Public Service Pride Champion marks Public Service Pride Week

August 17, 2023 – Defence Stories

This year's Public Service Pride Week (PSPW) promises to be at once a truly remarkable celebration of our collective achievements in creating an inclusive and diverse public service but also serves as a call to action for the work that remains. It is also an opportunity for us to come together, to learn from one another and showcase the intersections of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Launch of official program for PSPW

Under the theme of "Taking Action to Create A more Inclusive Public Service," we aim to go beyond words and focus on the actions required to foster a truly inclusive and diverse environment within our Federal Public Service.

The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), who has been instrumental in this year’s Pride Week, will host one main event per day including the Public Service Pride Awards. During these events, you will have the opportunity to learn about important issues, including access to safe inclusive washrooms, name and gender marker change in Government of Canada systems, intersectionality and allyship awareness, and the history of the LGBT Purge.

The official flag raising ceremony for PSPW will take place at the beginning of CSPS’s first virtual event on August 21^st at 1PM ET. Make sure to register.

In addition to these events, other federal organizations will host independently organized events that will be open to all public servants. 

For detailed information and registration instructions, please visit the Public Service Pride web page.

Mark your calendars for the dates of the events, sign up early, and share the information within your teams and organizations. Don’t forget to add the MS Teams background (accessible only via the DWAN) during PSPW and use #PSPW2023 on social media.

Flying the Pride Flag on federal buildings during Pride Week

Like in previous years, we will proudly fly the Pride flag on federal buildings across the country and to some of our missions abroad during PSPW. This visible symbol of inclusivity and support will serve as a reminder of our commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all public servants.

New contact information

I will be joining the CSPS as the new Visiting Senior Advisor for 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion to drive positive change and promote a workplace culture that recognizes and celebrates the unique experiences and identities of our colleagues. I will continue to Champion the Public Service Pride Network, driving community engagement and influencing consistent actions for 2SLGBTQIA+ initiatives and programs across the public service.

The Public Service Pride Network (PSPN) will continue to operate as a grassroot employee driven network. You can reach the Network at PSPN-RFFP@csps-efpc.gc.ca.

We look forward to your active participation and contribution to making this year's PSPW a resounding success.

Thank you for joining us. Together, we can make a lasting difference!

Jason Bett (he|him|lui)

Public Service Pride Champion | Champion de la Fierté à la fonction publique