This month, as part of Canada’s-wide awareness campaign, your Status of Women Committee is proud to join efforts to combat sexual harassment. This moment calls on us all—not just to reflect—but to act. Workplace sexual harassment is not a misunderstanding or a harmless joke. It is a violation of a person’s dignity and safety. It breeds silence, fear, and exclusion, especially for those already marginalized. And despite the laws in place, too many victims are still reluctant to come forward for fear of reprisals, stigmatization, or not being believed. As union members, we have a responsibility to create spaces that empower—not silence—survivors.
Our work begins with education and action. We must ensure our members know what sexual harassment looks like, how to recognize it, and what steps they can take. We must provide safe, accessible, and confidential pathways to report incidents. Most importantly, we must ensure that reporting leads to meaningful support—not further harm.
We also know that policy alone is not enough. A respectful workplace culture is built every day—in how we treat one another, call out harmful behavior, and stand with those who come forward. That means holding employers accountable, pushing for strong enforcement of anti-harassment policies, and demanding systemic change.
This month is a call to action. We invite you to reflect, engage, and speak up. Share resources with colleagues. Support those around you. Advocate for accountability. And most importantly, listen—to stories, to concerns, and to those whose voices have too often gone unheard. By standing together, we can transform silence into solidarity.
Let’s build workplaces where dignity, safety, and respect are not ideals, but everyday realities. Change begins with all of us.
Marcelle Desmornes,
President, Support Staff at the University of Ottawa (SSUO)
Member of the Provincial Status of Women Committee
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