HARD LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PAST SPUR CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE

Lieutenant-General Christine Whitecross says the Canadian Armed Forces is a world leader in gender parity in the military. submit that the Canadian Armed Forces is well ahead of every other military.”

Both Whitecross and Brown have been instrumental in effecting change. Whitecross has helped make the Canadian Armed Forces more inclusive of women by being the first woman in rank of lieutenant-general.

“It was a tremendous honour,” says Ottawa-based Whitecross. “And it was also difficult, because when you’re first, you’re measured and looked at. But when you’re able to do it, you can sway people’s opinions and open doors for others.” sexual behaviour. “I’m very proud of the work that we’ve done in the past yearand-a-half to bring this situation to the forefront so that we’re talking about it at the most senior levels and right through the organization,” Whitecross says.

At BMO, Brown’s role in changing her workplace culture is behind the scenes. She chaired the bank’s diversity renewal council five years ago and helped BMO reach its goal of having women represent at least 40 per cent of its senior leadership.

“We have a recognition at BMO that an organization that doesn’t have a genderdiverse workplace simply can’t compete effectively in the market,” Brown says.

“So we’re really purposeful about making sure that happens.”