b'COVER STORY IT TAKESA COMMUNITYThe Canadian Franchise Association facilitates franchise support networks, member committees, and DEI initiatives, including its CFA Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award. The CFA also finds opportunities to celebrate its diverse membership, either via interviews with LGBTQ+ franchise leaders on its Franchise Canada TV spotlight or other campaigns. We highlight the diversity of franchisees in the editorial content of our consumer publication, Franchise Canada, and Pierre Marois and Pierre Jacoub, the husband-and-husband owners deliver education on diversity and of five McDonalds franchises in Nova Scotia inclusion in our conferences and educational offerings, says Sherry McNeil, the proud owner of multiple Dogtopiacommitment to inclusion and diversitythe CFAs president and CEO.locations, which she says support herat all levels from McDonalds Canada, beThe CFA isnt alone in its willingness to passion for pet care and the community it within the communications, employeehelp. In 2019, the International Franchise at large.resource groups, DEI training programs,Association launched the Franchising Im lucky that the franchise Im partdiverse leadership or outward support forPride Council as a mentoring and support of is a reflection of the communitiesimportant cultural moments (e.g., Pride,network for LGBTQ+ small business we serve, she says. There are manyNational Indigenous History Month, Blackowners and employees. LGBTQ2SA+ families that have hadHistory Month, etc.).pets as an alternative to a traditionalMcDonalds Canada walks the walk, nuclear family. There was a point inand thats given us the support to do the time when it was less socially acceptablesame for our employees, says Jacoub, [for gay couples] to have a traditional,noting he and Marois are proud to say heteronormative family and caninetheyve made it their mission to create companions became a substitute.workplaces where employees from all McCain says her journey to becomingbackgrounds can feel safe and respected. a franchise owner was refreshingly free ofWeve been approached many times by the biases that LGBTQ+ business ownersour employees because they realize that might have faced in the past. Partneringbecause were not a straight couple, were with Dogtopia has enabled her to championmore open to hearing stories of challenges DEI policies and initiatives throughoutor lending an open ear for what they may the organizationan enriching andbe struggling with.empowering experience she says wouldntThis emphasis on inclusion and be possible if not for the LGBTQ+diversity is also built into Marois andDriverseats Dani Bazely, a member of the trailblazers that came before her.Jacoubs training and orientation processLGBTQ+ community, plays a lead role inIm pretty bullish, and Ive alwaysand is exemplified at every opportunity.building an open work culture at the companybeen open about who I am, says McCain. To be able to speak freely as a franchiseIts all part of the two Pierres goal ofconventional norm as a result of their owner speaks to the incredible legacy ofensuring their team feels as empoweredbackground, gender or sexuality. business owners and advocates that hadas they do. As in life, its important to beWhen youre a franchisee, your to deal with those biases and prejudicesgenuine and authentic to achieve your fullpersonal life and business life can become [earlier]. Because they had those difficultpotential at work, says Marois. I couldntvery intertwined. If you arent able to share conversations in the past, it means I dontdo it any other way. some of the challenges youre navigating have to today. with your franchise or corporate support The experience has been similar forSUPPORT FROM THE TOP team because youre in an environment Pierre Marois and Pierre Jacoub, theBecoming a franchise owner means joiningthat doesnt allow you to be 100 per cent husband-and-husband owners of fivean established community, one with itsauthentic, thats where struggles can come McDonalds Canada franchises in Novaown set of rules, culture and leadership.in, says Dani Bazely, director of marketing Scotia. Like McCain, Marois and JacoubThis can be daunting for any potentialat Driverseat and a member of the(aka the two Pierres) have seen a genuinefranchisee owner who falls outside aLGBTQ+ community. 6| QBiz CANADA | Issue 2 2021'