During Diversity & Inclusion Week, your colleagues will be sharing their stories about their different dimensions of diversity. The daily dimension for October 12 is Gender & LGBTQ2+.
When Paul Bwanali, Manager, Personal Lines, began working at Intact in Calgary in 2015, he noticed there was no regional LGBT & Allies Network chapter in the West. Paul grew up in Zimbabwe, where being gay is illegal. “I have personal experience with family members who had to leave Zimbabwe over fear of being put in jail, just because of who they are,” he explains.
He wanted to make sure he actively fostered a safe space for the LGBTQ2+ community in his new country. So, he volunteered to start an LGBT & Allies chapter in Calgary and recruited a few colleagues to join him.
“Being from a country where you cannot be yourself if you belong to the LGBT community…I have seen what it means to not have the right to be who you are,” he says. “I thought it was an opportunity to actually help.”
When the chapter launched, more than a hundred employees attended the launch event.
“People came up to us and said, ‘You made us seen,’ Paul says with a smile. Hundreds of people signed up for the mailing list, and the LGBT & Allies Network remains active today.
Paul says one of the most rewarding aspects of having launched the chapter is seeing the LGBTQ2+ community and Pride month embraced and celebrated across offices. “Before the pandemic, if you went into the Calgary office, you would see hundreds of employees with the rainbow flag at their desks, showing that they are supporters,” he shares.
“Our Senior VP has a flag hanging by her door. So as an employee, if you’re coming in, you know that’s a safe space for you.” He smiles.
“To know that I was a part of creating that – that’s all that matters really.”
We appreciate Paul Bwanali who made it his mission to create a safe space for the LGBTQ2+ community. Visit our intranet DEI page for more resources and messages!