A Role Model For Authenticity

Jason Sordi ’95 is an articulate advocate for diversity and inclusion

By Pat Morden

For Jason Sordi, the game-changing moment came when he opened up about being gay to a senior executive he worked with at RBC. “He was very supportive,” says Sordi. “I wasn’t closeted but I hadn’t been very open about my personal life either. That was the first step in making me feel safe and comfortable – having the support of a senior person made me feel like I had a bit of ‘air cover.’”

These days Sordi, a Vice President with RBC Wealth Management Private Banking, provides similar support to others in the organization and beyond.

The supportive senior executive suggested that as an openly gay man, Sordi had an obligation to be a role model, showing others that there was a place for LGBTQ people in corporate Canada. He started becoming more proactive at a time when RBC was also embracing “diversity & inclusion” as one of its five core values. Sordi says efforts to ensure the work force is reflective of the LGBTQ community, and investments in the Pride Employee Resource Group, are making a real difference. In 2017, RBC was ranked first on an LGBTQ+ index. In 2019, RBC was ranked #3 on the “Top 25 Most Diverse and Inclusive Companies” in the Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index. and celebrated National Coming Out Day by inviting staff and families to a drag show in downtown Toronto.

“The bank is a very comfortable place for LGBTQ people these days,” Sordi says. “I don’t think twice about bringing my partner to an event or introducing him around.”

Sordi attended Crescent from Grades 5 to 12, a privilege that he says he didn’t fully appreciate until he had left. “I had lots of opportunities to do different things, make great friends, and connect with some amazing teachers,” he says. Although he knew he was different from other boys, he says he didn’t think about his sexuality much during those years.

He went on to complete an undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Toronto, while working part-time as assistant to a member of provincial parliament, and later to the Hon. Art Eggleton, Canada’s Minister of National Defense.

Working on election campaigns was eye-opening, Sordi says. “Crescent was very much a sheltered environment, a place everybody looked and felt the same. But suddenly I was knocking on doors during election campaigns in low-income housing complexes and seeing how diverse the world is, not just culturally but also economically.”

Sordi later worked with the Canadian Unity Council, running a national youth employment program that gave young Canadians the opportunity to live and work in a different part of the country. He also continued to be active in community work. That’s how he met an RBC executive who eventually offered him a job. “I never had any ambition to go into banking and I worried about not living up to expectations. But he told me that I had the soft skills they couldn’t teach me, and that they could teach me the hard skills.”

He hasn’t looked back. RBC has given him a range of opportunities including diverse roles in commercial and retail banking. Along the way, he spent six years in Ottawa, where he also served on the National Capital Commission. “For an organization that’s so big, RBC is very flat,” he says. “Everybody is accessible and wants to hear what you have to say. I’ve had the opportunity to have impact at every point in my career.”

Last January, Sordi was part of a Crescent Pride Day event. He admits that he was nervous going into it. “I worried about being judged,” he says ruefully. “But the boys put me at ease very quickly, and the interactions were positive and respectful.” He was impressed by the thoughtful questions and honest dialogue. His message to the boys? “While it’s daunting to be open about something that can still be controversial, it’s also daunting to be isolated. It’s worth it to take a risk because if you find an ally, you’ll be stronger for it.”

Although Canada has become much more inclusive in recent years, Sordi points to a recent resurgence in racism and intolerance and says there’s still work to be done. “It’s a constant struggle. We need to be vigilant, we need to talk, to understand one another, to celebrate victories and to work through difficulties. It’s a long road, and maybe one that will never end.”

Sordi remains passionate about his community advocacy work and has ambitions to run for public office in the future. “When you see how much need there is, you feel a sense of obligation. Running for office is one way to give back and help people who need it.”

RBC at the Toronto Pride Day parade.

The Pride Flag flew at Crescent during the school's Pride Day in January 2019.