour recognizes Ryan’s exceptional commitment and innovative leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within Nova Scotia’s workforce.

Since 2011, Ryan has been a driving force for building a more inclusive community. Through his collaboration with ISANS’ Employment and Bridging team, he has led initiatives to recruit and support immigrant talent at Dexter Construction across a range of roles, including entry-level construction, trades, administration, and engineering. His vision and dedication have resulted in the development of tailored training and retention strategies, ensuring immigrant employees are supported for long-term success.

“Ryan Kidney’s open-door approach to recruiting and hiring immigrants has set a new standard for inclusive employment in our province,” says Paula Knight, ISANS CEO. “His leadership has helped create a welcoming environment that not only benefits newcomers but also enriches our entire community. This award is a well-deserved recognition of Ryan’s passion and the positive change he has inspired.”

Ryan’s commitment to inclusion is evident in his innovative solutions, such as hiring multilingual supervisors to support immigrant employees with varying language skills, transforming potential barriers into opportunities for integration and growth.

“At Dexter Construction Company, we believe that building strong communities starts with inclusive hiring and shared opportunity,” says Ryan. “Our partnership with ISANS has not only helped us welcome talented immigrants and refugees into our workforce, but it has also strengthened our company culture and enriched our team. We are deeply honoured to receive this award and extend our sincere thanks to ISANS for their continued support and shared commitment to a better future for all.”

Beyond recruitment, Ryan has championed Dexter Construction’s involvement in numerous ISANS initiatives, including mini hiring sessions, referral programs through the Engineering Competency Assessment, trades assessments via the Work-based Trades Practical Assessment, and the Bridge to Construction project.

“Since we started, Dexter Construction has hired hundreds of immigrant clients who continued to work and grow in their fields. A huge thank you to Dexter owners, Ryan Kidney and his dedicated team, for championing diversity and inclusion in Nova Scotia,” says Mohja Alia, Manager Employment and Bridging at ISANS.

The ISANS Award is presented annually at the ISANS Annual General Meeting to individuals, community groups, businesses, or employers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to supporting immigrants’ successful integration and sense of belonging in Nova Scotia.