Last month, we were incredibly pleased to present the Matt Dowdle Leadership in IRHR award -- created in Matt's honour to recognize MIRHR alumni and graduating students who are demonstrated leaders and team-builders -- to Jeanette May (MIR 84), a Centre alum with over 34 years of experience working in the field of labour relations and human resources, a staunch supporter of the CIRHR, and a committed mentor to our students. We sat down with Jeanette to learn more about her time at the Centre, what motivates and inspires her to mentor others, and what she wishes she knew upon graduation -- you can read our full interview below.
We’re so glad you could join us at the convocation for our fall graduates. I’m curious, what kind of thoughts and feelings does a return to campus bring up for you, or a return to the Centre more specifically?
It’s been so many years since I studied at the Centre (1982 to 1984) - it’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I loved the master’s program – it was a wonderful experience. Back in the 80s, it was small, with 20 students in each year, so we got to know each other really well. The program was fabulous and opened up so many doors for me in my career. At that time, there weren’t a lot of institutions that provided this specialized training in IRHR. It was a highly respected program and set me off on my career path. That’s why I wanted to give back to the program as a mentor – because it was such a good experience for me.
You delivered very inspiring remarks at Fall Convocation when you accepted the Matt Dowdle Leadership Award. From your vantage point, as someone who graduated from the Centre and went on to have a successful career, what kind of things do you wish you had known as a new grad? What message would have resonated with you on convocation day?
I was particularly interested in labour relations when I started the program – that was my focus, and certainly my first job was in labour relations – but I ended up broadening my focus, and all of my subsequent positions were in the area of generalized human resources within unionized environments. I think it’s important to stay open to areas you didn’t think you’d be interested in. For me, going into a director-manager of HR role, with labour relations in that portfolio, kept me involved in negotiating, grievances and mediations, but also opened doors for broader management and more senior positions. Working in the U.S. was a great opportunity as well, but I think it was an easier option at that time. The organization welcomed my Canadian experience, and I was happy to broaden my learning in the US system. And, of course, leveraging your networks is very helpful – a few of my jobs were obtained through contacts that I’d already made in the field.
You have been awarded both the Morley Gunderson Prize for outstanding professional achievement and significant service to the Centre, as well as the Matt Dowdle Leadership Award in IRHR for leadership and teambuilding. You have also acted as a mentor to countless students in our MIRHR program. I would love to hear more about what inspires you to give back. Was there was a particular mentor or leader who laid this foundation for you?
A family friend was the head of HR at Ontario Hydro and was a mentor to me personally before I went to university. But it was when I came back to Toronto after working in the U.S. that the opportunity to mentor students at the Centre presented itself. I started my role as Manager of Labour of Relations for the Toronto Police Service and it was such a great labour relations environment. Being in proximity to the Centre, I thought there would be so much I could share with students who were interested in labour relations. Carol, the graduate coordinator at the Centre, made that happen by matching me with interested students.
Is there a particular mentee’s success that makes you incredibly proud?
Mentorship varies from student to student. Sometimes, it’s just a coffee chat where you meet once or twice, but Robin Ross was a former student who was interested in more than a casual chat. He would come to my office at the Toronto Police and we’d talk about cases we were working on, collective agreements, bargaining – it ended up being a much more engaged arrangement than I expected, mostly because he was proactive about staying connected and learning as much as he could. In this way, the success of a mentor/mentee relationship really is a two-way street. He's now the Director of Labour Relations at Unity Health Toronto, and I have bumped into him occasionally at events in the city. He’s done very well, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Such a pleasure talking with you, Jeanette. Are there any final thoughts you would like to share?
Since retiring in October 2019, I’ve spent a lot more time mentoring students on résumés, interviews, and career planning – about 40 students between 2020 and 2024 – and I found this work incredibly fulfilling. In some cases, these were students who were putting out dozens of résumés without responses. They had done all the right things, taken the right courses, received good advice and résumé assistance, but nothing was coming together for them. What I found, after a deeper conversation, was that these students had significant skills and experiences that were not being captured on their résumés. For example, they’d mention in passing an experience they’d had – for example, winning a bargaining award, participating in team sports, or volunteering on a board or steering committee – unaware that there were valuable skillsets within these activities that weren’t being represented on their résumés or in their interviews. We often made significant changes in their approach and how they presented themselves, and I’m happy to say that I often received calls or emails from them about their success. The mentorship program at the CIRHR was very effective, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.
Bio | After graduating from Queen’s University with a degree in Psychology, Jeanette received her MIR from the Centre for Industrial Relations in 1984. She most recently was the Director of People & Culture with the Toronto Police Service, and was responsible for: Talent Acquisition; Equity Inclusion & Human Rights; HR Business Partnership; Labour Relations; Wellness; and, People Strategy & Performance. Jeanette rebranded and led the transformation and modernization of the human resources pillar, moving it from a transactional operation to a strategic, credible and service-oriented business partner with a focus on analytics. She built a strong team of subject matter experts who furthered the modernization through the development and roll-out of programs from their new People Plan.
Prior to leading the People & Culture pillar, Jeanette was the Manager of Labour Relations at the Toronto Police Service for over three years. In this position, she played a key role in the collective agreement negotiations, representing the Toronto Police Services Board. She oversaw all labour relations functions, including grievances, human rights complaints, civilian discipline, and the administration of the collective agreements. Her collaborative style contributed to a positive labour relations environment, where issues and disputes were resolved through discussion and compromise.
Jeanette has over 34 years of experience working in the field of labour relations and human resources. Before coming to the Toronto Police Service, she worked for a number of large public sector organizations, including: the University of Toronto; Ottawa Civic Hospital; Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Health Unit; Franklin County Children Services in Columbus, Ohio; and, the Simcoe County District School Board in Barrie.
With a career that was built on the foundation of her MIR degree, Jeanette has committed to give back to the program through her support of many of the events offered by the Centre and her involvement in the mentoring program. She continues to connect with some of her mentees as they have progressed in their career. Jeanette also provided human resources advice and support as the Chair of the human resources committee and currently as the Chair of Council of her church. She has also recently been appointed to the Board of Vocation of the United Church of Canada, which oversees the appointment, training, and discipline of ministry personnel across Canada.
Jeanette retired in October of 2019 and continues to apply her skills and passions to the field of human resources, in addition to acting as a mentor to MIRHR students at the Centre.