Realwomen of BC - Archives - September2006 - CIBC Caters to Homosexuals

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THE REAL NEWS The R.E.A.L WOMEN of BC Newsletter September 2006, P.O. Box 39068, Point Grey RPO, Vancouver, BC V6R 4P1, Tel/Fax: 604- 463-1611, website: http://www.realwomen.bc.ca
CIBC Caters to Homosexuals (from www.samesexmarriage.ca/advocacy/CIBC120804.htm) If you are banking at CIBC and use their credit card, you might consider switching banks. Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell, a homosexual couple and same-sex advocates, received the "Diversity Award" from CIBC. As Bourassa and Varnell were not able to attend the Gala Dinner at which the award was given, a small celebration took place later. At that event, MilÈ Komlen, from CIBC's Employment Equity and Diversity group, gave Bourassa and Varnell the award accompanied by the following citation,originally delivered by Mr. Moseley (CIBC's Chief Compliance Officer and executive cosponsor of the CIBC Pride Network) at CIBC's 2006 Diversity Awards: "Kevin and Joe are local celebrities at CIBC because they carry the distinction of being the first legally-married same-sex couple in the world. In challenging the common law definition of marriage, they brought their claim for equality to the Ontario Court of Appeal, which contributed to the Parliament of Canada's decision to legalize marriage between same-sex couples. They were both CIBC employees at the time, and have always highlighted the support they received from their employer at a time when they were making national headlines. "In addition to this claim to fame, however, Kevin and Joe have also been ardent advocates of equality and diversity at CIBC. They agreed to be the keynote speakers on the topic of same sex marriage at CIBC's first-ever Dialogue on Diversity series. They were also founding members of the CIBC Pride Network - CIBC's first employee Affinity Group - and they have always been available to spread the message of diversity whenever they are asked to. They [spoke] to employees in CIBC's New York Offices in mid-June as part of CIBC's global celebration of Diversity Month. They have also served as role models for other employees seeking to be themselves at work."