Empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ Workers in Energy: From the Office to the Field [In French]
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Empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ Workers in Energy: From the Office to the Field [In French]
April 14 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Tuesday, April 14 2026 1PM to 2:30PM ET – This webinar is taking place in English on March 17.
Canada’s energy sector is evolving, but for 2SLGBTQIA+ workers, jobsites remain high-risk environments where harassment, hypermasculinity, and isolation are still seen as just part of the job. Based on the recent report “Empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ Workers in Energy,” published by Pride at Work Canada, this webinar offers concrete actions employers, unions, and community partners can take.
Over 90 minutes, we’ll begin with a brief presentation of key findings from the national qualitative study involving 2SLGBTQIA+ workers, business and people leaders, and community organizers. We’ll then move to a facilitated panel featuring experts, industry leaders, and community organizations, demonstrating how these findings can be put into practice, followed by an open Q&A.
Together, we’ll examine how homophobia and transphobia manifest on job sites, how office-focused DEI efforts often fail to reach field-based workers, and what is needed to rewire systems so that psychological and physical safety are seen as inseparable. We’ll also showcase promising practices: simple communication strategies, inclusive infrastructure, accountability mechanisms, and the roles of ERGs, mentorship, and leadership in fostering lasting change.
Format
90-minute webinar:
- 15 min – presentation of key research findings
- 45 min – panel discussion (3 speakers)
- 30 min – audience Q&A / group discussion
Key learning outcomes
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recognize common ways homophobia and transphobia appear in energy workplaces, and how these behaviours impact inclusion, safety, and retention.
- Identify gaps between office-centric DEI initiatives and field-based work, and understand why closing these gaps is essential to genuine workplace inclusion.
- Apply the guide’s recommendations for practical actions to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ safety and inclusion.
Panelists
Jennifer Petrela (she/her)
Executive Director, Mentorat Québec
Jennifer Petrela (she/her) is the executive director of Mentorat Québec and an expert in inclusive mentoring. Jennifer publishes articles, hosts events, and speaks publicly in French and English about the theory and practice of mentoring in different settings and sectors. She speaks regularly on the intersection of mentorship and equity, diversity and inclusion and has launched national and international partnerships to make inclusive mentoring more accessible to members of equity-deserving groups. A proud ally, in 2004 Jennifer advised Canada’s Queer Chamber of Commerce on Out For Business, the Chamber’s mentorship program for entrepreneurs. In 2003, she co-directed a study on women in STEM in Québec and collaborated on a book presenting the study’s recommendations. Jennifer volunteers regularly as a mentor and is herself a mentee in perpetual evolution.
Pasquale Lo Mascolo (he/him)
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor, Hydro-Québec
Pasquale Lo Mascolo is an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor at Hydro-Québec. In this role, he helps design and implement organizational strategies aimed at strengthening equity, representation, and a sense of belonging within the organization. He draws on a diverse professional background in communications, marketing, and internal engagement, expertise that allows him to address EDI issues with a keen understanding of levers of influence, stakeholder engagement, and cultural transformation. Pasquale has been actively involved in advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ communities for several years, notably as co-chair of the Conseil québécois LGBT and as a member of the communications and marketing committee for Pride at Work Canada. Guided by an intersectional approach and a deep sense of social justice, he works to build inclusive, humane, and bold workplaces where every person can feel recognized, respected, and valued.
Facilitator
Cynthia Eysseric (she/her)
Consulting Coordinator
Cynthia is a dedicated professional working at the intersection of feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and sexuality education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sexology from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a certificate in entrepreneurship and SME management from Université Laval, bringing a strategic and inclusive approach to her work. Her commitment to LGBTQ+ communities has led her to collaborate with several organizations, including the Réseau des lesbiennes du Québec (RLQ) and Club Sexu, where she serves as Vice President on the Board. She is also part of the team at Fierté au travail Canada, a national organization advocating for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. Passionate about organizational inclusion, Cynthia began a graduate microprogram in equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace at Université Laval in 2024. Her work aims to strengthen intersectionality within the spaces she engages in, reinforcing her commitment to creating more just and representative environments.
Accesibility:
- Spoken language: French – This webinar is taking place in English on March 17.
- Automatic translation: French to English
- Closed captioning provided: French and English
- Format: Virtual (Zoom in webinar mode)
- Engagement type: participants invited to engage via chat (no audio or video)
Please register below additional accessibility requests. Any questions may be sent to events@prideatwork.ca
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