MARKHAM, Ontario — Sienna Senior Living, a prominent operator of senior care facilities across Canada, has earned recognition for the sixth straight year in The Globe and Mail's Women Lead Here benchmark, underscoring its commitment to gender diversity in executive leadership. The announcement came on April 6, 2026, via a GlobeNewswire press release, highlighting Sienna's position among just 85 out of 500 analyzed publicly traded companies for exemplary representation of women in top roles.
The Women Lead Here initiative, launched by The Globe and Mail's Report on Business in 2020, assesses gender balance on executive teams at Canada's largest corporations. For 2026, Sienna stood out with 50% of its senior executive positions filled by women, surpassing the benchmark's average of 48%. This accolade places the company at the forefront of the senior living sector, including its Aspira Retirement Living brand, which offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care services.
Nitin Jain, President and CEO of Sienna Senior Living, emphasized the strategic importance of diverse leadership in a statement. "At Sienna, we focus on attracting, developing, and retaining the strongest leaders to support our long-term growth and deliver high-quality services for seniors," Jain said. "Our commitment to leadership development for our high performers continues to strengthen the company and support our growth across all types of senior living models."
Sienna's operational success appears tied to this leadership approach. The company has reported 12 consecutive quarters of organic growth, with its platform expanding by about 30% in 2025 alone. This expansion was fueled by favorable trends in the senior living industry, careful capital management, and steady execution of projects, according to the press release.
Looking ahead, Sienna is in the early stages of a multi-year expansion plan, nearing $1 billion in new assets. These include acquisitions, developments, and redevelopments in both long-term care and the Aspira portfolio since the start of 2025. With roughly 15,000 employees serving more than 13,000 seniors nationwide, Sienna's workforce mirrors the diversity of the communities it supports, the company noted.
Women make up the majority of Sienna's team members and hold strong representation at every level, including senior leadership where about 70% identify as women. This internal diversity is seen as a driver of the company's performance and culture. Olga Giovanniello, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Sienna, commented on the impact: "Women in leadership roles continue to have a meaningful impact on Sienna’s performance, culture, and ability to develop future leaders." She added, "This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to building an inclusive workplace where leadership opportunities are accessible and aligned with the strengths of our people."
The recognition comes at a time when gender diversity in corporate Canada remains a focal point for investors and regulators. The Women Lead Here benchmark, now in its seventh year, has spotlighted progress and gaps in executive representation since its inception. In previous years, Sienna consistently ranked high, building on initiatives to promote women into key positions within the senior care industry, which faces unique challenges like staffing shortages and an aging population.
Sienna Senior Living Inc., traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker SIA, provides a broad spectrum of services beyond retirement living. These encompass long-term care and specialized programs tailored to seniors' needs. The company's approximately 15,000 employees are described as passionate about enhancing daily life for residents, a ethos that aligns with its diversity goals.
Industry observers point to the senior living sector's growth potential amid Canada's demographic shifts. With baby boomers entering retirement age, demand for facilities like those operated by Sienna is projected to rise. The company's recent expansions, including new developments under the Aspira brand, position it to capture a larger share of this market, according to details in the GlobeNewswire release.
While the benchmark focuses on executive diversity, Sienna's broader workforce statistics suggest a holistic approach. Women not only dominate entry-level and mid-tier roles but also ascend to decision-making positions, fostering an environment that supports innovation in care delivery. This structure has contributed to Sienna's streak of positive financial performance, with organic growth sustained over more than three years.
The Globe and Mail's evaluation process involves analyzing disclosure from corporate filings and public reports, ensuring a standardized measure across sectors. Sienna's inclusion among the top 85 companies reflects not just numerical balance but sustained effort in a field traditionally led by men. For context, the overall average for women in executive roles among the 500 companies hovered at 48%, indicating Sienna's above-par achievement.
Challenges in the sector, such as regulatory pressures on long-term care post-pandemic, have tested operators like Sienna. Yet, the company's focus on leadership development has helped navigate these, leading to expansions that now approach the billion-dollar mark in investments. Acquisitions and redevelopments since early 2025 have bolstered its footprint in key provinces, serving a growing clientele of over 13,000 seniors.
Looking forward, Sienna's multi-year growth phase could influence competitors to prioritize diversity. As the company continues to build on its benchmark success, it may set a standard for the senior living industry. For now, the recognition affirms Sienna's strategy of inclusive hiring and promotion, which Jain credits for operational resilience.
Inquiries about the recognition can be directed to Nadia Daniell-Colarossi, Sienna's Senior Director of Public Affairs, at (905) 477-4006 ext. 3030 or via email at nadia.daniell-colarossi@siennaliving.ca. More details on Sienna's operations are available at www.siennaliving.ca.
This latest honor reinforces Sienna Senior Living's role as a leader in both care provision and corporate governance, potentially inspiring broader adoption of gender-balanced leadership in Canada's aging services sector.