Creating safe and brave workplaces for our 2SLGBTQ+ communities

 

There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it's now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it's simply the way things are.

Tammy Baldwin

Join the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) as we celebrate and reflect on the hard work and sacrifice our 2SLGBTQ+ communities have made in the fight for acceptance, equity, and inclusion.

While there have been visible signs of progress, there is still more we must do. Based on research conducted by McMaster University in 2020, 50 percent of respondents overall and 64 percent in the mining, manufacturing, or construction sectors, said they hide their sexual orientation from managers and coworkers. We know that it will take more than legal obligations or symbolic gestures to build more equitable and inclusive workplaces. Greater Vancouver’s business community has an important role to play in embracing and demonstrating its commitment to creating and sustaining safe, positive, and inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQ+ employees.

In recognizing skills and investing in the potential of 2SLGBTQ+ people, organizations reap the benefits of diversity and inclusion in attracting talent, improving employee engagement and inclusion, reducing employee turnover, and better access to 2SLGBTQ+ consumer markets. Of even greater impact is the collective opportunity we have to create systemic change in society.

Join our panel of experts as they share experiences and best practices to ensure our places of work are ones where everyone can show up as their whole authentic selves and fulfil their full potential.

This session will:

  • Celebrate the diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
  • Explain the importance of honouring pronouns and their proper usage
  • Empower employers and colleagues to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation

Panellists:

Rob Chiarello Laura Dale Sandeep Nair Dr. Rachael E. Sullivan PhD

Rob Chiarello, Senior Vice President, People & Culture, Pacific Blue Cross
Laura Dale, Director, The Community Against Preventable Injuries
Sandeep Nair, Manager, Business Operations, Pride at Work Canada
Moderator: Dr. Rachael E. Sullivan PhD, Equity Facilitator, Equity & Inclusion Office, The University of British Columbia

Signature Sponsors:

https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/business/index.html
https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en.html

Community Sponsors:

https://www.ea.com/en-ca
https://www.pac.bluecross.ca/

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Partners:

https://ccdi.ca/
https://accessibleemployers.ca/

Production Partner:

Media Partners:

This event is presented by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) Program. The DLC, an evolution of the Women's Leadership Council program, is an inclusive program that champions and advocates for leadership that best reflects the diversity of the Greater Vancouver region. The DLC focuses on addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion to encourage allyship and enhance business innovation. The DLC is committed to investing in the participation and promotion of underrepresented groups, while supporting the business community to achieve their diversity and inclusion goals. Learn more boardoftrade.com/programs.