Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A new awareness campaign launched by the Ville de Gatineau, in partnership with the Société
de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), is calling on residents to treat public employees with greater
respect. The campaign is titled “Avec nos employés, y’a pas de raison d’être bête. À Gatineau,
on se respecte.” (With our employees, there’s no reason to be rude. In Gatineau, we respect
each other.)

The initiative responds to the growing number of reports from frontline staff who describe
encounters involving rude remarks, dismissive gestures and verbal aggression while performing
their duties. According to the city, the scenarios portrayed in the campaign are based on real
events experienced by municipal and transit employees.

The campaign includes posters and a series of short videos depicting these everyday incidents.
In several of the visuals, a person wears a large reptilian or dragon-like mask — a literal
interpretation of “être bête”, which in French means both “to be rude” and “to act like a beast”.
The masked figure symbolizes the uncivil behaviour that the city wants residents to recognize
and reject.

“This behaviour, whether a rude comment or a confrontation, is never acceptable,” said Patrick
Leclerc, Director General of the STO. He added that employees providing essential services to
the public are too often met with hostility when what they need is patience and understanding.
The campaign is part of a broader five-part action plan focused on improving working conditions
and strengthening the relationship between residents and public staff. It includes training to help
employees manage challenging interactions, enhancing the physical safety of workspaces,
simplifying administrative processes, promoting respectful conduct through public messaging
and establishing clear procedures for responding to incidents.

Simon Rousseau, Director General of the Ville de Gatineau, said the city is taking concrete
steps to protect its personnel. “Respect and the safety of our personnel are at the heart of the
values of the Ville de Gatineau. We are determined to ensure that every employee can carry out
their duties without fear of intimidation or violence.”

While campaign materials are highly visual, the underlying message is cultural. Officials say the
aim is to encourage reflection, foster empathy and prompt a shift toward civility in everyday
interactions.

“The growing incivility has profound repercussions on public life, and I witness it directly as a
municipal councillor,” said Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent, councillor for the Touraine district and chair
of the Commission du vivre-ensemble. “It is imperative to remember the humanity of each
councillor and each employee. Debate of ideas is essential, but words and actions have an
impact. It is everyone’s responsibility to preserve civility and respect in our exchanges.”​

Photo: City and transit leaders in Gatineau are calling on residents to show more respect toward
public employees, launching a new campaign based on real incidents of incivility reported by
staff. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau