About Us

Our Story

ENSEMBLE pour le respect de la diversité started with the name La Fondation de la tolérance, a name it held for 17 years, and the aim to raise awareness about anti-Semitism. Born during the United Nations Year for Tolerance in 1995, the organization was incorporated in 1996 as a non-partisan NPO.

The founders’ goal of bringing communities together beyond their differences expressed itself over the years through various projects, including making plays and educational tools. 

However, the organization has mainly made itself known through awareness workshops called the Caravans of Tolerance, which have earned it its reputation.

Since its beginnings in 1995, the organization has evolved to become an enlightened leader in diversity education from one end of the province to the other. Strong from the arrival of new members, the board of directors decided that the time had come to aim higher than tolerance to now also talk about acceptance and respect.

In 2012, the organization decided to get a new name and image; it was then that ENSEMBLE pour le respect de la diversité was born. These words, which translate to “Together for the respect of diversity” and speak for themselves, better express our mandate, it seems to us. Today, we have the chance to raise public awareness about diversity in the broad sense of the term.

The existence and development of ENSEMBLE’s activities have been possible thanks to the involvement of people from diverse backgrounds who have our ideal of respect and equality at heart.

Our Mission

Inspired by the philosophy of human rights, our organization defends the universal and inalienable values ​​of freedom, equality and justice.

Our mission is to act hand in hand with youth to promote respect for differences and engage in dialogue to build an environment free of discrimination and intimidation. Each year, we reach nearly 30,000 people in French and English primary and secondary schools and colleges from public and private sectors throughout Quebec and Canada. We also offer workshops for school staff and parents.

Our work to educate and raise awareness helps people realize their responsibility in the face of all kinds of discrimination in their environment (racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, bullying, etc.).

Our Impact

Each year:

– We meet nearly 36 000 people.
– Our team runs more than 1 200 workshops.
– Our Imprints Project actively involves more than 250 students.
– 95% of youth say that, during our workshop, they acquired knowledge about the concepts of prejudice, discrimination and human rights.

Our Team

Rafaël Provost

He, Executive Director

Caroline Boivin

She/They, Direction and Communication Assistant

Kaisa Gonzalez

She, Accounting Coordinator

Myriam Laferrière

They/She/He, Imprints Project Coordinator

Cata Ramirez

She, Facilitator Coordinator

Nicolas Moreaud

He/They, Presenter and researcher

Geneviève Riou

She, Presenter and researcher

Pascale Trudeau

She, Presenter and researcher

Jean-Philippe Audet

He, Project Manager

Juliette Bonin

She, School Facilitator

Mika Charest

He, School Facilitator

Romane Laforest-Gobeil

She, School Facilitator

Jessie Lemelin

She, School Facilitator

Dylan Michael Lord

He/They, School Facilitator

Nolan Orro

He, School Facilitator

Miguel Simao Andrade

Him, School Facilitator

Andrea Ahumada

She, Committee Facilitator

Want to join the team?

Submit a spontaneous application!

Our Board of Directors

2023-2024

  • Eric A. Guay (President)

    Associate Vice-President, Regional Service Excellence, TD Canada Trust

  • Ponora Ang

    Partner and Co-Head, Asia Pacific Group, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin S.E.N.C.R.L.

  • Aminata Bal

    Assistant to the Dean, Law Faculty of Université de Montréal

  • Sébastien Barangé

    Vice-President, Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainable Development, ESG Global – CGI

  • Dan Cholewa

    Company Owner and Certified Real Estate Broker for Sutton Performer Inc.

  • The Honourable Marc Gold

    Senator of Canada

  • Patrick Grosjean

    Partner-Director, PSB Boisjoli

  • Marie Laure Leclercq, Ad. E., M.Sc.A., M.B.A.

    Lawyer, DE GRANDPRÉ CHAIT S.E.N.C.R.L./LLP

  • Rodrigue Lussier

    Portfolio Manager, Fiera Capital

  • Kerlande Mibel

    Président-director and founder International Black economic forum

  • François Morin

    President, Morin Relations publiques

  • Julien Nepveu-Villeneuve

    Director, Public Affairs & Government Relations, TACT

  • Robin Schiller

    Lawyer RJ AVOCATES S.E.N.C.R.L.

Our Partners

  • Aéroports de Montréal

  • Alvin Segal Family Foundation

  • American Iron & Metal Inc

  • Aritzia LP

  • Bain Dépôt

  • Beckerleg Family Charitable Fund

  • BFL CANADA

  • Bureau d’intégration des nouveaux arrivants à Montréal de la Ville de Montréal

  • Bureau de lutte à l’homophobie du Ministère de la Justice

  • Chenail Import-Export

  • COGECO Communications inc.

  • Conam Charitable Foundation

  • Corporation Fiera Capital

  • Divco Foundation

  • Dym Family Foundation

  • Énergir s.e.c

  • Fasken

  • Fersten Worldwide

  • Fiera Dette Privée inc.

  • Fonds Inclusion

  • Groupe Banque TD

  • Groupe Immobilier Carl-Rémillard Fontaine inc

  • Groupe Leclair

  • HB CONNECTIONS INC

  • HOLAND LEASING (1995) LTD

  • James Griffin & Son Ltd

  • Joel and Alice Raby Fund

  • Lavery de Billy

  • Lloyd M.Segal Charitable Trust

  • Loto-Québec

  • Manuvie

  • Maxwell Cummings Family Foundation

  • Ministère de la Famille du Québec

  • Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration

  • Morin Relations Publiques

  • Norton Rose Fulbright

  • Okaply industries Ltd.

  • Olymbec Investments Inc

  • PARASUCO JEANS INC.

  • Patrimoire Canadien

  • PearTree Financial Services Ltd

  • Pembroke Management Ltd

  • Province du Nouveau-Brunswick

  • PSB Boisjoli S.E.N.C.R.L.-LLP

  • Réseau Dignité Canada

  • Royal Leasing Co 2007 LTD

  • Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec

  • Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes

  • Service Jeunesse Canada

  • Starlink Aviation

  • Stephen & Lilian Vineberg Family Foundation

  • The Debra Margles Foundation

  • Tread Collective inc

Our Publications

In the Media

SEE ALL ARCHIVES
13/03/2024

Les crimes haineux déclarés toujours en hausse au Canada

Radio-Canada Le nombre de crimes haineux signalés par la police au Canada a augmenté de

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13/03/2024

Bienveillance et leadership

InfoPresse Arnaud Granata est en conversation avec Rafaël Provost, directeur général de l’organisme Ensemble pour

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04/03/2024

Québec change d’idée et accepte le marqueur X

Le Québec maintenant Le gouvernement fait volte-face et accepte le marqueur X sur la carte

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28/02/2024

Journée du chandail rose : Senbiliser à l’intimidation

Salut Bonjour Plusieurs vidéos violentes montrant des problèmes d’intimidation à l’école Berthierville ont fait les

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Diversity Award Paul Gérin-Lajoie

In 2009, we created the Diversity Award to acknowledge and highlight a person’s contribution promoting humanist values, tolerance, reconciliation and the fight against discrimination. This award is named after Paul Gérin-Lajoie, a lawyer and Oxford graduate. He was Quebec’s first Minister of Education (in 1964) and the architect of several important transformations that still shape Quebec society today. He is also a known figure of international rapprochement and an extraordinary model of openness and tolerance. The Paul Gérin-Lajoie Diversity Award aims to reward exemplary and exceptional actions each year to encourage similar initiatives in favour of spreading the spirit of tolerance.

Winners 2020-2021

Dr Joanne Liu:
pediatric emergency physician and professor at the School of Population & Global Health from McGill University

Nakuset:
Executive Director of Foyer pour Femmes Autochtones de Montréal

Fabrice Vil:
lawyer and social entrepreneur, founder of Pour 3 Points

Special distinction for Coalition asiatique pour une relève émancipatrice (CARE)

Winners 2019-2020

Marjorie Villefranche:
Director of Maison d’Haïti

Winners 2018-2019

The Honourable Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, retired judge

Alanis Obomsawin:
documentarian

Léon Celemencki:
lecturer and Holocaust survivor

Winners 2017-2018

The Honourable Chantal Petitclerc:
Senator and paralympic champion

Me Marc-André Fabien:
President of the Paralympic Committee and lawyer

Winners 2016-2017

Nathalie Bondil:
Director and Chief Curator of Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Winners 2015-2016

Rima Elkouri:
author and columnist in La Presse

Samian:
rapper and artist

Winners 2014-2015

Olivier Jones:
jazz musician

Winners 2013-2014

Louise Gauthier:
spiritual life and community engagement facilitator

Kim Thùy:
author

Winners 2012-2013

Dany Turcotte:
facilitator

Winners 2011-2012

Maxime Collard and Isabelle Marchand:
a mother and her son committed to the fight against bullying in secondary schools

Winners 2010-2011

Father Emmett “Pops” Johns:
a father who devoted 40 years of his life to helping and fighting for the inclusion of poor young people

Winners 2009-2010

Dr Gilles Julien:
a pediatrician who fights child neglect and abuse

Awards and Recognition

PRIX ENSEMBLE CONTRE L’INTIMIDATION – Finalist
Gouvernement du Québec, 2015

PRIX DROITS ET LIBERTÉS
de la Commission des droits de la personne et de la jeunesse, 2010

PEACE MEDAL
YMCA du Québec, 2010

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE – Honourable mention
Canadian Race Relations Foundation, 2005

ANNE GREENUP SOLIDARITY PRIZE
Ministère de l’Immigration et des communautés culturelles, 2005

THEATRE AWARD for Masque des Enfants terribles
2004

PRIX INTERNATIONAL CONDORCET-ARON
2004

PRIX VIRAGE IBM CANADA POUR L’INNOVATION SOCIALE
2002

PRIX JACQUES-COUTURE
Ministère de l’Immigration et des communautés culturelles, 1997

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