National Member Webinar: Intersectionality in the Workplace: Broadening the Lens of Inclusion
2022-04-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax)
Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) efforts to be truly impactful, we all need to better understand and apply the concept of intersectionality to our workplaces.
When some people face prejudice, the targeted characteristics overlap. This makes the experiences of discrimination or oppression unique. For example, a woman with autism an autistic woman, a woman of colour or an older transgender person can face prejudice due to their overlapping social identities. What’s more, how a woman of colour experiences gender discrimination is different from how a white woman will experience it.
Therefore, people leaders, DE&I or HR leaders must make room for intersectionality within their DE&I or belonging practices. If you ignore intersectionality, you’re overlooking the reality of your employees’ experiences at work and in communities. Join Elise Ahenkorah, award-winning Inclusion Strategist and Speaker to learn thought-provoking and practical tips to build a workplace where everyone can thrive.
This interactive training is designed to better equip leaders and teammates with:

Understanding what intersectionality is
Importance of intersectionality to the workplace, employee retention, engagement and DE&I and belonging initiatives
How to embed intersectionality into your workplace culture, systems, DE&I initiatives, and individual daily actions
Identifying resources to learn more

Audience:

All employees of our Proud Partner and Community Partner organizations
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion professionals
Employee Resource Group members

Presenter:
Elise Ahenkorah (she/her), Inclusion Strategist and Speaker, inclusion FACTOR
Elise Ahenkorah is an award-winning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategist, speaker, and founder of #shemeets, a women-of-colour entrepreneurship resource group. She is educated in Law & Justice, International Relations, Change Management and is completing her MBA in Strategy. She is also an alumnus of Cornell University’s coveted diversity and inclusion strategic planning program.
As the Inclusion Strategist of inclusion FACTOR, Elise Ahenkorah uses data-driven strategies to show how an inclusive workplace increases the bottom line and employee satisfaction. With inclusion FACTOR, Elise translates a company’s vision into measurable and practical DE&I tactics aligned with business and talent retention outcomes.
Her clients include Saje Natural Wellness, Hootsuite, IBM, EPICURE, Calgary Film Festival, Avenue Magazine, Evans Hunt Marketing Agency, Calgary Police Commission, Avenue Calgary, City of Toronto, University of Calgary, IABC, Magazine Association of BC, Alberta Magazine Publisher Association, Law Society of Saskatchewan, Leftovers Foundations, Fresh Routes, HDR International – to name a few.
In her 15 year career, Elise has covered diverse grounds in progressively senior roles in communications, marketing, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and DE&I for public and private sector organizations.
Elise’s innovative DE&I strategies and community contributions have been recognized by the Black Business and Professional Association, International Association of Business Communicators, Canadian Centre for Diversity, the University of Calgary, and the UN of Canada.
Last year, Elise was recognized for her impact with #shemeets as a L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth Canada honouree. Most recently – Avenue Calgary recognized Elise as a Top 40 Under 40 finalist due to inclusion FACTOR’s impact and reach.

Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Virtual Panel: Volunteer Mentorship at Work
2022-04-27 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Halifax)
Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – This virtual panel is open to all who wish to register.
Mentorship, sponsorship, and networks are one of the biggest indicators for success for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers. A good mentor can lead to professional development, connections, and open doors that were previously closed for a mentee. While conversely a good mentee can provide the mentor connection to communities they may be unfamiliar with, engage them in development, and build a rewarding professional relationship. This panel discussion by Pride at Work Canada will talk to the power of volunteer mentorship, and how to build effective mentorship relationships which result in finding amazing talent and retention for employers, new perspectives for mentors, and professional growth for 2SLGBTQIA+ mentees.
Learning Objectives:

The benefits of mentorship to promote 2SLGBTQIA+ employment
How to be a good volunteer mentor
How to be a good mentee

Audience:

Everyone interested in mentorship
2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers
Human Resources professionals
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Professionals

SPEAKERS

COLIN DRUHAN (he/him)
Executive Director
Pride at Work Canada
[Panelist]

GABRIELA JORDAO (she/her)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Hootsuite
[Panelist]

JOEL RODRIGUES (he/him)
Senior Manager, HR Business Partner
Scotiabank
[Panelist]

TYLER BOYCE (he/him)
Executive Director
The Enchanté Network
[Panelist]

JADE PICHETTE (they/them)
Manager of Programs
Pride at Work Canada
[Emcee]

TRACY LUCA-HUGER (she/her)
Interim Executive Director
Mentor Canada
[Moderator]

Registration for this event has closed.
This virtual panel is open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Member Workshop: More than a Rainbow: Cultivating 2SLGBTQIA+ Belonging at Work
2022-05-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
A rainbow logo in celebration of Pride sends a message about an employer’s intention to be inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ clients and employees. Rainbows, on their own, do not result in measurable change for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees or achieve objectives related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, new research shows that introducing brand-related measures without meaningful action can backfire and alienate queer and trans jobseekers and employees.
This workshop will guide employers to a deeper understanding of what drives inequities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the workplace. Exploring qualitative and quantitative data highlights from “Building the evidence base about economic, health, and social inequities faced by LGBTQ2S+ individuals in Canada,”* attendees will be provided with practical steps they can take that are less performative and more impactful.
About SRDC
The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) is a non-profit research organization, created specifically to develop, field test, and rigorously evaluate new programs. SRDC’s two-part mission is to help policy-makers and practitioners identify policies and programs that improve the well-being of all Canadians, with a special concern for the effects on the disadvantaged, and to raise the standards of evidence that are used in assessing these policies.
*”Building the evidence base about economic, health, and social inequities faced by LGBTQ2S+ individuals in Canada” is a research project funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, and carried out by SRDC in collaboration with Dr. Sean Waite at the University of Western Ontario, Pride at Work Canada, and the Labour Market Information Council.
Learning Objectives:

Identify the key factors influencing employment inequities of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers
Showcase how rainbows without action can negatively impact your organization’s brand among the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
Provide actionable best practices to build bring a sense of belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and jobseekers

Audience:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion professionals
Employee Resource Group members
Community engagement professionals
Marketing and communications professionals
Corporate Social Responsibility departments

Presenter:
Kelsey Brennan (she/her), Research Associate at Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
An expert in research, evaluation and capacity building related to LGBTQ2S+ engagement, youth programs, employment supports, and Northern land-based programs. Kelsey looks deeply into existing programs being run by governments and non-profit organizations to find out if they’re working the way they were meant to, and what people are getting out of participating, as well as exploratory work to inform program design and implementation. She practices mixed methods research, including both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as the development of dynamic knowledge products and the presentation of findings to communities, researchers, funders, and other relevant stakeholders.
Connor Pion (he/him, they/them), Senior Programs Coordinator, Pride at Work Canada
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 and was co-founder of ODE (“his/her/their heart” in Anishinaabemowin), a 2SLGBTQ+ drop-in group for Indigenous youth in the GTA.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

National Member Webinar: Towards Braiding: Two-Spirit and Indigenous Inclusion in the Workplace
2022-05-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Many employers are now explicitly encouraging applications from Indigenous jobseekers as part of their diversity statements and recruitment strategies with the desire to increase the representation. But without adequate preparation, this can do little to achieve objectives related to reconciliation and/or wiser relationships Indigenous people. In fact these inclusion efforts can end up reproducing harmful patterns of relationship and representation, resulting in tokenization and discrimination.
In this webinar you will be guided to think through your expectations, your intentions, and the impact of your choices, when it comes to Indigenous and Two-Spirit inclusion in the workplace, and to think systemically how these are rooted in a larger social and historical context. This session will offer general guiding questions for reflection and exploration, as well as point to some “red flags” that commonly emerge in the workplace and which warrant pause and further consideration before pursuing efforts to include Indigenous peoples and perspectives.
Learning Objectives:

Understand some key questions that will help guide Two-Spirit and Indigenous inclusion and belonging
Explore some of the best practice implications to Two-Spirit and Indigenous recruitment, engagement and retention
Recognize some of the common mis-steps on the path to meaningful Two-Spirit and Indigenous inclusion in the workplace

Audience:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Professionals
Talent Acquisition Professionals
Human Resources Professionals

Presenter:
Elwood Jimmy (he/him, they, them), Thunderchild First Nation
Elwood Jimmy (he/him, they, them) is originally from the Thunderchild First Nation, a Nêhiyaw community in the global north. For over 20 years, Elwood has played a leadership role in several art projects, collectives, and organizations locally and in Europe and Latin America. Elwood is currently based in Toronto, Canada.
Photo credit: Elwood’s headshot was taken by Shelley Niro.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

(French) National Member Webinar: 2SLGBTQIA+ Harassment in the Workplace
2022-05-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
(Please note that this session is offered in French.)
Wednesday, May 25, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Together we will look at definitions of psychological and sexual harassment, examples of how these issues affect 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the workplace, as well as best practices for responding to harassment, both as a victim and as a witness. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
Presenter:
Olivia Baker (she/her), Program Manager, Fondation Émergence
Olivia Baker is a Program Officer at Fondation Emergence, where she has worked since 2018. Fondation Emergence is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, informing, and raising awareness about the realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Olivia is in charge of the ProAllied program, which provides training, outreach tools, and coaching services for workplaces looking to become more inclusive of sexual and gender diversity. Olivia holds a Master’s in Communications from the University of Montreal (her thesis was on the self-representation of gay, lesbian and bisexual people on YouTube). She has been involved with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community for several years.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Winnipeg ProPride
2022-06-03 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Winnipeg) | Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0L5, Canada
Friday, June 3, 2022, from 2:30 PM to 5 PM CDT (from 3:30 PM to 6 PM EDT) – This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Canadian Museum of Human Rights for Winnipeg ProPride.

Join Pride at Work Canada for an evening of networking and connecting with diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders, 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers in Winnipeg at The Canadian Museum of Human Rights. The afternoon’s festivities will bring energy as we start the Canada Pride weekend. Including remarks, performances, and networking reception let us return together and build more inclusive futures for gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion.
Details
When: Friday, June 3, 2022, from 2:30 PM to 5 PM CDT
Where: Canadian Museum of Human Rights – 85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0L5
Registration & networking: from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM CDT
Remarks and Performance: from 3:30 PM to 5 PM CDT
Learning Objectives

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers
Best practices for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion
Queer futures of employment

Audience

2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers
Employee Resource Group members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

SPEAKERS

ALBERT MCLEOD (he/him, she/her)
Board Director
The Two-Spirited People of Manitoba
[Remarks]

UZOMA ASAGWARA (they/them)
Politician, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Activist
[Remarks]

COLIN DRUHAN (he/him)
Executive Director
Pride at Work Canada
[Remarks]

JADE PICHETTE (they/them)
Director of Programs
Pride at Work Canada
[Emcee]

Accessibility

Canadian Museum of Human Rights – Accessibility (In Person)
Masking and respecting social distancing required (In Person)
Live captioning provided by National Captioning Canada (Virtual)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests ideally by May 20, 2022.

There will be a livestream, when registering please indicate if you intend to come in person as there will be a limited number of in-person availability.
For in-person access, please register here (limited capacity).
For on-line access, please register below:
Registration for this event has closed.
This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline for livestream, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Virtual ProPride: Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Resurgence beyond Performative Allyship
2022-06-15 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, from 12 PM to 1:30 PM EDT – This online event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Social Research and Demonstration Corporation for this Virtual ProPride.

Rainbow logos, black squares, orange or pink t-shirts, or public diversity statements are ways many have tried to showcase their intention to be inclusive. However, on their own, these measures do nothing to achieve objectives related to reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion, solidarity or allyship.
Bringing together business and community leaders, this virtual panel will explore some of the deeper understandings of what drives inequities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the workplace. Engaging with qualitative and quantitative data highlights from the new research, “Building the evidence base about economic, health, and social inequities faced by LGBTQ2S+individuals in Canada,”* attendees can expect to be provided with calls to action that are less performative and more impactful.
*“Building the evidence base about economic, health, and social inequities faced by LGBTQ2S+ individuals in Canada” is a research project funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, and carried out by SRDC in collaboration with Dr. Sean Waite at the University of Western Ontario, Pride at Work Canada, and the Labour Market Information Council.
Learning Objectives:

Showcase the results of ”Building the evidence base about economic, health, and social inequities faced by LGBTQ2S+ individuals in Canada”
Recognizing examples of rainbow-washing and performative allyship
Identify key actionable recommendations for allyship in the workplace and beyond

Audience:

General employee population
Human Resources professionals
Pride employee resource group members
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Professionals

Accessibility:

Live captioning provided by National Captioning Canada (Virtual)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests ideally by June 1st, 2022.

SPEAKERS

SAYLESH WESLEY (she/her)
Educator & Knowledge Keeper
[Remarks & Panelist]

CHLOE HALPENNY (she/her)
Research Associate
Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
[Panelist]

KARINE-MYRGIANIE JEAN-FRANCOIS (she/her)
Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) Planning Advisor
City of Montréal
[Panelist]

MARGARET ROBINSON, PhD (she/her)
Associate Professor
Dalhousie University
[Panelist]

COLIN DRUHAN (he/him)
Executive Director
Pride at Work Canada
[Moderator]

CONNOR PION (he/him, they/them)
Senior Programs Coordinator
Pride at Work Canada
[Emcee]

Registration for this event has closed.
This online event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca
Pride Toronto – Affiliate Event 2022

Toronto ProPride
2022-06-23 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Toronto) | Ricarda’s, 134 Peter St, Toronto, ON, M5V 2H2, Canada
Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT – This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Rainbow Faith & Freedom for Toronto ProPride.

Panel Discussion & Reception: Religious and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion at work
Pride at Work Canada’s ProPride is returning to Toronto, to bring community and business leaders together. This panel discussion, organized by Pride at Work Canada with the support of Rainbow Faith & Freedom, will delve into the intersections of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, creed, and religion at work. Religious and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are often portrayed as separate communities, while both experience being told that they are not appropriate in the workplace. It is also common that 2SLGBTQIA+ people of faith are marginalized by both their religious communities and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Yet our religious beliefs, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression are all core parts of who people are and, to create true workplace belonging, all have to be respected. Join us for this important discussion that looks at allyship within and between equity-deserving groups. The panel will be followed by a lively networking reception bringing together 2SLGBTQIA+ employees, job seekers, and employers committed to belonging at work.
Details
When: Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Where: Ricarda’s – 134 Peter St, Toronto, ON M5V 2H2
Registration: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Panel: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Learning Objectives:

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers
Best practices for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion
The intersection of creed, religion, gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation at work.

Audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers
Employee Resource Group members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

SPEAKERS

KIM WHEATLEY (she/her)
Anishinaabe Cultural Consultant
[Remarks]

Rev. Dr. BRENT HAWKES (he/him)
Executive Director
Rainbow Faith & Freedom
[Remarks]

COLIN DRUHAN (he/him)
Executive Director
Pride at Work Canada
[Remarks]

BRITTANY HUDSON (they/them)
Program Manager, Youth Education & Employment
Friends of Ruby
[Panelist]

HAZIM ISMAIL (dia, they/them)
Coordinator
OCASI
[Panelist]

MUHAMMAD AHSAN (he/him)
Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
City of Kingston
[Panelist]

JADE PICHETTE (they/them)
Director of Programs
Pride at Work Canada
[Moderator]

SANDEEP NAIR (he/him, they/them)
Manager of Business Development
Pride at Work Canada
[Emcee]

Accessibility:

Review the event space or contact – Ricarda’s Accessibility (In Person)
Masking and respecting social distancing required (In Person)
Live captioning provided by National Captioning Canada (Virtual)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests by June 9th, 2022.

There will be a livestream, when registering please indicate if you intend to come in person as there will be a limited number of in-person availability.
For in-person access, please register here (limited capacity).
For on-line access, please register below:
Registration for this event has closed.
This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline for livestream, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Virtual Panel Discussion: Intersectionality within 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities
2022-06-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Thursday, June 30, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – This online event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Bell for this online event.

Although referred to under one umbrella, the experiences of the 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and jobseekers are unique and diverse as our gender expressions, gender identities and sexual orientations intersect with other aspects of our identities and lives.
Intersectionality is a term that was first coined by Kimberlé W. Crenshaw to describe the compounding impacts of simultaneous racial and gender prejudice. It has since become a framework for understanding the ways in which aspects of an individual’s social and political identities combine to create different experiences of oppression or privilege. But it is not just about the ways in which experiences of marginalization stack up. Intersectionality recognizes the power structures, and the interacting and reinforcing relationships between sexism, racism, homo/bi/transphobia, ableism, colonialism, classism, and other axes of oppression.
This session presented by Pride At Work Canada and sponsored by BELL will explore the reasons why taking an intersectional approach to advocacy and inclusion is integral to creating a sense of belonging for all, including but not limited to 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and jobseekers.
Learning Objectives

Introduction to the concept of Intersectionality
Examine intersectionality in a 2SLGBTQIA+ context
Explore ways in which organizations can use an intersectional framework to inform diversity and inclusion initiatives

Audience

General employee population
Human Resources professionals
Pride employee resource group members
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Professionals

SPEAKERS

QUINN BLUE (he/him, they/them)
Programming & Engagement Coordinator
Pride at Work Canada
[Panelist]

PRU GIRME (she/her)
Business Development Coordinator
Pride at Work Canada
[Panelist]

Registration for this event has closed.
This online event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

National Member Webinar: Trans-Forming through Transformative Justice and Community Building (Cancelled)
2022-07-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Throughout Pride season, many employers will strive to honour and celebrate two distinct yet intersecting communities underrepresented in most workplaces – 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous employees. To action allyship and avoid tokenism, employers must first recognize that Pride is much more than just rainbows, just as Indigenous History Month is more than land acknowledgements. Before showcasing our support externally, we must first direct our attention inward to ensure that our inclusion efforts and allyship are intersectional and put into action with explicit commitments and accountability.
In this webinar, Monica Forrester will share her experiences and extensive contributions to trans history, community work, activism, and advocacy within the numerous and overlapping intersections of her identities as a trans woman of colour and a sex worker living in Toronto. Drawing from her leadership with Trans Pride Toronto* and Maggie’s Toronto*, this session will offer Forrester’s critical insights and perspectives on what work remains for the meaningful inclusion of marginalized, racialized, and sex working employees and jobseekers.
*Trans Pride Toronto is a registered charity founded in 2004 by a collective of Trans and Two-Spirit folks to address and support the needs of marginalized, racialized, and sex working community members. Trans Pride Toronto’s vision is that all Trans, Two-Spirit, Black, and Non-Binary identities will be valued, equal, and have equitable access to housing, employment, human rights, and services to achieve health and wellbeing. Click here to donate!
*Maggie’s Toronto Sex Worker’s Action Project is one of Canada’s oldest by and for sex worker support organizations and one of the first sex worker organizations globally to receive government funding. Founded in 1986, Maggie’s was established on the belief that sex work is real, legitimate and valuable work. Click here to donate!
Learning Objectives:

History of trans, Two-Spirit and sex worker advocacy and activism in Toronto
Insights and perspectives on advocacy, allyship, and inclusion efforts specific to trans, Two-Spirit employees, jobseekers and sex workers
Gathering lessons learned through community work and activism to apply in the workplace context

Audience:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Professionals
Talent Acquisition Professionals
Human Resources Professionals

Presenter:
Monica Forrester (she/her), 2Spirit Transwoman of colour, Spirit name: Southern Eagle

35 years actively engaged in Trans/2Spirit community
25 years working directly within the community bringing awareness, inclusion and education on the diverse communities that exist in Trans/2Spirit Community
Founder of Trans Pride Toronto 2004
The first Trans/2Spirit contingency to walk in the annual 2SLGBTQ parade 2004

This online event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, and we will try to reschedule it.

Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Halifax ProPride
2022-07-14 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax, NS, B3H 4P7, Canada
Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM ADT (4:30 PM to 7:30 PM EDT) – This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register.

Panel Discussion and Reception: Trans health and the workplace
Join Pride at Work Canada for an evening of networking and connecting with diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders, 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers in Halifax at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. This panel discussion will bring together business and community leaders to share insights into building inclusive workplaces based on gender expression and identity for the health and wellbeing of Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and agender people in the workplace. The panel will be followed by a lively networking reception.
Details
When: Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM ADT (4:30 PM to 7:30 PM EDT) – International Non-Binary People’s Day
Where: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax NS
Registration: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Panel: 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
Reception: 7:15 PM – 8:30 PM
Learning Objectives:

Experiences of Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and agender employees and job seekers healthcare
Best practices for gender expression and gender identity inclusion
How to create inclusive benefits for Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary and agender employees

Audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers
Employee Resource Group members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

SPEAKERS

ASHLEY MARTELL (she/her)
Manager, Regional Operations & Internal Controls
TD Bank Group
[Panelist]

LEIGH HEIDE (they/them)
Education Development Specialist
Community-Based Research Centre
[Panelist]

VINCENT MOUSSEAU, RSW (they/them)
Registered Social Worker
Lambda Health
[Panelist]

JADE PICHETTE (they/them)
Director of Programs
Pride at Work Canada
[Moderator]

COLIN DRUHAN (he/him)
Executive Director
Pride at Work Canada
[Emcee]

Accessibility:

Canadian Museum of Immigration – Accessibility (In Person)
Masking and respecting social distancing required (In Person)
Live captioning provided by National Captioning Canada (Virtual)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests by June 30, 2022

There will be a livestream, when registering please indicate if you intend to come in person as there will be a limited number of in-person availability.
For in-person access, please register here (limited capacity).
For on-line access, please register below:
Registration for this event has closed.
This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline for livestream, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Vancouver ProPride
2022-07-28 17:00 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | Norton Rose Fulbright – Sky Garden, 1800 - 510 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 0M3, Canada
Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 5 PM to 8:30 PM PDT (8 PM to 11:30 PM EDT) – This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Norton Rose Fulbright for Vancouver ProPride.

Panel Discussion and Reception: Resurgence
Join Pride at Work Canada for an evening of networking and connecting with diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders, 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers in Vancouver at Norton Rose Fulbright. The evening’s festivities will include a panel discussion on returning to in person Pride events and a lively networking reception. Let us return together to build more inclusive futures for gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion.
Details
When: Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 5 PM to 8:30 PM PDT (8 PM to 11:30 PM EDT)
Where: Norton Rose Fulbright – Sky Garden – 1800 – 510 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
Registration: 5 PM – 5:30 PM
Presentation & Reception: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Learning Objectives:

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers
Best practices for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion
Queer futures of employment

Audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers
Employee Resource Group members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

SPEAKERS

SAYLESH WESLEY (she/her)
Educator & Knowledge Keeper
[Remarks & Panelist]

BASIA PAKULA, PhD (she/her)
Senior Research Associate
Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
[Panelist]

TARA ROBERTSON (she/her)
Principal
Tara Robertson Consulting Inc.
[Panelist]

SANDEEP NAIR (he/him, they/them)
Manager of Business Development
Pride at Work Canada
[Moderator]

CLAIRE YICK (she/her)
Senior Policy Analyst
BC Public Service
[Emcee]

COVID-19:

All existing provincial and local regulations will be followed, including mandates that may require individuals to wear a mask (In Person)

Accessibility:

Norton Rose Fulbright – Sky Garden – Accessibility (In Person)
Live captioning provided by National Captioning Canada (Virtual)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests by July 14, 2022.

The event will include a livestream option. When registering please indicate if you intend to come in person as there will be a limited number of in-person availability.
For in-person access, please register here (limited capacity).
For on-line access, please register below:
Registration for this event has closed.
This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline for livestream, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

ProPride Braindate ProFierté (bilingual)
2022-08-03 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, from 9 AM to 4 PM EDT (up to your schedule availability) – This online networking event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Desjardins for ProPride Braindate ProFierté.

This event is in collaboration with Braindate – e180.

Tired of missing out on webinars because they don’t suit your schedule or don’t accommodate your time zone? Pride at Work Canada’s Braindate networking events provide the opportunity to meet and learn from others through meaningful conversations all on your schedule.
Join us on August 3 to connect with D&I professionals from across Canada through the Braindate platform. Representatives from Pride at Work Canada’s Proud Partner and Community Partner network will be coming together to share best practices and learn from one another. If you have some spare time on your lunch break or between meetings at any point from 9 AM to 4 PM EDT, stop by to say hi and explore this new way of networking with us!
What is a Braindate?
Braindates are one-on-one or group video chat discussion sessions created by platform users based on what they can teach or what they want to learn. On the Braindate platform, you will be able to browse a list of topics posted by other users and join the conversations that interest you most and suit your schedule. If you’re seeking advice or have a subject you’re itching to discuss with other members of the Pride at Work Canada community, you can post your own topic too!
“How to video (virtual)” from e180 on Vimeo.Here’s what to do:

Log into Braindate to create your profile: details will be sent to the email you register with.
Explore the Topic Market: participants (and you, too!) post braindate topics here related to discussions they’d like to have with others during the event. You can invite anyone to meet based on their topic!
Create topics: post braindate topics about discussions you’d like to have. This is your opportunity to share your knowledge, experiences, and expertise!
Book your braindates: send invitations to meet others to discuss their topics, and accept the invitations you receive. Once confirmed, your braindates will take place virtually right on the platform.
Get started!

We’re here to help! About virtual learning concierges
Would you like advice on how to create a compelling braindate topic? Are you having trouble finding topics that are relevant to you? Do you have questions about how to use the Braindate platform?
We can help. At our Braindate networking events, Virtual Learning Concierges (real humans – no bots here!) will be on call to support you in making the most out of your experience. Don’t hesitate to connect with one of them on button links.
They will be available by Tuesday, August 2.
How to host a meaningful braindate?
Braindates are conversations that stem from a shared interest.
Whether it’s a one-on-one or group braindate, keep the following 5 tips in mind to lead a meaningful braindate for everyone involved:

Make sure everyone introduces themselves and contributes to the discussion.
Ask the participant(s) what interested them about the topic.
Be transparent and honest about your own experience related to the topic: You don’t need to be an expert to lead a braindate.
Don’t forget that everyone has something interesting they can add to the conversation: adopt a beginner’s mindset.
Don’t forget to share contact information. Many great relationships started with a simple conversation.

Limited number of participants.
There will be a draw (two tickets) for Montrealers who participate in our ProPride Braindate ProFierté to join our Montreal ProPride (sold out) in that evening.
Please register by Monday, August 1. For this event specifically, we won’t accept late registrations.
Registration for this event has closed.
For Montreal ProPride, please register here (limited capacity – it’s sold out).
This online networking event has limited capacity and is free and open to all who wish to register. If you have any question, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca.

Montreal ProPride
2022-08-03 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Toronto) | SAT – Société des arts technologiques, 1201 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC, H2X 2S6, Canada
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, from 5 PM to 8 PM EDT – This in-person networking event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the support of Desjardins for this event.

The renowned Montreal ProPride cocktail party presented by Desjardins is back and in person this year – join us on August 3 at the SAT (Society for Arts and Technology) for a cocktail hour with company & organization partners, as well as members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Montreal ProPride 2022 will also feature a hybrid component, including a ProPride Braindate ProFierté session, on August 3, that will allow people to network during the day, accessible from anywhere in Canada.
Details
When: Wednesday, August 3, 2022, from 5 PM to 8 PM EDT
Where: SAT – Society for Arts and Technology – 1201 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC
Reception: from 5 PM to 8 PM EDT – Includes 2 drinks
Audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers
Employee Resource Group members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

Accessibility:

SAT – Society for Arts and Technology – Accessibility (In Person)
Masking and respecting social distancing required (In Person)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests by July 15, 2022

There won’t be a livestream for this networking event; however, you can register for ProPride Braindate ProFierté, the online event related to Montreal ProPride.
For in-person access, please register here (limited capacity).
Despite being sold out, there will be a draw (two tickets) for Montrealers who participate in our ProPride Braindate ProFierté.
This in-person networking event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you have any question, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Member Workshop: 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusive Health Benefits
2022-08-24 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Health benefits play a key role in most employee packages and the quality of the coverage offered can be a key factor in both attracting and retaining talent. However, it is important to recognize that most benefit plans are not inherently inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees. Do you know whether your benefits plan is truly inclusive? Does your plan cover drugs related to HIV/AIDS (including PrEP) or coverage for transition-related costs (including gender affirmation surgeries)? Leveraging the expertise of the Pride at Work Canada staff team, this presentation will unpack some of the barriers that 2SLGBTQIA+ employees experience when accessing health benefits and offer key recommendations for ensuring your benefits plan truly benefits all employees, regardless of gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
Learning Objectives:

Overview of several health benefits that are specific to 2SLGBTQIA+ employees
Review examples of inclusive benefits coverage
Guidance on how to advocate for the most inclusive benefits plan with your provider

Audience:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Professionals
Human Resources Professionals
Pride Employee Resource Group Leaders
Insurance industry and EAP providers

Presenter:
Jade Pichette (they/them), Director of Programs, Pride at Work Canada
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, and is a judge for the Canadian HR Awards. In their spare time they can be found geeking out over queer, trans, and Norse histories, firekeeping, and spending time with their chosen family.

Quinn Blue (he/him, they/them), Program and Engagement Coordinator, Pride at Work Canada
Quinn Blue has over a decade of experience in 2SLGBTQ+ education and programming. Quinn worked extensively in the field of Student life, having held equity and inclusion-focused roles at the University of Ottawa, and most recently spending 6 years at the Algonquin Students’ Association, where they were the Wellness and Equity Centre Coordinator. His formal education is in Women and Gender Studies and in Teaching Adult Learners. Quinn is passionate about change-making and learning.

Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Calgary ProPride
2022-09-01 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | Calgary Public Library – Central Library, 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 2E7, Canada
Thursday, September 1, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM MDT (7:30 PM to 10:30 PM EDT) – This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register.
Pride at Work Canada is proud to have the community support of Skipping Stone for this event.

Panel Discussion and Reception: The Next Generation
Join Pride at Work Canada for an evening of networking and connecting with diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders, 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers in Calgary at the Calgary Public Library. The evening’s festivities will include a panel discussion on how workplaces create a welcoming environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and emerging professionals, and a non-alcoholic networking reception. Let us return together and build more inclusive futures for gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion.
Details
When: Thursday, September 1, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM MDT (7:30 PM to 10:30 PM EDT)
Where: Calgary Public Library – Central Library – 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB
Registration: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM MDT
Panel: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM MDT
Reception: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM MDT (non-alcoholic networking reception)
Learning Objectives:

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and emerging professionals
Best practices for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion
Queer futures of employment

Audience:

2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and job seekers
Employee Resource Group members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

SPEAKERS

MICHELLE ROBINSON (she/her)
[Panelist]
Photo credit: Darcy Robinson

AMELIA NEWBERT (she/her)
Director, Communications & Culture
Skipping Stone
[Panelist]

AN TRAN (she/her)
Career Advisor
SAIT
[Panelist]

JADE PICHETTE (they/them)
Director of Programs
Pride at Work Canada
[Moderator]

TERRI EKLUND (she/her)
Board of Directors
Pride at Work Canada
[Emcee]

Accessibility:

Calgary Public Library – Central Library – Accessibility (In Person)
Masking and respecting social distancing required (In Person)
Non-alcoholic event (In Person)
Live captioning provided by National Captioning Canada (Virtual)
More accessibility details to come. However if you have any accessibility requests please email info@prideatwork.ca with requests by August 18, 2022

There will be a livestream, when registering please indicate if you intend to come in person as there will be a limited number of in-person availability.
For in-person access, please register here (limited capacity).
For on-line access, please register below:
Registration for this event has closed.
This hybrid event is free and open to all who wish to register. If you would like to register after the deadline for livestream, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

National Member Webinar: Bisexual Inclusion at Work
2022-09-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
The B in 2SLGBTQIA+ is the largest part of the community, yet bisexuals in Canada earn almost half on average of their straight, gay, or lesbian coworkers. Emerging research shows that bisexual people experience significant disparities with regard to employment, income, mental health, and interpersonal violence compared to both their heterosexual and gay/lesbian counterparts. Yet, it is extremely rare for workplace or employment programs to focus on bisexual communities.
This webinar will explore the often invisibilized realities of bisexual lives, issues, and experiences, with a focus on the workplace. Longtime bisexual advocate Cheryl Dobinson will share ways to take action to challenge biphobia, create positive work environments, and include bisexual employees and jobseekers in meaningful ways.
Learning objectives:

Understand current economic and social inequities experienced by bisexual communities
Recognize the unique challenges and experiences of bisexuals at work
Ways to act in allyship with bisexual employees and job seekers

Audience:

All employees
Employee Resource Group Members
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professionals

Presenter:
Cheryl Dobinson (she/her), bisexual researcher and community activist
Cheryl Dobinson has been involved in local (Toronto) and North American bisexual communities for over 20 years. During this time she has delivered numerous trainings on bisexuality, offered community-based courses and workshops, and founded the bi groups Fluid and The B Side. From 2002 to 2010 she published a bi women’s zine called “The Fence” which was distributed internationally. A member of the Toronto Bisexual Network since 2000, in the mid-late 2000s Cheryl took a lead role in organizing educational initiatives, community events, and the popular “Bi Bash” cabaret. Cheryl has worked extensively in bisexual health research as well as research on sexual orientation and health disparities more broadly. In 2013 she was honoured to be invited to the first ever bisexual community roundtable at the White House, as one of 31 bi activists, and the only Canadian, and she has since attended larger policy and community events at the White House in 2015 and 2016. Cheryl came out as a lesbian when she was 21 and living in Calgary, Alberta, and then as bi in her mid-20s in Toronto.
She has identified as bi for over 25 years now. Her day job is in the extremely bi-positive organization, Planned Parenthood Toronto, where she is an out bi leader and role model. Cheryl is very passionate about bisexuality and making things better for bi people in all areas of their lives.

Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

2022 Annual Meeting of the Members
2022-09-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners.
The Pride at Work Canada / Fierté au travail Canada Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) will be held via Zoom on September 20, 2022, at 12 PM EDT. All Proud Partners of Pride at Work Canada also become Members of the Corporation. Each member is entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at all Meetings of Members of the Corporation.
Our guest speaker is Jade Pichette (they/them), Pride at Work Canada’s Director of Programs, who will reflect on the growth and success of our programming this past year and speak on the continued thought and industry leadership that Pride at Work Canada exhibits.
The lead contact of each Proud Partner would have received (by August 30) an official notice of meeting and be asked to RSVP to represent their organization to ensure a quorum is achieved. If you have not received an invite or are not sure if someone from your organization has RSVP’d please contact albert.lin@prideatwork.ca.
Can’t attend the meeting live? You can also fill out a proxy form! Contact albert.lin@prideatwork.ca.
Make your voice heard and uphold your rights as members of Pride at Work Canada.

(French) National Member Webinar: 2SLGBTQIA+ Harassment in the Workplace
2022-09-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
(Please note that this session is offered in French.)
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Together we will look at definitions of psychological and sexual harassment, examples of how these issues affect 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the workplace, as well as best practices for responding to harassment, both as a victim and as a witness. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
Presenter:
Olivia Baker (she/her), Program Manager, Fondation Émergence
Olivia Baker is a Program Officer at Fondation Émergence, where she has worked since 2018. Fondation Émergence is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, informing, and raising awareness about the realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Olivia is in charge of the ProAllied program, which provides training, outreach tools, and coaching services for workplaces looking to become more inclusive of sexual and gender diversity. Olivia holds a Master’s in Communications from the University of Montreal (her thesis was on the self-representation of gay, lesbian and bisexual people on YouTube). She has been involved with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community for several years.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

National Member Webinar: Coming Out & Psychological Safety at Work
2022-10-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
The business of disclosure at work can be very complicated for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and job seekers. Following Coming Out Day on October 11th where many people discuss openly their gender identity and sexual orientation. Whether two-spirit, queer, and trans employees are “out” is very dependent on the psychological safety that is built.
This webinar by DEI and psychological safety expert Deepak Kashyap will discuss how for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees “coming out” may not only be once and the challenges employees experience. Bringing both workplace and community experience to the table we will look at actionable ways to develop psychological safety.
Learning objectives:

Building psychologically safer workplaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ staff
The complicated experience of “coming out” at work
How to support staff who are “coming out” at work

Audience:

People managers and supervisors
Diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals
Human resources professionals

Live Captioning will be provided by National Captioning Canada.
Presenter:
Deepak Kashyap (he/him/il), Manager, DEIB Programs, Meridian Credit Union.
Deepak Kashyap is a counselling therapist and life-skills trainer with extensive experience in corporate wellness, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. He provides emotional and mental health services in person as well as online for over 10 years. He holds a master’s degree in the Psychology of Education from the University of Bristol, UK.
Want More From Deepak? Check out the Uncovering Belonging Podcast episode Being a Social Justice Worker with Deepak Kashyap. In the episode, he shares his experiences in making the shift from a Social Justice Warrior to a Social Justice Worker, the Canadian immigration system, belongingness, intersectionality, and wellness at work and beyond.

Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

FLOURISH 2022
2022-10-18 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Toronto)

Rendez-Vous: Women x Non-Binary Digital Connect
2022-10-25 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Toronto)
Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from 12 pm to 1:30 pm EDT. Free event.

Pride at Work Canada has been bringing women and non-binary* professionals and job seekers together for years. As many women and non-binary people don’t feel safe in many professional networking spaces, Rendez-Vous: Women x Non-Binary Digital Connect creates a unique opportunity for women and non-binary people to make professional connections in a casual and comfortable setting – from anywhere!
*Pride at Work Canada understands that these terms may not resonate with everyone and endeavors to include all those who do not identify as men. This includes trans women, cis women, non-binary folks, agender folks, and more. We also host Matrices: Trans, Non-Binary & Agender Digital Connect to those who would prefer a trans, non-binary, and agender specific space.
Our guest speaker will deliver brief remarks, then attendees will be placed into breakout rooms to discuss our speaker’s story and the event theme, and to meet other professionals and jobseekers. After the breakout room discussions, we’ll come back as a group to share our takeaways and close the session.
Bilingualism: At this event, there will be a Francophone breakout room and live translation available.
Help us make Rendez-Vous a safer event! All attendees will be provided with a set of community guidelines prior to the event that they will be expected to read and honour. Discussion facilitators will be present in our breakout rooms, and there will be a BIPOC-specific breakout room for folks who wish to join that space.
Guest speaker:
Joanie Pietracupa (she/her), Editor-in-Chief, VÉRO magazine, ELLE Québec magazine and ELLE Canada magazine (KO Média), author, Stresse pas, minou! (KO Éditions)
Joanie (she/her) is Editor-in-Chief of VÉRO, ELLE Québec and ELLE Canada magazines, as well as Director of Stresse pas, minou! (KO Éditions), published on September 8. She was previously Acting Editor-in-Chief at LOULOU and Clin d’œil, and worked for several years as a freelance journalist for ELLE Québec, Coup de pouce, Châtelaine, Clin d’œil, Bel ge and VÉRO magazines, as well as for La Presse+.

Who should attend?
The purpose of this event is to provide space for folks who identify as women or non-binary. There is no desire to monitor anyone’s gender or create barriers to entry. If you come to this event you will be welcome. While the support of people who identify as allies to women and non-binary people and communities is always appreciated, please remember that the best support sometimes comes in the form of leaving space for people to connect around their shared identities and lived experiences.
Who can answer my questions about the event?
Please direct questions about this event to Celine Sab (she/her), Program Admin Coordinator at celine.sab@prideatwork.ca. You may also contact info@prideatwork.ca with questions about any Pride at Work Canada events and activities.
Accessibility:

Captioning will be provided
English to French live translation will be provided
If you have any accessibility requests please email celine.sab@prideatwork.ca with requests by October 11, 2022

Limited number of participants in this free networking event for women and non-binary people.
Registration for this event has closed.

Community Partner Workshop: Telling the Story of Your Social Impact
2022-11-02 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, November 2, 2022, from 12 PM to 1:30 PM EDT – this event is exclusive for employees of our Community Partners.
If you work in a mission-driven environment you know why what you do is important. You see the impact you’re making every day through interactions with clients and service users. But to those outside of your organization, it might not be so clear. Sponsors, funders, donors, and community members all want to know: “What difference are you making?” This workshop for Pride at Work Canada’s Community Partners will focus on quantifying the social change you’re already making. Through interactive learning activities, you’ll gain insight into how you can articulate your organization’s impact for different audiences while staying true to your mission and values.
Live Captioning will be provided by National Captioning Canada.
Learning Objectives:

Define the role your organization plays in a movement for social change
Relate the impact value chain to your organization’s messaging
Compare how data can be presented strategically to inform different audiences

Audience:

Community Partner staff and board
Executive directors and non-profit leaders
Development and fundraising staff

Presenter:
Colin Druhan (he/him), Executive Director, Pride at Work Canada
Colin Druhan is a business strategist with more than fifteen years of experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. He has served as Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada since 2014. In 2021 he was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of Volunteer Toronto, Canada’s largest volunteer centre, where he has served as a Director since 2018. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the Diversity Institute at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). In 2020 Colin was named a DiverseCity Fellow by CivicAction, joining a diverse group of rising leaders who are passionate about shaping their communities within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Originally from Cole Harbour, NS, Colin received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University and has completed executive education programs at both the Rotman School of Management and at Harvard Business School.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Matrices: Trans, Non-Binary & Agender Digital Connect
2022-11-15 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Toronto)
Tuesday, November 15, 2022, from 12 pm to 1:30 pm EST – this event is free and open to the public.

Pride at Work Canada is proud to present the fifth installment of Matrices: Trans, Non-Binary & Agender Digital Connect, a free networking event for trans, non-binary, and agender professionals and jobseekers! We will bring trans, non-binary, and agender professionals from across Canada.
Our guest speaker will deliver brief remarks, then attendees will be placed into breakout rooms to discuss our speaker’s story, our session theme, and to meet other professionals and jobseekers. After the breakout room discussions, we’ll come back as a group to share our takeaways and close the session.
Help us make Matrices a safer event! All attendees will be provided with a set of community guidelines for this event that they will be expected to read and abide by. Discussion facilitators will be present in our breakout rooms, and there will be a BIPOC-specific breakout room for folks who wish to join that space. Creating a welcoming space is a communal effort, we look forward to building a braver space based in communicating with compassion.
Guest speaker:
Jade Byard Peek (she/her), Director of Operations, Kind Space
Jade is a young Afro-L’nu trans woman, artist, educator and community advocate originally from Kjipuktuk, Mi’kma’ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia). She currently is the Director of Operations at Kind Space, a 2SLGBTQIA+ Centre in Ottawa the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe. Since attending NSCAD University for Art History, Jade has been honored to be involved with many national projects and present at conferences and universities across Canada discussing various topics. Jade has a passion for discussing intercultural dialogue, social mutualism and intersectional praxis. Jade strives to create gentle, pragmatic, but rigorous points of entry to anti-oppression through workshops, tool-kits, seminars, or curatorial endeavors such as Trans-Fest, Sanfo-Fest, We are the Griots, and BIPOC BUS. Jade is only turning the wheel that has always been turned by those who came before her; and she hopes she can be part of a solution where justice, stability and equity can exist without the perpetuation of false dichotomies.

Why is this event taking place?
While many events and networks are inclusive of trans, non-binary and agender people there are questions and discussions unique to these community members and their experiences. Pride at Work Canada seeks to create space for professional and job-seeking trans, non-binary and agender people to find support from and make connections with one another. We hope to be responsive to the needs and suggestions expressed by our attendees as this feedback helps to shape future events.
Who should attend?
The purpose of this event is to provide space for folks who identify as trans, non-binary and agender. There is no desire to monitor anyone’s gender or create barriers to entry. If you come to this event you will be welcome. While the support of people who identify as allies to trans people and communities is always appreciated please remember that the best support sometimes comes in the form of leaving space for people to connect around their shared identities and lived experiences.
Who can answer my questions about the event?
Please direct questions about this event to Quinn Blue (he/they), Programming & Engagement Coordinator at quinn.blue@prideatwork.ca. You may also contact info@prideatwork.ca with questions about any Pride at Work Canada events and activities.
Accessibility

Captioning provided by National Captioning Canada
If you have any accessibility requests please email quinn.blue@prideatwork.ca with requests by November 1, 2022.

Limited number of participants.
Registration for this event has closed.

National Member Webinar: 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomer Inclusion at Work
2022-11-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EST – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers face many barriers in employment in Canadian workplaces. Many workplace programs that focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion may miss the newcomer experience, and many newcomer focused programs miss 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion.
This webinar presented by Hazim Ismail will discuss the experiences that gender and sexual minority newcomers may face when coming to Canada and looking for employment. We will tackle best practices of making an inclusive space for all newcomer staff and job seekers.
Learning objectives:

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers in employment
Building a workplace that is inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers
Inclusive practices to hire 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer job seekers

Audience:

Employee resource group members
Human Resources and talent acquisition professionals
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

Live Captioning will be provided by National Captioning Canada.
Presenter:
Hazim Ismail (dia, they/them), Coordinator, Community Education – Positive Spaces Initiative, OCASI
Hazim Ismail (dia/they/them) is a Bugis-Mlay, Chinese queer non-binary community organizer. They hold a MA in Anthropology and Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, a BA Honours Anthropology from the University of Winnipeg, and HND in Business from Linton University. They currently sit on the board for Planned Parenthood Toronto and Maggie’s. They also love birds and migrant justice.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

(French) National Member Webinar: 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomer Inclusion at Work
2022-11-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
(Please note that this event is offered in French.)
Wednesday, November 23, 2022, from 12 PM to 1 PM EST – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers face many barriers in employment in Canadian workplaces. Many workplace programs that focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion may miss the newcomer experience, and many newcomer focused programs miss 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion.
This webinar presented by Sizwe Inkingi will discuss the experiences that gender and sexual minority newcomers may face when coming to Canada and looking for employment. The discussion will focus on the experiences of newcomers in Francophone workplaces, and Francophone newcomers. We will tackle best practices of making an inclusive space for all newcomer staff and job seekers.
Learning objectives:

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers in employment
Building a workplace that is inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers
Inclusive practices to hire 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer job seekers

Audience:

Employee resource group members
Human Resources and talent acquisition professionals
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals

Live Captioning will be provided by National Captioning Canada.
Presenters:
Sizwe Inkingi (they/them, she/her), Bilingual Coordinator, Positive Spaces Initiative, OCASI
Sizwe Inkingi is an Afropolitan queer passionate about community building and empowerment. Sizwe moved to Ottawa, Canada, five years ago to complete their tertiary education at Carleton University. They have a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management. They are currently working for the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants in Toronto as the Bilingual Coordinator for the Initiatives Espace Positif, also known as the Positive Spaces Initiative. PSI seeks to build the capacity of the immigrant- and refugee-serving sector in Ontario, mainly to serve LGBTQIA+ newcomers. Sizwe’s work primarily focuses on supporting the creation of national LGBTQIA+ guidelines that offer operational skills, tools, and resources to ensure that gender and sexually diverse immigrants, refugees and newcomers are accessing barrier-free settlement services. She is a part of numerous advocacy initiatives that work to strengthen the network of LGBTQIA+ newcomer communities in Canada.
Klausky Mathurin (he/him), OCASI Champion
Klausky, originally from Haiti, is an active leader of the 2SLGBTQIA + community, with extensive experience in community development and creating inclusive spaces. Since arriving in Canada, Klausky has served as president of FrancoQueer and as an OCASI champion. He has also recently founded the FQAT (Forum of Queers and Allies of Toronto) a new bilingual 2SLGBTQIA+ organisation. He is fluent in Creole, French, Spanish and English. A student in Master’s in Public and International Affairs at Glendon College, and a graduate in business administration, he is passionate about human resources management, organizational culture and the integration and professional development of racialized members of the 2SLGBTQIA + community.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca

Workshop: Rethinking Inclusion Training [Partners only - EN]
2023-01-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, January 18, 2023, from 12 PM to 1 PM EST – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Live Captioning will be provided by 3 Play Media Canada.
It’s time to rethink standalone gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation inclusion training. Reviewing the common mistakes of corporate 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion training strategies, this workshop will address how staff development can be changed to create more inclusive environments and to have a bigger impact on employees. The discussion will include the most up to date evidence-based best practices on diversity, equity, and inclusion training, and what the future could look like.
Learning Objectives:

How to make gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation training effective.
The missteps of most 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion training.
Evidence based approaches to implementing training.

Audience:

Training and education departments
Human Resources & DEI professionals
Employee resource group members

Accessibility:

Captioning provided by 3Play media.
Slidedeck available before the session for those with access needs.
Please register below additional accessibility requests. Any questions may be sent to info@prideatwork.ca.

Presenters:
Jade Pichette (they/them), Director of Programs, Pride at Work Canada
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, and is a judge for the Canadian HR Awards. In their spare time they can be found geeking out over queer, trans, and Norse histories, firekeeping, and spending time with their chosen family.

Connor Pion (he/him, they/them), Senior Programs Coordinator, Pride at Work Canada
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 and was co-founder of ODE (“his/her/their heart” in Anishinaabemowin), a 2SLGBTQ+ drop-in group for Indigenous youth in the GTA.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca.

Webinar: How Employee Networks Create Wellbeing [Partners only - EN/FR]
2023-01-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 12 PM to 1 PM EST – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Live Captioning will be provided by 3 Play Media Canada.
Daily greetings, lunch outings, “watercooler” chats, after-work socials, personal acknowledgements and birthday celebrations. Informal social interactions between employees can contribute to a greater sense of community, belonging, and inclusion in the workplace. But what happens when all employees aren’t meaningfully included? The results are multifold and 2SLGBTQIA+ employees are often intimately familiar with the impacts. Do employers have a role to play in guiding inclusive social engagements between employees? And what responsibilities do employees have in contributing to the social culture at work?
Led by a research team from York University’s School of Human Resource Management, this webinar will guide attendees to a deeper understanding of the impacts of subtle forms of discrimination in the workplace and the unique role of social networks on the wellbeing of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees. Exploring the preliminary data from “Do you see what I see? The role of LGBTQ2+ employees’ network in shaping their experiences of workplace discrimination and wellbeing,”* and the project survey that Pride at Work Canada promoted to Proud and Community Partners, attendees will be provided with valuable insights that can inform best practices for the recruitment, retention, and engagement, of queer and trans employees.
Learning Objectives:

Showcase preliminary results of ”Do you see what I see? The role of LGBTQ2+ employees’ network in shaping their experiences of workplace discrimination and wellbeing”
Recognize examples of subtle forms of discrimination
Review nuances between the experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans employees’ experiences of perceived discrimination and wellbeing
Identify impacts of social networks on employee wellbeing

Audience:

General employee population
Human Resources professionals
Pride employee resource group members
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Professionals

* “Do you see what I see? The role of LGBTQ2+ employees’ network in shaping their experiences of workplace discrimination and wellbeing” is a research project led by Dr. Jing Wang, School of Human Resource Management, York University. The project’s research team includes You-Ta Chuang and Chris Zhang with support from Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada as a community partner.
Presenters:
You-Ta Chuang (he/him), Professor, York University
You-Ta Chuang is a Professor of Management in the School of Administrative Studies and the School of Human Resource Management at York University. He received his Ph.D. from Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. His research focuses on issues related to sexual minorities in organizations. He has written about how Fortune 500 corporations responded to the demand for equal treatment for LGBT employees in the United States. He also worked with scholars in Taiwan and a LGBT advocacy organization to examine LGBT workplace issues in Taiwan.
Jing Wang (she/her), Researcher
Jing Wang earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from the University of Toronto. Her research interests include diversity management, strategic human resources management, work-life balance, and underemployment. She has also written about labor issues such as minimum wages and labor arbitration in China. Her work has received the Academy of Management Best Student Paper Award, and the Labor and Employment Relations Association Best Paper Award. Her study on minimum wages won the Outstanding Paper Award at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013. Her research has been published in the field’s top journals such as Human Resource Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management, and British Journal of Industrial Relations. She was a faculty member of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University and has also worked as a human resource professional for several multinational companies in China.
Guolei (Chris) Zhang (he/him), Researcher
After travelling the world for more than 10 years working in human resources for a number of multinational companies, such as Coca-Cola and Unilever, Guolei (Chris) Zhang went back to school to pursue a PhD in human resource management from York University. Zhang specialized in talent management, training and development, and diversity and inclusion as a human resources professional and continued this interest to his PhD. His primary research interest is diversity and inclusion. More specifically, his research explores how different stakeholders, such as management teams or employees, could together build a diversified and inclusive working environment.
Zhang studied at Brock University where he earned a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management and graduated from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, China, with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He holds a Certified Human Resource Leader designation in addition to a Certified Human Resources Professional designation.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca.

Webinar: Engaging Community Organizations [Partners only - EN]
2023-01-31 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Tuesday, January 31, 2023, from 12 PM to 1 PM EST – this event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners.
Live Captioning will be provided by 3 Play Media Canada.
Who can we support? Who can we work with? What community organizations are creating change? These are questions we regularly get from our Proud Partners for charitable giving, volunteering, recruitment, community services, and learning opportunities.
At Pride at Work Canada, we know change happens through working together. Learn about the missions of our Community Partner organizations, non-profit organizations that support equity-deserving communities. Through a series of short presentations from mission-driven organizations, learn about opportunities for collaboration and the incredible change-making work that they are doing.
Learning Objectives:

Showcase missions of Community Partner organizations
Identify opportunities to support and collaborate with non-profit organizations that support equity-deserving communities
How Proud Partners can engage with charities, non-profits, and community organizations

Audience:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals
Employee resource group members
Community Partner staff and board

Contact: Community Partner Organizations wishing to participate can direct any inquiries about presenting to quinn.blue@prideatwork.ca.
Registration for this event has closed.
This event is exclusive for employees of our Proud Partners and Community Partners. If you would like to register after the deadline, please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca.

SPARK
2023-02-10 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | BLG – Borden Ladner Gervais, 22 Adelaide St W - Suite 3400, Toronto, ON, M5H 4E3, Canada
Friday, February 10, 2023, from 8 AM to 12 PM EST – This in-person paid leadership event is open to all who wish to register and has a limited number of participants.
SPARK is a half-day creative/business event connecting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leaders with Senior Executives for shared learning and networking.
Find inspiration. Leave with a new perspective. Spark impactful change.
Participants will get exclusive access to Chris Bergeron (she/her), author and VP of Inclusive Creativity at Cossette. Bergeron will deliver a keynote presentation about her experience of losing male privilege as a trans woman. Pride at Work Canada’s Executive Director Colin Druhan (he/him) will provide an update on recent research that reflects the labour market experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Canada.
Through collaborative study, participants will take part in three roundtable conversations exploring the intersections of 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion with Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Black Racism and Accessibility. These sessions will be co-led by Pride at Work Canada staff and community leaders from a range of lived experiences.
Roundtable Facilitators:

Indigenous Solidarity: Tim Geauvreau (he/him), Finance & Administration, Workforce Warriors, & Londzo Drury (she/her), Manager of Workplace & Culture, Pride at Work Canada
Anti-Black Racism: Hildah Otieno Juma (she/her), Executive Director, Black Talent Initiative, & Colin Druhan (he/him), Executive Director, Pride at Work Canada
Accessibility: Melissa Egan (she/her), National Lead, Episodic Disabilities, Realize, & Jade Pichette (they/them), Director of Programs, Pride at Work Canada

LEAD SPONSOR

Learning Objectives:

Understand the intersectionality present in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Develop new perspectives on solving DEI challenges.
Make connections with leaders across a diversity of industries.

Accreditation hours:

Law Society of Ontario – This program contains four (4) hours of EDI Professionalism Content.

Audience:

Executive Sponsors
DEI professionals
Entrepreneurs and CEOs

LOCATION & HOST SPONSOR

BLG – Borden Ladner Gervais
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide St W Suite 3400
Toronto, ON M5H 4E3

This creative morning of ideation will be preceded by an opening brunch offered by Dispatch, a queer-owned coffee branch.

REGISTRATION & PRICING
LIMITED SEATS ONLY! Purchase your tickets as soon as possible. Registrations will be open on Eventbrite from Tuesday, December 13, 2022 to Friday, February 3, 2023, and the participation fees are:

General tickets
$1,100.00 (+ fees)
For senior leaders of other companies & organizations (non-partners)
Partner tickets
$600.00 (+ tax)
Senior leaders of Pride at Work Canada’s Proud Partners & Community Partners gets a $500.00 discount
Contact us at info@prideatwork.ca and ask for your Partner Code
Early-birds – $100 off
On the purchase of your ticket by Friday, January 13, 2023, you enjoy an additional $100 off on your ticket price. Apply the code SPARK_EB13 when purchasing your ticket, and it is cumulative with the Partner ticket discount.

On Eventbrite, participants will be asked to inform some personal & professional details, accessibility requests, food restrictions & allergies, and to rank the roundtable conversations: Indigenous Solidarity, Anti-Black Racism and Accessibility. Soon we will inform the speakers for each session.
BUY YOUR TICKET HERE.
SPEAKERS

Chris Bergeron (she/her)
VP, Inclusive Creativity
Cossette
Keynote Speaker
For almost 40 years, Chris Bergeron has lived the life of a heterosexual man. From very early in her career, she had great professional success: after having been a collaborator for major media such as La Presse and Radio-Canada, Chris directed for the newspaper VOIR for five years, which was the largest network of weekly cultural magazines in Quebec at the time. She then made the leap to the advertising world where she held the position of creative director for major agencies. Then, she came out and started living true life as a trans woman. Suddenly being propelled into the reality of a visible sexual minority has profoundly transformed her perception of the world. In Quebec and internationally, Chris advocates for diversity, inclusion and the rights of trans people by sharing her story to the public. She frequently intervenes in the advertising industry to demand better representation of minorities. At Cossette, she leads a multidisciplinary team of strategists, community managers and multiplatform content creators. She is also part of the creativity collective that strives to push the boundaries of the agency’s creative branch at their Montreal office. Thanks to her creative and strategic outlook, she amplifies the digital potential of Cossette’s clients. Her portfolio includes several major brands, including McDonald’s Canada, Destination Canada, the Quebec Tourism Industry Alliance, Tourisme Montréal, Loto-Québec, SAQ, L’Oréal, BDC, VIA Rail and Liberté.

Colin Druhan (he/him)
Executive Director
Pride at Work Canada
Speaker
Colin Druhan is a business strategist with more than fifteen years of experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. He has served as Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada since 2014. In 2021 he was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of Volunteer Toronto, Canada’s largest volunteer centre, where he has served as a Director since 2018. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the Diversity Institute at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). In 2020 Colin was named a DiverseCity Fellow by CivicAction, joining a diverse group of rising leaders who are passionate about shaping their communities within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Originally from Cole Harbour, NS, Colin received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University and has completed executive education programs at both the Rotman School of Management and at Harvard Business School.

Kim Wheatley (she/her)
Anishinaabe Cultural Consultant
Remarks
Traditional Anishinaabe Grandmother Kim Wheatley is Ojibway, Potawatomi and Caribbean in ancestry. She is a band member of Shawanaga First Nation located on the shores of Georgian Bay on Robinson Huron Treaty Territories and is Turtle Clan. She carries the Spirit name “Head or Leader of the Fireflower” and has worked for 3 decades with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Communities across Canada.
As a multi award winning speaker for over 3 decades Kim has appeared locally, nationally and internationally in books, magazines, television, radio and numerous news articles. She is a published author, hand drummer, singer, water walker, artist & ceremonial practitioner. Kim is committed to forging good relationships based on acts of reconciliation that honour the past, connect the present and contribute to the future.

Dominic Cole-Morgan (he/him)
Senior VP, Total Rewards
Scotiabank
Remarks
After graduating from University with a degree in Psychology with Statistics, Dominic did a Masters in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management at the London School of Economics. Dominic started work at National Australia Bank in London in a generalist HR role and moved to Royal Bank of Scotland with the Total Rewards team.
After three years at Goldman Sachs as VP Compensation Europe, Dominic rejoined Royal Bank of Scotland and moved to Hong Kong as Regional Director of Reward. While in Hong Kong, Dominic joined Prudential Plc as Regional Reward Director Asia.
Returning to the UK after five years, he joined Standard Life Plc as Group Reward and Employment Policy Director.
Dominic joined Scotiabank on August 1, 2018 as SVP Total Rewards with responsibility for compensation and benefits, organization effectiveness and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Anna-Liza Badaloo (she/her)
Journalist, Facilitator, & Non-profit Consultant
Emcee
Anna-Liza Badaloo is a journalist, facilitator, and non-profit consultant working at the intersection of health, environment, and social justice. Viewing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) through the lens of empathy, her decolonized, intersectional approach helps organizations build capacity by implementing JEDI-focused training, communities of practice, advocacy campaigns, and partnerships. Committed to amplifying diverse voices, her work uncovers how colonial, capitalist, heteronormative, and ableist systems disproportionately impact underserved communities. Currently, she hosts the Institute for Natural Medicine’s podcast, The ND Will See You Now, and writes about integrative medicine and health equity. She is an Associate with the Sustainability Network, building environmental non-profit capacity, and is a regular contributor to magazines including QBiz, She is Wise, The Monitor, and Indspiration. Check out her writing portfolio, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Roundtable Facilitators

Tim Geauvreau (he/him)
Finance & Administration
Workforce Warriors
Indigenous Solidarity
Tim is 2 Spirit and comes from the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation, ON. Tim considers himself a true WorkForce Warrior moving to Toronto at age 18 he has 10 years’ experience in hospitality and restaurant management, 8 years with the Bank of Montreal, 10 years implementing outsourced call centre solutions on behalf of national corporations, 2 years as Senior Operations Manager for a non-profit, and 2 years in warehouse/logistics, and entrepreneur owner of www.Ts-meatshop.ca with his partner.
Tim is excited to be using his experience to work with Indigenous communities and individuals to be confident in their successes and to share their successes as mentors with others.

Hildah Juma (she/her)
Executive Director
Black Talent Initiative
Anti-Black Racism
Hildah Juma is the Executive Director for the Black Talent Initiative where she is leading the operational development of the social impact start-up through strategic planning and leading change through partnerships, mentorships and networking opportunities to create and inspire Black talent. Through community building, Hildah thrives in growing more members for the organization while creating innovative spaces to showcase and learn from Black community leaders and professionals.
Hildah was first inspired to join the not-for-profit world, specifically in the post-secondary education sector. With over a decade of experience, Hildah was the Executive Director for the Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario where she provided effective advocacy strategies lobbying all levels of government with an anti-oppressive framework for more than half a million college and university students across the country.
Hildah holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy along with a Certificate in Non-profit Management, where she has extensive experience creating bylaws and policies as well as facilitating large-scale meetings.

Melissa Egan (she/her)
National Lead, Episodic Disabilities
Realize
Accessibility
Melissa Egan is the National Lead, Episodic Disabilities at Realize. She has worked in the field of health education for over 20 years as a presenter and facilitator, developing and delivering training to diverse audiences across Canada. Melissa brings a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to her work, and has worked extensively with the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Melissa is currently completing a Master of Education and lives in Toronto with her wife and their cats.

This in-person paid leadership event is open to all who wish to register and has a limited number of participants.
Do you have any questions about SPARK? Please send an email to info@prideatwork.ca.
