Respect in the CAF: Collaborating for Future Leaders’ Readiness
March 4, 2020 - Defence Stories
Caption
Colonel Corinna Heilman, Director of Cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada, provides the command team address to 4th year students as part of the Respect in the Canadian Armed Forces workshop on 1st February 2020.
Photo credit: Lieutenant Véronique Sabourin, Public Affairs Officer, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre
Lieutenant Véronique Sabourin, Public Affairs Officer, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre
In February 2020, the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), Strengthening the Forces Health Promotion Program and the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre collaborated to provide the Respect in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) workshop simultaneously to over 200 students in Kingston, Ontario. This training was provided to foster the readiness of 4th year RMC students as future CAF leaders.
Sexual misconduct is an uncomfortable subject to discuss. “If that’s a problem… there is a problem”, said one of the participants who realized mindsets and behaviours perceived as insignificant can have major impacts.
What does respect mean to you? Members of the next generation of CAF leaders responded: “Put myself in someone else’s shoes to see how they feel. Treat them like I would like to be treated. Not assume that I know what they’re going through, make time for them to listen to what they have to say.”
Since the launch of Operation HONOUR in 2015, students report a significant difference in their peers and their chain of command. They report greater understanding of sexual misconduct which leads to behaviour change. “Future leaders are the ones taking the next steps and leading the next generation. We need strong leaders in order to do that. They need to understand what is happening and apply the skills they learned here in order to prevent sexual misconduct in the CAF and support those who are affected”, said Sharon Ash, Health Promotion Specialist at Canadian Forces Base Kingston.
Caption
The Respect in the Canadian Armed Forces team at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) on 1st February 2020. From bottom left to right: Dr. Denise Preston, Executive Director, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC); Robyn Gill, Senior Projects Officer, SMRC; Health Promotion facilitators: Kristin Toomsalu, Kevin Strachan, Renee Racine, Maxime Brouillard, Jeremy Bauman-Fortin, Derrick Enslow, Amy Doelman, Sharon Ash, Cynthia Ruest; Colonel Corinna Heilman, Director of Cadets, RMC; Health Promotion facilitators: Etienne-David Fortin, Nathaniel Smith, Jacqueline Uprichard; Mireille Bujold, National Program Manager, SMRC; Michael Spivock, Senior Manager, Health Promotion Delivery.
Photo credit: Lieutenant Véronique Sabourin, Public Affairs Officer, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre
Caption
Colonel Corinna Heilman, Director of Cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada, provides the command team address to 4th year students as part of the Respect in the Canadian Armed Forces workshop on 1st February 2020.
Photo credit: Lieutenant Véronique Sabourin, Public Affairs Officer, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre
It is not a question of sizing your audience before saying an inappropriate comment or performing an inappropriate act, some things are just not acceptable in the workplace or with colleagues. After the workshop, one of the students said: “Now we know, we have no excuse.”
Those who know better, do better. Respect is different for all of us. “Leaders create environments that facilitate conversations and respect”, concluded a participant. This next generation is aware, knowledgeable and empowered to take a stand against sexual misconduct and to support those who are affected. Together, we are empowered to build a respectful climate and culture within the CAF.