Juliette Gagnon, proud miner

27-year-old Juliette Gagnon, from Lanoraie, works as an ore extraction miner at the Casa Berardi mine in La Sarre. Since 2011, when she began her transition, she has endured a long gender affirmation process after years of questioning in a social context where gender identity and sexual orientation are still subject to discrimination. Juliette then began to reflect on her professional future, which led her to return to school. Testimonial.

Pre-transition

Born in a male body, Juliette realized at the end of high school, during a time also marked by the separation of her parents and a move, that she was experiencing gender dysmorphia, a sense of unease resulting from an incongruence between one's biological sex and one's gender identity. "In high school, I was searching for myself a lot; I thought I was gay, and I was becoming increasingly feminine," she recalls. "I was working at a cosmetics counter in a Sears and was at times victim of psychological harassment. After graduating, I started CEGEP, but I soon left school. It was a confusing time; things were not clear to me. I moved into an apartment in Montreal." While living in the metropolis, Juliette began to understand what was going on in her body and mind. It was during this period of freedom that something clicked.

A Good Support System

For four years, Juliette had small jobs while thinking about her future. With the door open, she spoke to her parents about her transition, who were supportive. Mind made up, she wanted to become who she had always been deep down. She started her transition in 2011 with hormone treatments, then a name and status change and finally a gender affirmation surgery in 2013. "Not everyone changes their name or has an operation, but it was important to me," says the young woman. "My surgery went well, even if I was confined to my bed for a long time." Despite the highs and lows, doubts and questioning, Juliette admits, "I trust myself. I have never closed myself off and I have always been well-surrounded by my friends and family." Even so, Juliette would describe this time as hellish, as the transition took all her energy.

Starting to Live Again

Other aspects of Juliette's life resurfaced after this taxing time, both physically and mentally. "When my status changed and I became Juliette, I felt complete, with all the right pieces, and I was able to start living again and think about my professional future."

At the time, Juliette was working in a factory. She had the opportunity to drive lift trucks a few times. Some friends who lived in Timmins, Ontario, told her about their work in the mines. Juliette listened with great interest. She's always dreamed of driving heavy equipment like her father, who is a trainer in heavy vehicle driving. "I've always had a fascination and desire to drive 45-ton trucks."

"When my status changed and I became Juliette, I felt complete, with all the right pieces, and I was able to start living again and think about my professional future."

Answering the Call

In 2018, for the second time, she saw an ad advertising the ore extraction course at the CFP de la Baie-James in Lebel-sur-Quévillon. She took it as a sign and decided to go for it! Her mother was apprehensive about how she would fit into this rather male-dominated field but was supportive of her daughter's project. Her father encouraged her. Juliette was 25 years old, had a new trade in sight and received financial assistance from Emploi-Québec to learn the basics.

Information session, registration, interview, admission. Six months later, in September 2019, she moved and started learning her trade. "I finished my vocational training in Matagami since the mine was closed. A contractor for the underground mine then hired me. I worked on a service truck."

Making her Dreams Come True

At the vocational centre, in a group with only one other girl, Juliette's arrival was met with surprise. Her teacher candidly admitted that he was a bit overwhelmed and didn't know which locker room to assign her. She reassured him that she was now a girl in her own right, ready to work hard physically and give it her all.

Juliette wants to break down barriers, and she is sparing no effort. "After several hours using a 120-pound drill, I had bruises on my body, but I was proud to have put in the required effort," she recalls. She fit in well with the group of young students. "We all had the same goal: to work in the mines. And it's a small world." It didn't take long for her to prove to the skeptics that she had what it took to make a career in the demanding mining industry. "I'm not only doing it for myself, but also for others who will have to go through it."

Breaking Down Barriers

After obtaining her diploma, Juliette was hired as a dryman, an entry-level job in the mines. Three months later, the young employee was promoted and went underground. "Now, I have an engineering position in the technical department on ventilation and underground surveying. I'm in charge of doing drilling deviation surveys (cms and boretraks). This position was offered to me without a degree in mineral technology, so I jumped at the chance!"

"It is hot, and the conditions are sometimes intense. I am often exhausted when I finish my workday, but I am proud and have a great sense of accomplishment. It's a great job that requires us to work hard and surpass ourselves. I find it rewarding."

A Bright Future

In the upcoming years, Juliette wants to continue working underground. At the Casa Berardi mine where she is currently employed, she can focus on the job at hand. Colleagues and superiors are respectful. She wants to establish her place in the mines and slowly work her way up. She has a partner, and they plan to buy a house together. As work in the mine requires seven days of work followed by seven days off, Juliette has time for hobbies such as outdoor activities, motocross and camping. Life is good.

Why Not?

Before ending our call, we circle back to the main topic of this article. How does a young transgender woman come to choose a sector of activity that is not renowned for its open-mindedness, such as the mining industry? Juliette definitely has the skills to make her mark in this male-dominated world. For her, the idea of putting labels such as man/woman, masculine/feminine is slowly becoming obsolete. And in a traditionally male-dominated field, such as a gold mine, it is relevant to change mentalities, according to her. "I have a positive attitude, am a good listener and know how to express myself well. I am a feminist, and I believe we are all capable. There was a time when I thought, 'Wow! I've done it.' It's not common, but why not?"

This portrait was written in July 2021. Since then, Juliette has undertaken the detransition process to return to former identity Julien Gagnon. With consent, we are publishing this story for the purpose of inclusion, as we believe this story can resonate with other youth in vocational and technical training.