April 8, 2026

For the 12th consecutive year, Diamond Schmitt has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc., organizers of the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

This year’s honourees are celebrated for advancing progressive, people-focused practices that rival larger organizations, with a particular emphasis on fostering social connections which are essential for well-being, creativity, and long-term engagement. These include initiatives such as supporting in-house bands and sports teams to hosting cocktail nights and strategic planning sessions abroad, and more.

"What really sets SMEs apart is their ability to understand their employees on a personal level: social events are tailored to employee interests, professional growth more directly attuned to the individual's goals, they're able to create a culture that larger firms can't easily match," says Richard Yerema, executive editor at Mediacorp. "With many leading SMEs now offering benefits on par with those of larger organizations, they've become even stronger contenders for top talent."

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt was selected as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2026):

• The firm provides up to $1,500 annually for mental health coverage, along with health and wellness spending accounts for fitness, home office supplies, meditation programs, home-care service memberships, and more.
  
• Diamond Schmitt actively recruits post-secondary students for four- to eight-month paid co-ops, where they develop architectural skills in a collaborative environment.
  
• The firm incorporates employee feedback when selecting charitable initiatives to support and matches employee donations in kind, up to $1,500 per employee per year

Other highlights of the firm’s culture include coverage of up to 75% of health plan premiums, hybrid work options, reduced summer hours, at least three weeks’ vacation, and individual performance bonuses. To foster growth, Diamond Schmitt provides mentoring, leadership development, and up to 100% tuition reimbursement.

"The best SMEs provide an opportunity for their employees to form social connections, which is essential for strong mental health," says Kristina Leung, managing editor at Mediacorp. "They provide a compelling counterpoint to the narrative that social connections are difficult to make in a world where solitary work and loneliness have become more common."

Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes SMEs offering the nation's best workplaces based on eight criteria, ranging from work atmosphere to community involvement.

A full summary of the editors' Reasons for Selection can be viewed here.

In addition to this recognition, Diamond Schmitt is among Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2026, Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2026, and Canada's Greenest Employers for 2025.