RBC: Canada's bank, our community's champion

When Start Proud was founded in 2007, a handful of Canada's most forward-thinking companies stepped up alongside us, ready to invest in a future where 2SLGBTQIA+ students could see themselves thriving in corporate Canada. Royal Bank of Canada was one of them — and they've never left.

As Canada's largest bank and one of the largest financial institutions in the world, RBC brings extraordinary reach and influence to the work we do together. But what makes this partnership stand out isn't scale alone — it's the consistency, the authenticity, and the depth of RBC's commitment to our community. From keynote stages to career fairs, from boardroom advocacy to grassroots mentorship, RBC shows up for 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals in ways that go far beyond a logo on a banner.

A partner with deep roots in inclusion

RBC's support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community didn't begin with Start Proud. In 1995, RBC recognized same-gender partners for spousal equivalent benefits across its employee programs — a meaningful step at a time when few Canadian corporations were willing to take it. That early commitment set the tone for decades of leadership.

Today, RBC's Pride Employee Resource Group has grown to over 4,000 members across Canada, with regional chapters in every major city and additional chapters across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The bank supports over 75 2SLGBTQ+ community partners, is present at more than 40 Pride parades around the world, and sponsors over 13 queer film festivals across Canada. RBC is a founding member of Pride at Work Canada and an active member of the Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce.

This is a company that doesn't just participate in Pride Month — it raises the Progress Pride flag at its flagship Royal Bank Plaza branch on Bay Street every June and embeds inclusion into its year-round operations, from universal washrooms rolled out across all Canadian workplaces to dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ mentorship and recruitment programs.

On stage and on the ground at Out on Bay Street

RBC has been a consistent and visible presence at our flagship Out on Bay Street conference since its early years. Their involvement runs the full length of the conference experience — from sending senior leaders to speak on panels and deliver keynotes, to staffing the career fair where students meet recruiters face-to-face, to hosting sessions that give attendees a real window into what an inclusive workplace looks like from the inside.

At OOBS 2023, James McPhedran, Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges at RBC Investor & Treasury Services, delivered the lunch keynote as an openly gay senior executive — the kind of visible, authentic leadership that changes how students see their own futures. Marc Anthony Caporiccio, Early Talent Diversity Lead at RBC Capital Markets, served as a panelist, offering students direct insight into how RBC recruits and develops diverse talent.

Year after year, RBC's presence at OOBS sends a clear message to our attendees: there is a place for you here, and there are leaders who look like you already thriving at the highest levels.

Recognized leaders through our awards

Our Leaders to Be Proud Of (L2BPO) Awards honour exceptional 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals and allies whose leadership inspires our community. RBC executives have been recognized multiple times across the history of the awards, reflecting the depth of queer and allied leadership within the organization:

Jennifer Tory (2016)
As Group Head of Personal and Commercial Banking at RBC, Jennifer was one of the most senior banking executives in the country to be recognized for her allyship and advocacy.

Anne-Marie Vanier (2013)
VP and Chief P&C Actuary at RBC Insurance, honoured for her leadership and commitment to inclusive workplaces.

Lawrence Spicer (2017) — Professional Leadership Award
COO of TD Asset Management, Tim came out to colleagues in 2007 and went on to chair TD's LGBTQ2+ Executive Steering Committee.

Katherine Dudtschak (2025) — Lifetime Achievement Award
Before becoming President & CEO of HomeEquity Bank, Katherine spent more than 30 years at RBC in several senior executive roles. She is the founder of the Incluvest Foundation and is recognized globally for her commitment to equity and sustainability.

Caroline Tutakiewicz (2025) — Professional Excellence Award
Senior Director of Fraud & Security Risk at RBC, Caroline co-chairs RBC's Pride ERG and has driven meaningful change including gender-inclusive language, trans-inclusive benefits, and large-scale community fundraising initiatives.

These leaders represent the best of what's possible when an organization creates a culture where 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals can lead openly and authentically — and when those leaders then reach back to lift up the next generation.

Beyond the conference: year-round impact

RBC's partnership with Start Proud extends well beyond the annual conference. In May 2025, RBC's Pride 365 network hosted a Start Proud Industry Night at their downtown Toronto offices — an evening that brought together 2SLGBTQIA+ students and professionals from across finance, law, consulting, STEM, and marketing for networking and celebration. Events like these demonstrate that our partnership is a living, year-round relationship, not a once-a-year sponsorship.

RBC also brings its talent pipeline directly to our community. Their dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ mentorship program connects mentees and mentors from across the country and across business lines, helping employees expand their networks and develop their careers in a safe space. Their recruitment programs actively seek out diverse talent — not just to hire, but to promote and develop within the organization.

Looking ahead together

As we continue to grow Start Proud's impact across Canada, RBC remains a vital part of our story. Their people show up at our events, mentor our community members, speak on our stages, and model the kind of inclusive leadership that our students aspire to. Their programs push the boundaries of what corporate inclusion can look like. And their commitment — year after year, through changing times — gives us confidence that the future we're building together is one where every 2SLGBTQIA+ professional in Canada can thrive.

To RBC: thank you for being a partner in the truest sense of the word. For investing in our mission, for championing our community, and for demonstrating — at every level of your organization — that pride isn't just a month. It's a way of doing business.