Staff
STAFF
Albert Lin
Executive Advisor & Strategist - (he/him)
Albert is a marketing graduate with a strong background in project and non-profit management. He has experience working as a multi-disciplinary professional with provincial, national, and international associations and has led multiple projects such as AGMs, annual conferences, membership campaigns and website overhauls. With his resourcefulness and positive attitude, he always strives for organizational excellence. Albert values the power of the shared human experience and is passionate about encouraging and enabling people from all communities to be their authentic selves. Connect with Albert on LinkedIn or by email at albert.lin@prideatwork.ca.
Colin Druhan
Executive Director - (he/him)
Colin Druhan has been at the helm of Pride at Work Canada since 2014, steering the organization through significant growth. A champion for community-led initiatives, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which funds grassroots efforts to fight HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. A former Chair of Volunteer Toronto, Canada’s largest volunteer centre, Colin is committed to public service. In 2020 he was named a DiverseCity Fellow by CivicAction, a recognition that underscores his dedication to inclusive civic engagement. Originally from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Colin earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from NSCAD University in Halifax. He supplemented his skills through executive education programs at the Rotman School of Management and Cornell University. In 2020 he completed the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard Business School. Connect with Colin on LinkedIn or by email at colin.druhan@prideatwork.ca.
Connor Pion
Organizational Effectiveness Specialist - (he/him, they/them)
Connor is a community engagement and outreach professional with ten years of experience in education, research, program coordination and peer support. Connor holds an Honours B.A. in Indigenous Studies as well as a M.A. in Geography and Planning from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining Pride at Work Canada, Connor held positions with Grand Challenges Canada, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, OCAD University, the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health. Connect with Connor by email at connor.pion@prideatwork.ca.
Florence Gagnon
Manager of Brand & Sponsorships - (she/her)
Florence Gagnon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University. She has spent the last 10 years working to ‘spread the word’ and increase visibility for lesbians within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2012, she created a platform to provide a resource to lesbian communities, Lez Spread The Word, the first bilingual website of its kind in Canada. In 2014, she launched the FÉMININ / FÉMININ television series, with director Chloé Robichaud (Sarah Préfère la Course and Boudaries), who won two Gemini Awards in Quebec and several international prizes in 2015. In 2016, she published the first LSTW magazine, a 230-page bilingual annual magazine that stands out in stores across Canadian provinces, European capitals and major US cities. From Yellowknife to Vancouver, Berlin and Stockholm, up to MoMA PS1 in New York. She also was on the board of Pride Montreal and The LGBT Chamber of Commerce for many years. Connect with Florence by email at florence.gagnon@prideatwork.ca.
Hanna Haddad
Business Development Coordinator - (he/him)
Hanna is a Business Administrator graduate with a humanitarian and non-profit management background. He has a bachelor's in civil engineering and has worked with UNCHR during the Syrian war and the Syrian Refugee crisis in the middle east. Hanna was a social activist for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights over there and a life skills coach for sexual health and advocating. Since his arrival in Canada in 2021, he started volunteering with local NGOs and community centres to support the community based on his passion, knowledge and experience. With his ambition, passion and insistence, he always believes that we will reach social justice soon, and we have to stand on the right side of history. Hanna values the power of empathy and hardworking to achieve our life goals and live to liberate. Out of working hours, you will find him watching a sitcom while he is eating since he is a foodie guy or hiking around Toronto. Connect with Hanna on LinkedIn or by email at hanna.haddad@prideatwork.ca.
Jade Pichette
Director of Programs - (they/them)
Jade Pichette is an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA!) professional based in Tkarón:to/Toronto. Currently, Jade serves as the Director of Programs at Pride at Work Canada, where they work with over 250 large employers across Canada around gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion. Previously, Jade served as the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at the ArQuives, the Education Programs Coordinator at Kind Space, and an independent inclusion consultant. They are an Ásatrú Gythia (priestess) and interfaith advocate who was the first trans-feminine person to present at the Parliament of World Religions in 2018. Jade was one of the authors of Transitioning Employers: A survey of policies and practices for trans inclusive workplaces and is the cohost of the Uncovering Belonging Podcast. Jade has been named one of Future of Good’s 2022 Young Impact Leaders, Toronto Metropolitan University’s 2021 Pride Champions. In their spare time they can be found geeking out over queer, trans, and Norse histories, firekeeping, and spending time with their chosen family. Connect with Jade on LinkedIn or by email at jade.pichette@prideatwork.ca.
Jose Patiño-Gomez
Director of External Relations - (he/him)
Jose brings a wealth of experience as a marketing and communication professional, with a proven track record in project and event management, creative direction, and digital marketing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has pursued additional studies in Public Relations, Project Management, and Community Capacity Building. This Venezuelan-Colombian has called Toronto home since 2016, and has been dedicated to driving impactful initiatives that support the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities since his arrival. Prior to joining Pride at Work Canada, Jose spent over 5 years at the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC), where he played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the Communications and Knowledge Exchange department. As Senior Manager for Marketing & Engagement, he had the rewarding experience of contributing to numerous impactful campaigns, projects, and initiatives aimed at improving the sexual, physical, mental, and social health of 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Canada. He has been part of the board of directors for the Community Alliance for Accessible Treatment (CAAT) and Action Positive VIH/Sida. During the pandemic, he led a needs assessment project within the Latin gbtMSM/PHA community in Toronto and became a co-facilitator for a group program at the AIDS Committee of Toronto. With a passion for cultural organizations, Jose has also volunteered for renowned events such as the Pride Toronto, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Luminato Festival, and TIFF. In his free time, he enjoys coordinating weddings, attending concerts, binge-watching shows, and planning his next travel adventure. Jose is responsible for promoting the organization's brand presence and leading their External Relations strategy. If you would like to connect with Jose, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or by email at jose.patino@prideatwork.ca.
Misha Goforth
Manager of Programs - (she/her)
Misha Goforth is a project manager and gender equity specialist with several years of experience in the international development and policy field. She holds a Master of International Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. In her professional and academic careers, Misha is devoted to integrating gender justice and intersectionality into public policy in the international development and environmental fields and has a keen interest in advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in these spaces. In 2019, she presented on “Gender and the Environment” at the International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology where she led a discussion on the integration of gender-equitable approaches to environmental research. For the past several years, she has worked as a gender advisor with the Government of Mongolia where she helped pass the first Gender-Responsive Policy for the extractive sector in Mongolia. With her passion for practical research, Misha has also advocated for the rights of refugees with Global Affairs Canada and is currently supporting a project on empowering racialized and newcomer youth with Empowerment Squared in Hamilton. Connect with Misha on LinkedIn or by email at misha.goforth@prideatwork.ca.
Namrata Bangera
Partner Success Coordinator - (she/her)
Namrata holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and recently completed an MBA from the University of Toronto. She has over four years of experience in client support in the education technology and marketing fields. Through her volunteer and internship experiences, she has worked on projects in service of underprivileged women and victims of sexual assault. Namrata is a firm believer and advocate for the power of diversity and equity in organizations. Connect with Namrata on LinkedIn or by email at namrata.bangera@prideatwork.ca.
Paulo Lima
Marketing Coordinator - (he/him, they/them)
Paulo Lima has over five years of experience in education, marketing coordination, and customer service support. Paulo is passionate about human rights, music, education, and social activism. Before joining Pride at Work Canada, Paulo worked with educational institutions in Ontario to provide the support needed for international students to adapt and thrive in Canada. Paulo is a strong advocate for volunteer work. Paulo has been a volunteer for organizations in Toronto such as Toronto Film Festival, Indie Week, and others. Connect with Paulo on LinkedIn or by email at paulo.lima@prideatwork.ca.
Quinn Blue
Program & Engagement Coordinator - (he/him, they/them)
Quinn Blue is a professional in 2SLGBTQIA+ education and programming. Quinn spent over a decade working in the student movement, having held equity and inclusion-focused roles at the University of Ottawa and at Algonquin College. His formal education is in Women and Gender Studies and in Teaching Adult Learners. They’ve volunteered extensively with the Ten Oaks Project, which taught them about the incredible value of community building. Quinn is passionate about change-making and learning. Connect with Quinn on LinkedIn or email him at quinn.blue@prideatwork.ca.
Templeton Sawyer
Leadership Programs Coordinator - (he/him)
Templeton Sawyer was an Employment Support Practitioner with Teamwork Cooperative, the host of Tweet the Leader in You podcast, and co-facilitator of the CEI and Teamwork’s Youth-Focused Community of Practice in Halifax Nova Scotia. He brings a great deal of lived experience to the table and is a passionate Youth Advocate who seeks to help youth in both Nova Scotia, Ontario and the Bahamas believe in themselves and increase their self-confidence through leadership and skill development programs. When Templeton thinks about the word inclusion, he has a passion to place action into including everyone. Templeton continues his inclusion advocacies through a Youth Focused Community of Practice which he Co-Author, this space provides service providers to grow and develop new strategies to serve youth and people in general. Connect with Templeton on Linkedin or by email at templeton.sawyer@prideatwork.ca.