Mise à jour de l'auteur
Montreal, August 4th 2026 – Fondation Émergence is proud to announce that Desjardins has officially joined the Ally Network, an initiative that supports organizations seeking to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in their workplaces.
This membership will allow Desjardins to benefit from personalized support, training, practical tools, and a forum for exchanging best practices among committed organizations.une initiative qui accompagne les organisations souhaitant renforcer l’inclusion des personnes LGBTQ+ dans leurs milieux de travail.
While organizations are striving to create increasingly inclusive workplaces, the challenges remain very real. According to a Léger survey conducted in 2026 by Fondation Émergence, more than one in four people in Quebec (27%) say they would be hesitant to hire a transgender person. Furthermore, the workplace is the sector for which the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights receives the most complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. In 45% of these complaints, the employer’s tolerance is directly called into question; in 63%, complainants cite the work environment as the issue. (CDPDJ, 2026)
It is in this context that the Réseau Allié supports organizations that wish to strengthen their inclusive practices and create more welcoming and respectful work environments for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Real-world tools for teams
This initiative is part of a broader partnership between Desjardins and Fondation Émergence. In addition to joining the Ally Network, Desjardins will offer its employees access to the ProAlly training program as well as the e-learning platform developed by Fondation Émergence.
Designed specifically for the workplace, this platform offers interactive courses focusing on LGBTQ+ issues, inclusive practices, and the prevention of workplace harassment.
These tools will enable thousands of employees and managers to expand their knowledge and actively contribute to a more inclusive and respectful work environment.
An ongoing Partnership
This new step builds on a partnership that has united the two organizations for more than ten years. In 2015, Desjardins presented the exhibition *Les alliés s’exposent*, an awareness campaign by Fondation Émergence that brought together more than thirty Quebec personalities committed to fighting homophobia.
“We are particularly proud to welcome Desjardins to the Ally Network. This membership demonstrates that, beyond intentions, it is possible to take concrete actions to support the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people and empower teams at all levels of the organization. Workplaces have a crucial role to play in creating environments where everyone can fully be themselves,” said Laurent Breault, Executive Director of Fondation Émergence.
“At Desjardins, we believe that everyone should be able to thrive in an environment where they feel respected, recognized, and free to be their true selves. Our collaboration with Fondation Émergence is part of this commitment to advancing inclusion by providing our teams with practical tools to better understand LGBTQ+ realities and to take actions every day that make a real difference as allies,” adds Estelle Theng, Head of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Desjardins.
About Fondation Émergence
For more than 25 years, Fondation Émergence has been actively working to promote the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people by offering awareness-raising, training, and support services. In particular, it founded the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and provides awareness-raising tools as well as training and support services to foster a society that is more inclusive of sexual and gender diversity.
About the Ally Network
The Ally Network is an initiative of Fondation Émergence that aims to support organizations in their efforts to promote sexual and gender diversity. It offers a comprehensive range of resources, including training, an online learning platform, practical tools, and a space for discussion among committed professionals. Through this approach, the Ally Network helps bring about lasting change in workplaces and strengthen inclusive practices.
About Mouvement Desjardins
Mouvement Desjardins is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada and the eighth largest in the world, with assets of $524.3 billion as of March 31, 2026. Desjardins has been named one of Canada’s best employers by Forbes magazine and by Media Corp. It offers a full range of products and services through its extensive network of service locations, its online platforms, and its subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world’s most financially sound banking institutions by The Banker magazine, Desjardins boasts capital ratios and credit ratings that are among the best in the industry.
