Laurentian Pilotage Authority sails an inclusive course

Julie Bédard was ready for a new challenge and excited by the potential for teamwork when she joined the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) in 2023 — and she wasn’t disappointed.

“You can be surrounded by people but if you don’t interact with each other, you’re not working as a team, you’re just working with a team — there’s a big difference,” says the chief operating officer, who has over 25 years’ experience in the marine transport industry.

Bédard thrives on teamwork — a necessity for the marine pilotage administrator to safely navigate the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers.

“We’re offering safe and efficient travel on the St. Lawrence River, and to make that possible everybody has to play a role,” she says. “When you have the puck, if you don’t pass it to the right person, it has an impact.”

Every move a team member makes can have a ripple effect on a voyage — from dispatch to steering — so good communication is key to success. To facilitate that kind of teamwork Bédard has taken an inclusive approach to operations.

“I’m really proud when I see the respect they have for each other’s expertise and how we work together to be stronger,” she says.

Bédard has also observed how, when every employee feels seen and respected, the impacts on their career trajectory are multiplied.

“In the last year we’ve been able to discover emerging talents and fields of interest among our team members simply by including, listening and observing,” Bédard explains.

Inclusivity is also the focus of a new optimization project at LPA led by Bédard. Being a small team with a lot of responsibility, the company aims to improve operations using an inclusive approach to “work smarter, not harder,” as Bédard describes it.

Regardless of her decades of experience, Bédard’s process involves going back to basics, consulting with every team member to understand their roles.

“I discovered that everyone wants the same thing — to perform their best and be seen.”

LPA’s investment in inclusion goes beyond the organization to benefit the marine transportation industry in the entire province by awarding up to $10,000 in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) scholarships annually to students from the Institut maritime du Québec.

The scholarships are awarded to students who have overcome concerns related to EDI in the course of their personal or academic development and have demonstrated leadership related to these issues.

“It’s important to encourage these students to pursue their dreams,” says communications advisor Benjamin Fouchard, who is on the selection committee.

“Many have been passionate about the maritime world since they were very young,” he says. “However, since the school is in a remote area, it can take a lot of motivation, character and cost to pursue.”

The financial support from LPA helps alleviate financial concerns so people from all backgrounds can persevere in their maritime studies, worry-free.

While the scholarship recipients have no tie to LPA in their future careers, there is also an industry-wide benefit in uplifting those already excited about the industry.

“The marine industry is facing a labour shortage,” Fouchard explains. “We want to help retain those who already have a passion for the sea.”

For Fouchard, the support LPA provides externally reflects the inclusive culture that stood out to him when he was onboarded five years ago.

“As a small organization, everyone is very accessible and aware of barriers,” he says. “We’re all experts in our fields and respected as such.

“It’s a great culture of collaboration that I found interesting from the beginning. Everyone can share their opinions at all levels and without judgment.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Montreal’s Top Employers winners, published March 18, 2025 in the Montreal Gazette. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.