Abstract

Diversity in the Canadian workforce and in higher education has made Canada a leader in social and cultural inclusiveness. This would suggest that the Canadian military, and its military colleges, should also reflect the diversity of the Canadian population. However, despite gains made through equality legislation as well as various attraction and recruitment initiatives, the representation of women, visible minorities, and Aboriginal people among students and faculty in Canadian military colleges remains low. This qualitative study details the diversity gap between Canadian military colleges compared to the civilian post-secondary education context. The article explores the values, culture, and structure of the Canadian Armed Forces as an organization, and its military colleges, through the lens of the competing values framework. Some implications for the military colleges are put forth, that can be applicable to the ongoing discourse about equity and diversity in the broader post-secondary system.