11 A Word from Normand St-Gelais 2016 CCDI DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PRACTIONER OF THE YEAR AWARD In April 2016, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) put out the call for the inaugural Awards of Success nominations, seeking individuals who have made a significant contribution to Diversity and Inclusion in Canada. Among the three 2016 Awards of Success recipients was Normand St-Gelais, director of Diversity and Inclusion for Sodexo Canada, who received the prestigious Award for Diversity and Inclusion Practitioner of the Year. This award is given to a person who is a full- or part-time Diversity and Inclusion or human rights and equity practitioner. They are a subject matter expert in Diversity and Inclusion or human rights and equity and are responsible for crafting their organization’s Diversity and Inclusion or human rights and equity strategy, as well as executing on initiatives. Sodexo is increasingly recognized as a leader in Diversity and Inclusion in Canada and around the world. I was humbled to accept the inaugural D&I Practitioner of the Year award from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion this past spring. However, Sodexo’s success and leadership in this area is the result of hundreds of employees embracing our values and commitment to being an inclusive workplace. Our success comes from a grassroots movement that I have been fortunate enough to support and nurture. This year, I was given the opportunity to travel across the country and witness how deeply Diversity and Inclusion is rooted in the company culture at all levels of the organization. We have the privilege of having Diversity and Inclusion ambassadors in Canada who work and live for advancing inclusion in the workplace and constantly challenge the status quo in order to go beyond what is expected. To our ambassadors, and also everyone at Sodexo who take big or small steps to develop a spirit of inclusion in the workplace, I say thank you. Normand St-Gelais Director Diversity and Inclusion Canada
Sodexo Canada 2016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above