Public Service Pride Week - Defence Team National Event
Defence Team Public Service Pride Week National Event 2026
What: Defence Team Public Service Pride Week Panel discussion – Purge to Pride: Lessons from the Past, Leadership for the Future
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (EDT)
Where:
- In person: NDHQ (Carling) Building 3 Atrium
- Virtually: MS Teams (Live sound | English Only | French Only)
Pride Season encompasses a wide range of events that take place across Canada, and across the world, from June to September each year. It celebrates Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) people.
Public Service Pride Week (PSPW) is celebrated annually on the third week of August across the Government of Canada. This year’s PSPW theme: “Everybody In!” highlights our collective power to create a workplace worth coming to. Through active allyship and a foundation of safety, we are building an inclusive Defence Team where every 2SLGBTQI+ employee has a seat at the table. We recognize that our collective success stems from the individual voices and perspectives of each and every one of our team members.
In acknowledgement of Pride Season and PSPW, all Defence Team members are invited to join Lara Rooke, 2SLGBTQI+ Defence Team Champion, for a national event (in-person and online) on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
The event will feature a panel discussion with perspectives from currently serving Canadian Armed Forces members, public service members, and LGBT Purge survivors. The discussion will explore the importance of learning and knowing the history of 2SLGBTQI+ members within the Defence Team, while making valuable connections between Veterans and current Defence Team members. Participants will hear firsthand accounts from colleagues, who will speak about both their personal journeys and their experiences within the Defence Team.
We can all continue to drive meaningful change to make the Defence Team a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for all, while learning how to be a better ally and colleague. Find tools, training materials, and resources on the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (accessible only on the National Defence network) and Positive Space pages.
Additional Resources
This event may contain language and references to harmful situations which may be emotionally activating for some people. If you or someone you know needs support, please seek assistance: