Pan-territorial conference on DEI – Day 2: Reinventing leadership and deconstructing northern stereotypes

The Glass Cliff; Leadership Beyond the Glass Ceiling 

Paige Galette (she), a nationally renowned consultant and community educator, opened the day with a powerful talk on the "glass cliff," a concept that extends beyond the glass ceiling by illustrating the additional barriers faced by leaders from diverse backgrounds. Her presentation sparked crucial discussions on resilience and empowerment strategies. 

"Neutrality policies, or the aspect of neutrality, also mean that when you walk through the door at work, you leave your identity behind. In practice, we cannot truly enforce neutrality while claiming to uphold EDI policies." - Paige Galette (translated from French)

Key Points: 

Backlash on Oneself. The talk shed light on the emotional and psychological impact of systemic obstacles faced by leaders from diverse backgrounds. 

• Racial Trauma and Fatigue from the Racial Struggle: Many find themselves isolated and wary of existing power dynamics.
• Inability to Lead with a Clear Mindset: Constant stress affects decision-making and self-confidence.
• Always Expected to Educate Rather Than Fulfill One’s Role: The implicit expectation of education and awareness becomes an additional burden.
• Decreased Self-Esteem: Doubts about the legitimacy of one’s position persist ("Did I really earn this job, or is it a trap?").
• Anger, Resentment, and Anticipation of Upcoming Challenges: The fear that small mistakes will be magnified creates constant pressure. 

Workplace Backlash. An analysis of working conditions in institutional and professional spaces in the North revealed several systemic barriers: 

• Invisibility of a Toxic Climate: "If we don't see it or report it, systemic racism does not concern us."
• Racial Gaslighting: The minimization of lived experiences by racialized individuals leads to increased isolation.
• Low Retention of Racialized and Marginalized Staff: Few are willing to step in, fearing they will face the same oppressive dynamics.
• Distrust of EDI Initiatives: When not accompanied by concrete changes, these policies can be perceived as marketing tools rather than sincere commitments. 

"If your team is burned out, you don't have a team. And in the North, everyone follows suit, just like burnout. No one wants to engage in a toxic community." 

Building Inclusive and Sustainable Leadership 

A key message from this day was the importance of collective and inclusive leadership. Rather than placing all the responsibility on minority individuals, strong structural practices must be adopted. Some recommendations emerged: 

• Review internal policies and consider them as living documents that must be continuously applied and adapted.
• Stop hiring racialized individuals only during crises and provide them with opportunities for sustainable advancement.
• Ensure the right to expression for marginalized individuals without requiring them to conform to rigid and exclusionary norms.
• Offer relevant mentorship, with leadership models that reflect diverse experiences and backgrounds.
• Recognize and value different leadership styles rather than imposing a uniform vision of success. 

A Collective Call to Action 

Paige Galette’s presentation highlighted the need to go beyond mere symbolic commitments to EDI. Inclusion should not be a temporary stance or marketing tool but a commitment deeply rooted in organizational practices. 

Paige Galette has extensive experience in governance, policy, and employer-employee relations while using anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and equity-focused frameworks. She has over 15 years of leadership experience on NGO boards. Her work has been published in the Toronto Star, the national bestseller "Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada," The Monitor, Francopresse, Briarpatch, and she was a biweekly columnist for the Panorama program (Radio-Canada). 

Romanticizing the Great North: A Look at a Colonial Fantasy 

With an artistic and engaged approach, Véro Lachance (they), a stage artist and educator, tackled the idealized representation of the North and its impacts on local communities. This critical perspective helped revisit dominant narratives and better understand how to build leadership that respects northern realities. 

"In outdoor culture or cabin life, we often see predominantly white and privileged people viewing the land as a playground, an exciting and risky challenge, a way to push their limits, or an opportunity to reconnect with themselves. Having never known survival and having chosen to be there, they contribute to this romanticization without truly giving back to the land." - Véro Lachance (translated from French)

Key Points: 

The discussions raised several important aspects related to how the Great North is perceived and experienced. Here are the main reflections shared during this session: 

• Francophone privilege and access to outdoor culture: Véro highlighted the exclusivity of outdoor culture and activities like cabin life, often seen as a choice rather than a necessity. They also addressed the privilege associated with access to expensive equipment, allowing some to engage in activities that, for others, are solely for survival.
• Romanticization of the North and Territorial Exploitation: The vision of the North as an exciting challenge and personal escape contrasts with the reality of Indigenous communities who face the daily impacts of land exploitation and colonization. They pointed out this contradiction, where some see the land as a playground while others struggle against gentrification and the loss of their traditional spaces, as seen in the Whiskey Flat and Mocassin Flat neighborhoods.
• The Culture of Authentic Experience and Disconnection from Reality: A reflection emerged on the attraction to an "authentic" Northern experience, often presented in an idealized way. The tension between the desire to have a controlled experience and the inherent discomfort of local communities' realities was emphasized. Social media’s role in this perception was also discussed: people who deliberately choose harder lives and share them as achievements without considering the repercussions on the communities truly living in these territories.
• Responsibility and Reciprocity Towards the Land: Lachance also questioned the relationship with the land: "You expect a lot from the land, but what do you give back to it?" This self-reflection, far from the idea of a consequence-free playground, invites thought on respecting the land and the peoples who have been its stewards for generations. 

The speaker encouraged reflection on how narratives about these territories are often written by people with little real experience there and on the emotional cost this represents for those who are close to the issues. 

Photo Credit: Brian Pelchat 

Véro Lachance is the 13th generation of a predominantly French immigration and grew up on the unceded territory of the Waban-Aki Nation (Sherbrooke, Quebec). Their latest major theater creation project, "Dernière frontière," a documentary-fiction on the romanticization of the Great North, was presented in Quebec and the Yukon. They have lived on the traditional territory of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (Whitehorse, Yukon) since 2017. They collaborate on various artistic projects, conduct theater workshops, teach, develop opportunities for the local drag scene, and support 2SLGBTQ+ youth. 

When the Impossible Becomes Possible: Inclusive Leadership and Resilience in Service of the Francophonie 

François Bernier (he) concluded the day by sharing his inspiring journey as an inclusive leader. Emphasizing resilience and the need for greater accessibility in professional environments, he provided concrete tools to advance EDI in daily life. 

“I could never have done Montréal - New York in a wheelchair without my friends, I would never have survived my time in the hospital without my family, I would never have started my business without the support of the online community. For a person with a disability, community is something vital. Don’t be afraid to show your support, to encourage the efforts of these individuals, and to ask questions.” - François Bernier (translated from French)

Key Takeaways 

François Bernier’s presentation highlighted practical strategies to strengthen inclusivity and resilience in our professional and community environments. His central message: obstacles—whether physical, cultural, or social—are invitations to innovate and co-create solutions that benefit everyone. 

Here are some key concepts discussed during the session: 

• Strengthening the Sense of Belonging : Creating spaces where everyone feels valued and heard is essential for true inclusion. François Bernier shared strategies to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has a place within the community. These include practices such as intercultural discussion circles, recognizing each member on social media, and the reflexive question, “Who is not here?” to reach out to those often left behind.
• Developing Inclusive Partnerships : According to Bernier, diversity is a strength that should be leveraged to achieve collective goals. He shared concrete examples of joint projects between Francophones, Indigenous peoples, and Inuit communities. Instead of merely inviting these groups to participate in pre-planned events, he encouraged involving them from the very beginning of the process by asking, “What can we build together?” A true partnership means approaching communities with the intention to co-create, integrating their knowledge and practices.

Enhancing Accessibility

François emphasized the importance of accessibility in an inclusive environment. He provided several concrete measures to remove physical, cultural, and organizational barriers. Among his suggestions: 

• Participatory diagnosis: "See what you don’t see." This helps identify obstacles invisible to those who don’t experience them daily.
• Offering a hybrid option for events, allowing those who cannot attend in person to participate remotely.
• Community transportation, ensuring easier mobility for those in need. 

The Importance of Community 

François Bernier stressed that if one member is left behind, the entire community suffers. He illustrated this principle with examples of pairing initiatives: connecting isolated individuals—whether an elder, a newcomer, a person with a disability, or a member of an Indigenous or other vulnerable community. 

Recognizing Achievements 

François also discussed the importance of showcasing individual successes within marginalized communities. He proposed creating a digital showcase of talents to highlight the journeys of those who have overcome barriers and inspire others. This could take the form of a Facebook page or a dedicated section on a website where success stories are shared, motivating young people to push beyond their own limits. 

François Bernier concluded his presentation with a powerful message: "Every obstacle is an invitation to innovate."In the face of challenges, he advocated for individual and collective initiative to overcome barriers and build inclusive and supportive communities. His journey, marked by resilience in the face of a degenerative disease, perfectly embodies this philosophy: never accept being limited by obstacles, but instead, use them as stepping stones to move forward—together.

François Bernier has built his personal and professional brand on fundamental values such as integrity, collaboration, and teamwork. His disability, a complex physical condition, has shaped an exceptional determination that enabled him to complete advanced studies in business strategy at HEC Montréal. As a manager and co-founder of Horizon B2B, François and his team support businesses in Québec, Canada, and the United States in developing authentic and transformative business relationships. A committed advocate for universal accessibility, he organized a demonstration to raise awareness among decision-makers and encourage concrete actions to make infrastructures and services accessible to all. He also supports organizations in their efforts to hire inclusively and effectively integrate talent from diverse backgrounds. 

Follow him on LinkedIn.