Cookbooks, Cartoons, and Corporate Plans: A Selection of Works from the History of the Department: Section 1: Cartoons

Ben Wicks (1926-2000) and Annie Demirjian (1953-2002). Ben Wicks on Harassment with Annie Demirjian. Ottawa: Consulting and Audit Canada in Cooperation with Ben Wicks, 1994. Donated by Kevin Shoom.

Cartoons

In 1994, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) revised its Policy on the Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Workplace. TBS first introduced a harassment policy in 1982 and was the first employer in Canada to establish such a policy. The policy was designed to ensure that all employees have access to a work environment free from harassment or discrimination, and underscored the need to establish a workplace where all public servants are treated with dignity and respect. The policy has since undergone several revisions. The current Policy on People Management, which came into effect on April 1, 2021, replaces the Policy on Harassment, Prevention and Resolution that was introduced in 2012. This 2012 policy supplanted the Policy on the Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Workforce, introduced in 2001.

Harassment was the subject of an internal memo circulated to Finance employees in 1995 by former Deputy Minister of Finance, David A. Dodge (1943-). The memo references Ben Wicks on Harassment with Annie Demirijian, an illustrated guide on harassment that was published in 1994. In the memo, David Dodge informs employees of the 1994 changes to the TBS policy and outlines his commitment to ensuring that all Finance employees are provided with a work environment free from any form of harassment.

The 1994 guide is illustrated by renowned Canadian cartoonist, Ben Wicks (1926-2000) and is presented in the exhibition alongside the memo. Born in London, England in 1926, Wicks immigrated to Canada in 1957 and settled in Calgary before relocating to Toronto. He achieved fame as a political cartoonist whose illustrations appeared in the Toronto Star and were widely syndicated across Canada and the United States. His series "The Outcasts" was published in over 52 Canadian newspapers and garnered him an international reputation. Apart from his artistic career, Wicks was a journalist and tv personality and hosted a talk show that aired on CBC from 1979-1981. He was also known for his humanitarian efforts and used his work to advocate from important social issues such as children's literacy and famine relief. In 1986, he was appointed to the Order of Canada.

Published by Consulting and Audit Canada, Ben Wicks on Harassment pairs Wicks' cartoons with text written by Wicks and former public servant Annie Demirjian (1953-2002), who worked as a consultant with Consulting and Auditing Canada during the period of publication. Wicks' witty illustrations combine with the text to create an accessible read that discusses the effects of workplace harassment and outlines steps employees can take to address it. 

The book's nine sections break the topic of harassment down into smaller pieces of information that are relatable to readers. Each section carries a unique title and relies on Wicks' illustrations to reinforce the written content. Sections include "Welcome to the Twilight Zone," which opens with a quiz on what harassment is, and "The Creeping Menace," which discusses how harassment affects employees, how it damages workplace morale, and how it influences public perception. Although the book was published in the 1990s, its message on the effects of harassment continues to resonate with employees both within and outside the public sector.