Pride At Work Canada

THRIVE 2026: Information Session
2026-01-13 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Toronto) | Quebec
January 13th 2026, 5pm-6pm ET
Join us for an Information Session about THRIVE, a transformative ten-week virtual program designed to empower and develop the next generation of Two-Spirit, queer, and trans people managers. If you’re ready to step into leadership roles with confidence and pride, this session is for you!
About THRIVE:
THRIVE is a ten-week virtual program that will develop the next generation of Two-Spirit, queer and trans people managers. Participants will get exclusive access to queer and trans leaders working at the highest levels of Canadian business and engage in important peer-to-peer discussions. Through live Zoom sessions, collaborative group study, and self-directed work our sixth THRIVE cohort will collectively unlock their potential as out leaders.
THRIVE will help you enhance your skills, build your network, and take your career to the next level as an out leader.
Accessibility:

Spoken language: English
Automatic translation: English to French
Close captioning provided: English and French
Format: Virtual (Zoom in webinar mode)
Engagement type: participants invited to engage via chat (no audio or video)
Please register below additional accessibility requests.

Registration for this event has closed.
Questions about THRIVE 2026 can be directed to Templeton Sawyer (he/him), Leadership Programs Coordinator, at templeton.sawyer@prideatwork.ca.

THRIVE 2026: Information Session
2026-02-10 17:00 - 18:00
February 10th 2026, 5pm-6pm ET
Join us for an Information Session about THRIVE, a transformative ten-week virtual program designed to empower and develop the next generation of Two-Spirit, queer, and trans people managers. If you’re ready to step into leadership roles with confidence and pride, this session is for you!
About THRIVE:
THRIVE is a ten-week virtual program that will develop the next generation of Two-Spirit, queer and trans people managers. Participants will get exclusive access to queer and trans leaders working at the highest levels of Canadian business and engage in important peer-to-peer discussions. Through live Zoom sessions, collaborative group study, and self-directed work our sixth THRIVE cohort will collectively unlock their potential as out leaders.
THRIVE will help you enhance your skills, build your network, and take your career to the next level as an out leader.
Accessibility:

Spoken language: English
Automatic translation: English to French
Close captioning provided: English and French
Format: Virtual (Zoom in webinar mode)
Engagement type: participants invited to engage via chat (no audio or video)
Please register below additional accessibility requests.

Registration for this event has closed.
Questions about THRIVE 2026 can be directed to Templeton Sawyer (he/him), Leadership Programs Coordinator, at templeton.sawyer@prideatwork.ca.

Advocating for Equity: Modernizing the Employment Equity Act [In English]
2026-02-24 13:00 - 14:30
February 24 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. Ce webinaire aura lieu en français le 3 mars.
Employment equity has been a priority for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Canada for over 50 years. Despite this long term advocacy, 2SLGBTQIA+ workers remain excluded from the Employment Equity Act’s protections, leaving them underrepresented in data and equity initiatives, and facing persistent barriers such as wage gaps, precarious work, and higher unemployment.
In September 2025, 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations gathered for coordinated advocacy on Parliament Hill, meeting with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, sharing a clear and united message: equity in employment is not optional—and the time to act is now.
It’s time for the Employment Equity Act to explicitly include 2SLGBTQIA+ and Black communities as designated groups, and to include stronger intersectional, transparent, and accountable mechanisms that reflect today’s workplace realities.
Join us to learn about our proposed updates to the Act, our advocacy work, and how you can get involved!
Learning objectives:

Understand the gaps in the Employment Equity Act
Learn about recommendations for the modernization of the Act
Explore advocacy efforts and strategies

Target audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ employees at Pride at Work Canada’s partner organizations
Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders
HR & DEI Professionals

Panelists

Bilan Arte (she/her)
National Representative, Human Rights Department
Canadian Labour Congress

Bilan Arte is an award-winning activist and organizer with over fifteen years of experience in campaigns, leadership, and movement building. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Ottawa, and she is the National Representative for Human Rights at the Canadian Labour Congress.
Bilan is a Black, Muslim feminist who lives and works in the unceded and never-surrendered traditional territories of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe peoples.
In all aspects of her work, Bilan is fueled by her passion for social justice and equity.

Noah Inniss-Parchment (he/him)
Manager, Operations
LGBT YouthLine

Noah is a Black person of Jamaican descent and of trans experience born and raised on the traditional unceded unsurrendered lands of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people (Ottawa). He received his Bachelor of Social Work in 2014 from Carleton University, and has since worked and volunteered for various 2SLGBTQI+ organisations nationally, and within Ottawa and Toronto. Noah previously worked at YouthLine in 2017, and is excited to be back leading and supporting operations.

Facilitator

Quinn Blue (he/they)
Program & Engagement Coordinator

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.

Accessibility

Spoken language: English
Automatic translation: English to French
Closed captioning provided: English and French
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
Registration for this event has closed.

Advocating for Equity: Modernizing the Employment Equity Act [In French]
2026-03-03 13:00 - 14:30
March 3 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. This webinar will also take place in English on February 24.
Employment equity has been a priority for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Canada for over 50 years. Despite this long term advocacy, 2SLGBTQIA+ workers remain excluded from the Employment Equity Act’s protections, leaving them underrepresented in data and equity initiatives, and facing persistent barriers such as wage gaps, precarious work, and higher unemployment.
In September 2025, 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations gathered for coordinated advocacy on Parliament Hill, meeting with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, sharing a clear and united message: equity in employment is not optional—and the time to act is now.
It’s time for the Employment Equity Act to explicitly include 2SLGBTQIA+ and Black communities as designated groups, and to include stronger intersectional, transparent, and accountable mechanisms that reflect today’s workplace realities.
Join us to learn about our proposed updates to the Act, our advocacy work, and how you can get involved!
Learning objectives:

Understand the gaps in the Employment Equity Act
Learn about recommendations for the modernization of the Act
Explore advocacy efforts and strategies

Target audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ employees at Pride at Work Canada’s partner organizations
Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders
HR & DEI Professionals

Panelists

Bilan Arte (she/her)
National Representative, Human Rights Department
Canadian Labour Congress

Bilan Arte is an award-winning activist and organizer with over fifteen years of experience in campaigns, leadership, and movement building. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Ottawa, and she is the National Representative for Human Rights at the Canadian Labour Congress.
Bilan is a Black, Muslim feminist who lives and works in the unceded and never-surrendered traditional territories of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe peoples.
In all aspects of her work, Bilan is fueled by her passion for social justice and equity.

Alex Arseneau (he/him)
Alter Acadie NB

Alex Arseneau est directeur général d’Alter Acadie NB, le seul organisme de défense des droits 2SLGBTQIA+ francophone à l’est du Québec. Depuis son lancement en 2023, Alter Acadie NB s’est imposé comme un pilier du militantisme franco-queer au pays, notamment par son travail de plaidoyer et de revendication, ancré dans les réalités rurales, face à la montée de l’extrême droite et à l’intensification des attaques contre les droits queer.

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.

Accessibility

Spoken language: French – This webinar will also take place in English on February 24.
Automatic translation: French to English
Closed captioning provided: English and French
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
Registration for this event has closed.

Empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ Workers in Energy: From the Office to the Field [In English]
2026-03-17 13:00 - 14:30
Tuesday, March 17 from 1 PM to 2:30 PM ET – Ce webinaire aura lieu en français le 14 avril.
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

Mitchel Bowers
(he/they)

Mitchel Bowers, also known by his vibrant drag alter ego, Simma Downe, brings a unique and dynamic perspective to his work. Beyond being an advocate for inclusion, Mitchel is a seasoned performer with over 10 years of experience as Simma Downe, a captivating Metis Two Spirit Drag Queen. Mitchel is a champion for 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and Two Spirit visibility. As the Executive Director of Wood Buffalo Pride and a founding member of the Oil Royals, he has played a crucial role in shaping the queer community in Fort McMurray. They have experience working across sectors including the energy sector, where they were a founding member of the companies 2SLGBTQ+ ERG, and helped drive systemic and policy change to improve inclusion. Their commitment extends to community-building initiatives, with a focus on human rights, safety, and security. Mitchel wears many hats serving on multiple boards including, Arts Council Wood Buffalo, the Missing, Murdered and Exploited Indigenous Peoples Task Force, and more.

Tee Albino
(they/them)

Tee Albino is presently the Human Rights Business Representative for the IBEW Local 353 in Toronto. They are also on the Executive Board of the OFL, on the Human Rights Advisory Committee of the CLC and on the executive board of the National Electrical Workers Minority Caucus. Tee has been involved on several committees and has held elected positions in the IBEW as well as working as an apprentice instructor for several years at their original local in Vancouver BC. They also sat on the OASIS committee for NETCO(National Electrical Trades Council) and was chair for the WAGE committee for EHRC(Electrical Human Resources Canada). They have also collaborated on the creation of and co-instructed for The Pathway Program for Women and Gender Diverse Folks for IBEW 353. They continue their human rights work through advocacy, training, coalition building and to encourage effective mentorship on the job working toward the transformation of construction culture.
They are presently working on Bystander Intervention Training for the Construction Industry. Through this and many other initiatives and training, they are hoping to transform the construction industry to a more equitable, inclusive atmosphere where all workers can feel a sense of belonging and be able to thrive. This will, hopefully, in turn filter into the community.

Témoc Vega
(they/them)

Témoc Vega, PhD, is the Learning and Development Coordinator at the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (ECAO). With a background in research, critical policy analysis, organizing, and teaching, they are building an educational program designed to actually work for ECAO members and their teams.
Beyond just improving efficiency or meeting compliance requirements, Témoc is focused on helping electrical contractors create workplaces that are inclusive, fulfilling, and collaborative. At the heart of this work is a commitment to building a genuine culture of learning, where workers at every level feel valued, empowered, and supported to grow in their current roles or advance into new ones if they choose.

Facilitator

Ting-Fai Yu (he/him)
Project Coordinator, Energy

Ting-Fai Yu is an anthropologist-turned-organizational consultant with extensive experience in academic and applied settings. As a scholar of transnational queer Chinese cultures, his research has appeared in field-shaping journals like the Journal of Homosexuality, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, and Journal of Intercultural Studies, as well as in landmark volumes such as the Elgar Encyclopedia of Queer Studies and Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice. He received his PhD in gender studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and has held faculty and research positions at Monash University, Leiden University, and the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study. As a DEI professional, Ting-Fai previously worked for Logitech as the first DEI Lead to oversee the Asia Pacific region and lead global Pride initiatives. He has been a faculty member of The Conference Board’s DEI Masterclass Certificate Program, training business and people leaders on workplace psychological safety and intercultural competence. His work in queer and organizational inclusion has been featured in global media outlets and leading industry publications, including BBC News, the HR Excellence Magazine, and HRM Asia.

Accessibility

Spoken language: English – Ce webinaire aura lieu en français le 14 avril.
Automatic translation: English to French
Closed captioning provided: English and French
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
Registration for this event has closed.

Empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ Workers in Energy: From the Office to the Field [In French]
2026-04-14 13:00 - 14:30
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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