Governor General Speaks to the Importance of Humanizing the Workplace 

Recognition of Achievement Award presented by NQI

During a recent ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ont., Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, received the Special Recognition of Achievement Award from the National Quality Institute for her dedication to women, children and Aboriginal people. The award was presented by members of the Institute’s board of governors from across Canada before an audience of invited guests.

In her speech, Her Excellency expressed her gratitude to the National Quality Institute’s chair, Mr. Kevin Dougherty, and its president, Mr. Allan Ebedes.

“If you are presenting me with this award today, it is because you share my conviction that we cannot pursue our interests to the detriment of the interests of others. That we cannot allow ourselves to exclude entire segments of our society; otherwise, we risk overlooking a veritable treasure trove of knowledge, skills and ideas. When we make decisions that lead to exclusion, we create a social problem that may come at a very high price. We need the courage to reflect on the consequences of our decisions, to rethink how we do things, while focussing on the greater good.

Her Excellency also spoke to the importance of humanizing the workplace.

“I believe that the ever increasing rates of departure, absenteeism, depression and harassment within companies and organizations are the most glaring expression of the need to return to more collective, more human values,” said the Governor General. “Of the need to return to a vision, a scale, methods and a rate of production that are more human.”

Article first published in Your Workplace magazine issue 12-1