PRESS RELEASE – Anaïs Lacroix Named Independent Organizational Ombuds for VIA Rail Canada

Montreal, May 13, 2025 – Latitude is proud to announce the appointment of its CEO, Anaïs Lacroix, as independent Organizational Ombuds for VIA Rail Canada, a key player in the country’s passenger rail industry. She will assume this mandate while continuing to carry out other mandates as a neutral third party, as well as her duties as Latitude’s CEO.

Accredited lawyer and mediator, Ms. Lacroix has been assisting major organizations for over a decade in managing sensitive situations involving harassment, ethics, discrimination and governance. She is recognized for her in-depth expertise in these areas, as well as for her humane yet rigorous approach.

I am deeply honoured and grateful to be able to put my expertise and that of Latitude at the service of a major organization like VIA Rail, in a role where listening, neutrality and the search for constructive solutions are at the heart of the mandate. Thank you to VIA Rail for its confidence.

says Anaïs Lacroix, Chief Executive Officer.

A strategic role for lasting impact

As an Organizational Ombuds for a federal Crown corporation, Ms. Lacroix will play a key role with members of the public and VIA Rail employees.

She will be called upon to receive ethics-related reports in a neutral, independent and confidential manner, to make recommendations to address systemic issues where appropriate, and to contribute to the improvement of the organization’s policies and practices.

As part of her mandate, Ms. Lacroix will notably be able to:

• Provide a safe, confidential listening space for people facing sensitive situations
• Identify systemic barriers or grey areas in existing processes
• Recommend adjustments to promote fairness, integrity and transparency

About Latitude

Founded in 2019 by Anaïs Lacroix and David Ward, Latitude Management is a law firm that operates exclusively as a neutral and impartial third party in institutional matters involving harassment, violence, and discrimination. With a team of approximately 50 professionals, Latitude offers a full range of services across Quebec and Canada to help organizations foster inclusive, respectful, and legally compliant workplaces.