19Dec

Our whole world is full of possibilities!

December 19, 2023 editor 198

Friends, looking back at 2023’s headlines you can see it’s been a difficult year. The support our community has come to count on from corporations is waning. Coordinated and resourced actors are advancing their efforts to segregate us from society. Sometimes it feels like our movement has lost ground that it will be impossible to win back. But those are the headlines. The milestones celebrated by my 2SLGBTQIA+ colleagues this year tell different stories. One became married to her longtime partner, something that was impossible in Canada as recently as 2005. One became an adoptive parent with his husband, which...

17Nov

Celebrating gender identities with Chris Bergeron

November 17, 2023 editor 233

Last week, Chris Bergeron, Vice President of Inclusive Creativity at Cossette, gave this beautiful and emotional speech at the Musée de la civilisation, during an event organized as part of the exhibition “Love Me Gender,” presented by TD. With this exhibition, the Musée seeks to play a role in these important discussions by demystifying and celebrating the plurality of gender identities. Bergeron explored how the shadows covering our shining queer and trans communities are impacting the way we recognize ourselves in the world. We look at places and see that they have been taken from us, while we end up...

14Nov

Trans Awareness Week 2023

November 14, 2023 editor 224

Trans communities are a vital part of the 2SLGTBQIA+ movement, and they have been the main target of the violence perpetrated against us. While we have observance dates to celebrate, commemorate and give more visibility to queer and trans people, we also have dates to create awareness and honour the lives lost to transphobic and systemic violence. Transgender Awareness Week (TWA) builds the momentum for Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on November 20, honouring the lost lives of trans people. TDoR started with Gwendolyn Ann Smith to mourn the loss of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman killed in her...

11Oct

Out and Safe

October 11, 2023 editor 211

For generations, we have heard “live your best life,” “always tell the truth,” or “you won’t be happy if you don’t live your authentic life.” However, there is always a “but” for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. If we were to follow the “recommendations,” we would have to come out. But we would also encounter people saying we cannot show who we are and fully disclose our identities. It becomes an ongoing hide-and-seek game with no winner. The coming out process is complex and could create unsafe situations. Many queer and trans professionals experience that in their lives, and the...

28Sep

Navigating the anti-2SLGBTQIA+ wave

September 28, 2023 editor 195

Pride at Work Canada was founded in 2008 to promote more inclusive workplaces for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Over the years, this organization has witnessed several positive changes for the people we serve, including labour rights, the ban on conversion therapy and changes in the blood donation eligibility criteria. At the same time, we have never let our guard down in the continuous fight against discrimination and ignorance as they continue to exist. The organization understands the importance of educating people on topics to promote a more inclusive and peaceful society. In recent years, we have engaged and advised...

28Jun

Addressing Discriminatory Ugandan Law

June 28, 2023 editor 273

On June 15, Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada joined the collective voices of 170 civil society groups from around the world to send a letter to The World Bank President, Ajay Banga, calling on him to lead specific, concrete, and timely actions in response to Uganda’s Abhorrent Anti-Homosexuality Law 2023 that is in force and leaving in its wake devastating consequences. Read the full letter below or download it using the link. Urgent World Bank Action Should Address Discriminatory Ugandan Law 170 Groups Call on the New World Bank President to Defend the Importance of Inclusive Economic Development (Kampala/New York, June...

28Nov

Solidarity with the Revolutionary Movement in Iran – Women, Life, Freedom

November 28, 2022 Contractor 274

Pride at Work Canada stands in solidarity with the brave women in Iran who are leading a revolutionary movement and fighting for their basic human rights and liberation. This movement has been sparked by the murder of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Jina Amini, by Iran’s “morality police” after she was arrested for allegedly not wearing her hijab (head scarf) correctly. Since the tragic death of Amini, brave protestors have been peacefully demonstrating to demand for the fall of the repressive regime of Iran, the Islamic Republic. This is a mass intersectional revolutionary movement that includes women, youth, LGBTQIA+ communities, ethnic...

18Nov

In Case You Missed It: Working While Trans – Thriving and Surviving

November 18, 2021 editor 311

On August 24, 2021 Pride at Work Canada presented Working While Trans – Thriving and Surviving. The panel was organized and moderated by Irfan Lakhani (he/him), Programs Assistant, Action Plans, at Pride at Work Canada. Here are some of the highlights: Screenshots with the moderator Irfan Lakhani and the emcee Connor Pion. Lakhani opened the conversation by first welcoming and introducing the panel of three inspiring thought-leaders: Dani Gomez-Ortega (she/her), Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Loblaw Companies Limited Karibu Ramos (they/them), Executive Director and Founder, Elevate Equity Val Walls (they/them), Director Sales Effectiveness, Scotiabank “It is darn exhausting. Because...

14Oct

In Case You Missed It: Beyond Equity Towards Justice

October 14, 2021 editor 290

On July 14th, 2021, Pride at Work Canada in collaboration with the Black HR Professionals of Canada presented the Virtual ProPride: Beyond Equity Towards Justice. The session was emceed by Pride at Work Canada’s Board director and Chair of Thought Leadership Committee Angela Facundo (she/her, they/them) was the third of Pride at Work Canada’s 2021 Virtual ProPride Series and sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright. Here are some of the highlights: Screenshot from the session with Harlan Pruden and Angela Facundo. “… But I think until we make spaces in which the slaves and everyone is invited to that table, there...

30Sep

In Case You Missed It: Beyond Diversity Towards Dignity

September 30, 2021 editor 284

On June 22, 2020 Pride at Work Canada partnered with Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council to present a panel on Beyond Diversity Towards Dignity, emceed by Pride at Work Canada’s Board Member Claire Yick (she/her). Here are some of the highlights: Albert McLeod (he/him, she/her), the Board Director of the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba, opened the session with remarks. McLeod is a Status Indian with ancestry from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Metis community of Norway House in northern Manitoba and has thirty years of experience as a human rights activist. He spoke about employment being an inherent right of Canadians as well a...

30Sep

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day

September 30, 2021 editor 305

Over the past several months, many of us have been closely following the tragic discovery of the remains of almost two thousand First Nations children across Canada, not including the documented deaths in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports. This development prompted the creation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. September 30 is now a federal statutory holiday honouring the lost children and Survivors of Residential Schools, their families and communities. This day presents an opportunity for all Canadians to have meaningful discussions about the legacy of Residential Schools and to take action by directly supporting Residential School...

23Sep

In Case You Missed It: Beyond Inclusion Towards Belonging

September 23, 2021 editor 274

On June 9th, 2021, Pride at Work Canada in collaboration with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable presented Virtual ProPride: Beyond Inclusion Towards Belonging. Emceed by Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Educational Developer and member of Pride at Work Canada’s Board, Terri Eklund (she/her), this virtual session was the first of Pride at Work Canada’s 2021 Virtual ProPride Series and sponsored by Amazon Canada. Here are some of the highlights: “We cannot acknowledge the land without acknowledging the First People that were here, and including those Gender-Diverse, Non-Binary, and Trans Indigenous people that have existed on this land long before...

10Aug

Behind the scenes: Our video animation project

August 10, 2021 editor 272

By Luis Augusto Nobre – Marketing and Communications Coordinator Teamwork is one of the most important words to achieve success when we work in a group. And I am happy to say that I had the pleasure of working on a great project with such amazing people. For five months, some of us at Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada and some students and professors at Algonquin College were a team creating and developing the video animation that we launched in June. The video above, available in English and in French, is the result of the final project developed...

17Jun

National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 17, 2021 editor 224

This Monday, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. That this day takes place during Indigenous History Month and Pride Month is of great significance to the communities Pride at Work Canada serves, which include Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer and LGBTQ+ Indigenous people. This year these concurrent celebratory months take place following the tragic discovery by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation of the remains of 215 First Nations children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. For Indigenous people in Canada the orange shirt is a symbol of the residential school survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad. She shared her story of having...

29Oct

In Case You Missed It: Panel Discussion: Making a Global Impact

October 29, 2020 editor 247

On October 21, 2020, Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada presented a panel on Making a Global Impact, emceed by Pride at Work Canada’s Director of Thought Leadership Angela Facundo (she/her) and sponsored by Microsoft. Here are some of the highlights: “Our topic Making a Global Impact is important and timely. Many of us are realizing that LGBTQ2+ communities within Canada and within traditional territories here are in many ways leading a global conversation about diversity, inclusion, and the capacity to work.” Angela Facundo Jason Brommet (he/him), the Head of Modern Work & Security Business of Microsoft Canada...

09Sep

Au cas où vous l’auriez manqué: Génération Z à l’emploi

September 9, 2020 editor 222

Fierté 2020 restera sans aucun doute gravée dans les mémoires comme l’une des éditions les plus uniques de l’histoire. Cependant, Fierté au travail Canada a persévéré pour créer un impact positif dans son réseau. Le 12 août dernier, Fierté au travail Canada a collaboré avec l’organisme Fusion Jeunesse pour présenter un panel à propos des façons dont les jeunes LGBTQ2 + vivent le marché du travail et l’inclusion en entreprise, animé par le Président du conseil d’administration de Fierté au travail Canada, Mathieu Desjardins et modéré par Gabriel Bran Lopez, Président et fondateur de Fusion Jeunesse. Voici quelques points marquants...

30Jul

2020 Pride & Media

July 30, 2020 editor 202

Pride 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most unique seasons in history. However, Pride at Work Canada has persevered to make a positive impact on our network. Since March, we have offered weekly online engagements to the employees of our National & Regional Partners and presented important content to the general public. Despite physical distancing and cancellation of in-person events, our online events allowed us to connect with thousands of people across Canada and around the world. Our topics touched on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic impact, inclusive language and communications, allyship, trans and gender diverse...

28Jul

In Case You Missed It: Queering the Future of Work

July 28, 2020 editor 252

On July 22, 2020 Pride at Work Canada partnered with The Conference Board of Canada to present a panel on Queering the Future of Work, emceed by Pride at Work Canada’s Executive Director Colin Druhan. Here are some of the highlights: “The new normal can help us find new ways to be engaged” ~ Sylvia Maracle Dr. Sylvia Maracle, the Executive Director of Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres started the event off with remarks. Maracle is a two-spirit Mohawk elder from Tyendinaga who has been a leader and educator for over fourty years. She talked about how, for many...

14Jul

In Case You Missed It: LGBTQ2+ Inclusion in the Skilled Trades

July 14, 2020 editor 240

On July 8, 2020 Pride at Work Canada partnered with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) to present a panel on LGBTQ2+ Inclusion in the Skilled Trades, emceed by Pride at Work Canada’s Manager of Programs Jade Pichette. Here are some of the highlights: “We have to recognize that Indigenous people face a lot of barriers; accessing education, opportunities for apprenticeships.” – T. Sharp Dopler T. Sharp Dopler, a Two-Spirit who uses all pronouns, opened the session with remarks. Sharp is considered a Traditional Knowledge Keeper and Carrier of Ceremony in the Ottawa community and has been an educator, community worker...

25Jun

In Case You Missed It: Two-Spirit Inclusion in the Workplace

June 25, 2020 editor 224

On June 24, 2020 Pride at Work Canada partnered with Indigenous Works to present a panel on Two-Spirit Inclusion in the Workplace, emceed by Pride at Work Canada’s Manager of Programs Jade Pichette. The virtual session was sponsored by Bell. Here are some of the highlights: “Let us not forget a long history that began fourty-five years ago at the Gay American Indians of San Francicso in 1975” – Albert McLeod Two-Spirit Elder Albert McLeod opened the session with remarks. McLeod is a Status Indian with ancestry from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Metis community of Norway House in northern...

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