Public Service Pride Week and Pride Awards

June 20, 2023 – Defence Stories

Dear colleagues,

June marks the beginning of the vibrant and empowering season of Pride. As the Public Service Pride Champion, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates with all of you.

Recently, I had the privilege of standing on Parliament Hill alongside numerous colleagues and allies to witness the raising of the Pride Flag. This ceremony was a powerful symbol of unity and support for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and it reminded us of the progress we have made while acknowledging the work that lies ahead.

As public servants, we must strive to create inclusive and equitable environments for all individuals, embracing the diversity that exists within our communities. We must recognize that progress in achieving 2SLGBTQIA+ rights is inseparable from advancing the rights of other marginalized groups. By championing intersectionality, we can work towards dismantling the systemic barriers faced by not only the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, but also by individuals facing discrimination based on race, ethnicity, disability, religion, and other factors.

Public Service Pride Week (PSPW)

In the spirit of Pride Season, this year marks the fifth anniversary of Public Service Pride Week (PSPW), from August 21 to 25. With the theme of Taking action to create a more inclusive public service, PSPW is an opportune time for us to reflect on the progress we have made, and more importantly to talk about the concrete actions each one of us is taking to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. We ALL have a role to play!

To help you promote PSPW within your organisations, I am pleased to share the new visuals produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. They have done a remarkable job! I invite you to use these materials including an MS Teams background which are available on GCconnex.

This year, we are thrilled to announce that the Canada School of Public Service will be hosting one event every day throughout PSPW focusing on a variety of important issues including access to safe inclusive washrooms, name and gender marker change in GC systems, intersectionality, allyship and the LGBT Purge. In addition to these events, other federal organisations will host independently organized events that will be open to all public servants

Detailed information on all PSPW events will be available in July. Visit our website for more details.

Government of Canada 2023 Public Service Pride Awards

Today, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet and Co-Champion of the Public Service Pride Awards, Nathalie G. Drouin, and I are pleased to announce the list of 35 nominations received from 18 departments and agencies for the Awards.

These nominations are a testament to the dedication and incredible initiative, collaboration and efforts of public servants across Canada and abroad to create a more diverse, safe, respectful, healthy and inclusive workplace for all 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Congratulations to all the nominees! We look forward to announcing the award winners at our virtual ceremony on August 24.

I encourage you to embrace the opportunities provided during Public Service Pride Week and take meaningful action to create a future where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered.

Together, let’s continue the good fight. It is crucial that we come together, support one another, and reinforce our commitment to diversity, inclusivity and equality.

Happy Pride!