The CEO of a Canadian national museum has been found to have breached the code of conduct through verbal abuse, mistreatment, and inappropriate language, such as publicly referring to a senior leadership team as “sluts.” An investigation by the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner revealed that Marie Chapman, the head of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, exhibited a pattern of behavior over ten years that caused emotional harm to employees, with some individuals even considering self-harm.
Commissioner Harriet Solloway’s report, released on Wednesday, highlighted that Chapman’s actions were not isolated incidents but rather a persistent problem over the years. Such breaches, according to Solloway, undermine public sector integrity and the museum’s credibility. Chapman, initially appointed by the Harper government in 2011, later reappointed by the Trudeau administration in 2016 and 2021 with a salary of up to $221,700, oversees the museum’s mission of educating the public on immigrants’ experiences in Canada.
In response to the report, Chapman expressed disagreement with the findings and suggested a review of the case due to its severity. Minister of Canadian Heritage Marc Miller labeled the report as “alarming” and deemed the allegations as “entirely unacceptable,” emphasizing the need for appropriate action by the museum’s board to address the situation.
The investigation, involving interviews with 19 witnesses, nearly a third of the museum’s employees, and Chapman herself, unveiled instances of behavior that could be categorized as bullying. Employees reported feeling terrified, experiencing panic attacks, and refraining from speaking up due to fear of repercussions, as Chapman had allegedly stated that everyone was replaceable.
The report further detailed Chapman’s derogatory remarks, including ranking women based on age, making disparaging comments about the appearance of staff, and using inappropriate language like referring to the senior leadership team as “sluts.” Chapman’s conduct was deemed inconsistent with the expected standards for a federal public sector leader, with the report highlighting multiple breaches of government values and ethics codes.
Solloway recommended corrective actions for Chapman, including an assessment of employee well-being by an external expert to provide suitable support. Despite Chapman’s refutation of several allegations and acknowledgment of the recommendations, the commissioner deemed her response inadequate. Chapman defended her actions, citing misunderstandings in the report and questioning its fairness and objectivity.
The museum’s annual public meeting, slated to be hosted by Chapman, was postponed following the public disclosure of the allegations. The Prime Minister’s Office is yet to comment on Chapman’s future, and CBC News is awaiting response from Chapman regarding the matter.