Allies Helping Us Move Forward Together

To mark International Pride Month, our firm would like to highlight the importance of allies in the workplace to create an environment where everyone feels included.

Check out these interviews and find out how allies in the workplace can foster a culture of peace of mind and personal development.

Raising awareness through conversation

Olivia Lavoie, Financial Recovery Counsellor at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, chats with Nancy Beaumier, Recovery and Reorganization Partner, about the importance of being your true self at work without fearing judgment or pressure due to your difference.

Olivia underwent a gender transition, which unfolded over several years. She didn’t experience any malicious or intrusive behaviour on the part of her colleagues and believes that everyone should be able to speak freely about their experience when they feel ready to do so.

“At Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, my experience to date has been characterized by open-mindedness and is judgment-free. Everyone has been an ally.”

Strengthening our connections through conversation

Joëlle Bélanger, Strategy and Business Development Manager at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, remembers her first conversation with Carole-Anne Dugré, the department’s senior manager, during her job interview. They connected during the conversation and the bond of trust allowed Joëlle to talk about her sexual orientation, which she had never broached in the workplace. During this meeting, Carole-Anne also became aware of her unconscious bias.

The freedom to be your authentic self is important. As allies, we’re responsible for being sensitive to the realities of other people. Our words and our day-to-day behaviour matter and can create a space where others feel comfortable enough to share certain aspects of their lives with their colleagues without fear of judgment.

“I’ve changed and now I’m more aware of the type of questions that I ask and of unconscious bias and the assumptions that we make,” highlighted Carole-Anne.

Breaking down barriers through conversation

Two members of the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton team, Stéphane Landry, Risk Management Partner, and Christine Regimbal, Assurance Partner, have seen a change in attitudes in society and within the firm over the years.

In the 1990s, nobody openly discussed their sexual orientation or differences at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. However, as society changed, people started to speak out and corporate culture evolved as a result. The experts who chose to speak without fear realized that their words were welcomed and didn’t make waves in the workplace.

These individuals dared to talk about their reality and paved the way for transparency. In doing so, they became role models for others who will, in turn, dare to speak more openly about who they are and about their experience.

“If one person leads the way, everyone else will follow.”