START PROUD, formerly known as Out On Bay Street, makes the student communities we serve as a clear focus of what we do. We produce initiatives that provide career and professional development support to LGBTQ students in Canada while building a national network of like-minded professionals to promote a workplace culture that is more diverse and inclusive. The last several years have been critical
for the inclusion of diversity issues in organizational practices. The main goal for these changes over the last decade is to attract and retain bright employees and recognize the value that the LGBTQA community contributes to society. Therefore, as leaders at Start Proud, it is our task to promote awareness of the role that the LGBTQA community plays in organizations, to provide a space for students to interact with professionals and share ideas and experiences, and to foster mentorship by exposing students to strong leaders and role models that have paved the way for the LGBTQA community.
