The head of information and programs at the Radio-Canada station in Quebec, Caroline Gaudreault, has just left her post. This departure comes almost a year after the revelations of a “toxic” work climate within the station.
The director general of regional services of Radio-Canada, Jean-François Rioux, informed the employees Thursday morning. “We are aware that you have experienced some uncertainty in recent days caused by Caroline’s absence. We understand the uncomfortable situation this has caused for you. We appreciate your understanding,” he said in an internal memo obtained by The duty.
This departure comes five months after that of the former director of the capital station, Véronique Lessard, and almost a year after The sun had revealed the existence of a “toxic” work climate within the team for several years.
Many employees and ex-employees had testified to having been victims of degrading, denigrating and humiliating remarks.
A reconciliation process
In the report of the Syndicate of workers of Radio-Canada submitted at the time to senior management, several names had been mentioned by the employees of the Quebec station, including those of Véronique Lessard and Caroline Gaudreault.
Faced with these tense labor relations, Radio-Canada initiated a conciliation process in agreement with the union. “Over the past few months, Caroline [Gaudreault] was heavily involved in the process put in place by the occupational psychologist, Marc-André Verrette, which resulted in recommendations and an action plan. I would like to highlight all the efforts she has devoted to it, ”says Jean-François Rioux in his email sent Thursday.
With all due respect to M.me Gaudreault, his decision should make it possible to establish a clear break between before and now.
“With all due respect to Mr.me Gaudreault, his decision should make it possible to establish a clear break between before and now”, estimates for his part the president of the Union of workers of Radio-Canada, Pierre Tousignant. He adds that “the kind of crisis experienced at the Quebec station leaves sometimes deep wounds. This is true for several employees who have chosen to leave, it is also true for the managerial staff”.
Mme Gaudreault was hired by Radio-Canada in 2006 as a journalist-presenter of the Midi newscast in Quebec. She then became head of the radio and web desk, before being named first head of information and programming in 2018.
“It has been a privilege to work with you for the past 15 years at Radio-Canada. I wish you the best for the future, ”she simply said in the note sent to employees.
It is Jonathan Bernard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, who will act in the interim and will therefore take over from Mr.me Gaudreault.
Regarding the replacement of Véronique Lessard in the direction of the station in Quebec, the process is still underway and “going well”, underlines the spokesperson for the Crown corporation, Marc Pichette.
The selection committee is made up of the General Manager, Regional Services, Jean-François Rioux, the General Manager, Human Resources, Jean-François Albert, the General Manager, Operations and Transformation, Luc Benoît, and the General Manager, Diversity and Inclusion, Yolanda James. “The selected person should be announced soon,” adds Mr. Pichette, without further details.