Marie Chapman, CEO of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, stepped down on Thursday after a special commissioner's investigation found she had mistreated staff throughout her decade-long tenure. The report, released by the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, accused Chapman of serious code of conduct breaches, including using slurs and misogynistic language—such as referring to the senior leadership team as "sluts"—ranking female employees by age, and fostering a culture of fear that left some staff contemplating self-harm. Chapman was appointed under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and reappointed by the Trudeau government in 2016 and 2021; her contract expired in October but she had been granted a 90-day transitional term.
The departure matters because it highlights systemic workplace misconduct at a major national cultural institution, raising questions about governance and accountability in Canada's museum sector. The board of trustees accepted the commissioner's findings and is taking immediate action, while Canada's Minister of Identity and Culture, Marc Miller, called the move "most likely the right move." The case underscores the importance of ethical leadership and safe working environments in publicly funded museums, and may prompt broader scrutiny of workplace culture at other heritage institutions.