CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Corporate responsibility means taking into account the impact we create within society, having a positive impact on our industry and those of our clients, promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring the well-being of our stakeholders—our staff, the communities, our clients and our partners.

Because we are certain our actions have a genuine impact, we are committed to establishing responsible, caring and inclusive practices within our company. This approach is a natural outgrowth of our journey to B Corp certification.

ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE

From an entrepreneurial standpoint, the importance afforded to ethical business conduct is crucial and fundamental. Aware that our role has implications for our clients’ business strategies, we hew to a line of conduct that is irreproachably professional. It manifests itself in our day-to-day operations through a policy that upholds confidentiality and full transparency with our stakeholders. This enables us to forge solid, long-lasting relations with our clients, maintain low employee turnover and sustain a bond built on trust with our suppliers.

This commitment moves beyond being a moral intent: it is part of our organization’s very DNA. Our social and environmental values are permanently enshrined in our corporate legal documents, ensuring that our mission is always at the heart of our decisions, regardless of the company’s evolution.

To support and reinforce this corporate culture, our governance relies on a participative framework that includes an employee advisory committee. This mechanism, paired with an employee manual, serves to clarify our internal rules and ensure our ethical standards are understood and enforced by all on a daily basis. It is in this spirit of transparency that we disclose our financial statements to our employees, and pay particular attention to our wage and bonus system to ensure its fairness.

Moreover, we constantly assess cybersecurity risks and keep up to date on good practices for the protection of the confidential data entrusted to us. We are WBE (Women Business Enterprises) certified and accredited by the Autorité des marches publics (AMP).

Cabana Séguin’s governance is also based on principles of transparency, integrity, and respect for First Nations rights. By integrating the teachings from reconciliation training, our team is better equipped to collaborate with Indigenous communities and make informed and inclusive decisions.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

To foster a healthy, well-balanced work environment, we invest in our team through education, continuous training and the transfer of knowledge. In concrete terms, this translates into supporting initiatives for wellness and sustainable mobility:

Active commuting: Our offices are strategically located to be accessible by public transit and bike paths.
Facilities: Our employees have a shower at their disposal to facilitate active commuting or sports activities.
Wellness activity: Dedicated to physical and mental health, the committee organizes a number of annual activities and group workshops to foster a positive, stimulating work environment where everyone gets involved.
Workplace ergonomics: The agency shares information and resources on ergonomic good practices for office and work-from-home environments alike, to promote comfort and prevention every day.
Financial wellness program: Each member of the team has a personal budget dedicated exclusively to their well-being.
Development of human potential: We value the growth of our talented people and conduct a survey twice a year to keep abreast of their needs.

A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

As a WBE (Women Business Enterprises) certified business, we encourage female entrepreneurship as a means of promoting equality between the sexes. Indeed, our team is more than 50% comprised of female professionals.

This certification comes as the result of a rigorous evaluation process that goes beyond simple reporting to require an in-depth audit of our legal, financial and operational documents in order to confirm that at least 51% of the organization is owned, managed and controlled by women. WBE certification guarantees business partners that the company has the necessary structure and expertise to meet their most stringent requirements.

Our contribution to the community takes the form of a solid financial commitment, namely 1.5% of our revenue in donations to organizations that have a significant social impact. Beyond this financial support, we put our expertise at the service of the community by supporting various charitable organizations in the creation of communication tools, work we provide pro bono or for an affordable fee.

At Cabana Séguin, we recognize the importance of building respectful and sustainable relationships with First Nations communities. Aware of the history and heritage of Indigenous peoples, we are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our company and projects. All members of our team have completed the reconciliation training offered by the First Nations University of Canada, thereby strengthening our understanding and respect for Indigenous cultures and traditions. This commitment is reflected in concrete actions aimed at supporting the socio-economic development of Indigenous communities and integrating their perspectives into our initiatives.

For over 25 years, we have taken an active interest in the next generation of creative talent through the Réal Séguin Scholarship. Founded to honour the memory of our agency’s principal co-founder, this annual distinction celebrates the daring and excellence at the heart of the graphic design industry.

Each year, we reward a graduate of the Université du Québec à Montréal’s (UQAM) bachelor program in graphic design who has exemplified quality and originality in their work. This financial and professional recognition aligns with the high standards of quality we pursue daily for our clients, and illustrates our commitment to give a hand up to the up-and-coming talents that will shape tomorrow’s visual landscape.

A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL VISION

Environmental responsibility is key for Cabana Séguin, as evidenced as much by the company’s management and its creative processes as by the solutions we offer our clients. Our approach relies on a team versed and trained in “ecologically responsible graphic communication,” one that remains up to date on best practices—such as product life cycle basics and responsible procurement—in order to participate from the outset in the creation of brands, print projects and packaging.

On a day-to-day basis, our living habits in the workplace reflect this commitment:

Resource management: In the employee-run kitchen, we favour the use of reusable materials, from cotton dishcloths to the compost bin, and discourage the utilization of single-use disposable items in our offices.
Circular economy: In a spirit of circularity, printed paper or cardboard that is not of a confidential nature is turned over to the childcare services of certain schools for use in kids’ crafts.
Sustainable mobility: Active and public means of transportation are encouraged and facilitated by our location, which is accessible by public transit and bike paths. Moreover, employees have a shower at their disposal in our offices so they can freshen up following their active commuting or their sports activities.
Client support: Aside from our regular recycling and composting activities, we systematically encourage our clients to adopt sustainable solutions: use of recycled paper, FSC certification, non-polluting inks and less packaging.

Finally, and mindful of our global impact, we have introduced a procedure for measuring and eventually offsetting the carbon footprint associated with our work-related travelling, further enhancing our vision of being a responsible company.

INCLUSIVITY AT THE HEART OF OUR DELIVERABLES

Several employees are trained in Web accessibility, which allows us to propose documents or sites that meet government standards. This inclusive practice enables visually impaired individuals to access and make more effective use of online content.

To find out more about Web accessibility

Rigor and Active Listening

We favour an approach based on active listening, systematically assessing client satisfaction as regards the creativity and technical quality of our work.

Our desire to engage in concrete actions to shape a better world is sincere. These commitments are held by our entire team under the guidance of CEO Mylene Duguay, They rely on actionable steps and continuous improvement. We appreciate and encourage feedback as a way of improving our practices. It is a collective approach, undertaken daily, contributing to a positive and long-lasting impact.

Contact us if you have ideas to share or promising projects to realize, whether as partners or as collaborator!