Morgane Oger

Born in France and raised in Vancouver, Morgane Oger spent 25 years working as an international High-Tech consultant specialized in robotics, FINTEC, Energy, Search And Rescue, Internet, and Telecoms industries and is on the Canadian Technology Management team of an international big-box electronics retailer.

With a track record of activism dating back to the 1990s focused on systemic injustice, this transgender mom lives with her two school-age children in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Morgane Oger’s work as a community organizer and changemaker is recognized for its success reaching the hearts and minds of others by working with everyone and convincing opponents there is better way.

Morgane has helped others throughout Canada win significant victories on issues focused around equality and inclusion at all levels of Government and successfully spearheaded the push to convince Canadians to support human rights law that protects us all against discrimination based on gender identity or expression.

Morgane Oger is the founder of the Morgane Oger Foundation which helps narrow the gap between Canada’s laws and the experience of people on the ground who face systemic discrimination because of who they are. Through the foundation, Morgane drives public-policy change for a more-inclusive society and supports vulnerable persons in BC and elsewhere. This includes developing free technological solutions to help people facing systemic discrimination address hate-motivated violence and supporting the Canadian Human Rights Commission to advocate for Transgender persons engaged in its Human Rights tribunal. 

With a number of successful policy and law reform wins in municipalities, provinces, and at the federal level behind her – as well as a number of successful interventions on the behalf of the transgender community across Canada, Morgane’s advocacy work was featured in Cannes Short Flims Festival award-winning short documentary “In Alliance (2016)”, as well as “1253 Letters (2017)”, and “Morgane Oger: Moving Forward (2019)”.

Morgane was the BC NDP candidate in Vancouver – False Creek during the 2017 British Columbia general election and ran for School Trustee in the 2019 Vancouver General Election as an independent candidate. She served on the executive of the BC New Democratic Party for four years – two of which as Vice-President.

In 2019, Morgane Oger won a high-profile precedent-setting human rights case against an anti-LGBT activist that demonstrated once and for all that personal beliefs or the right to free expression do not trump another person’s right to live free of discrimination. The case is now widely cited in other legal cases. 

For her contribution to inclusion and equality, Morgane Oger was named “National Hero” Grand Marshal at the 2016 Vancouver Pride Parade. 

Morgane Oger was awarded the Kimberly Nixon Pride Legacy Award in 2016 and received the Shakti Trailblazer Award in 2018.

In recognition for her service to Canada in extending human rights for LGBTQ2+ persons, Morgane Oger was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on behalf of The Queen and all Canadians by Governor General Julia Fayette in 2018. 

The Meritorious Service Decorations recognize great Canadians for exceptional deeds accomplished over a limited period of time that bring honour to our country. They honour achievements in both military and civil divisions.

Publications, Book Contributions

McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2020: “We Resist: Defending the Common Good in Hostile Times” – Edited by Cynthia Levine-Rasky and Lisa Kowalchuk

Chapter contribution: “Yet We Rise: Cultivating a Resilient Transgender Community that Overcomes Systemic Barriers”

Battered Women Support Services (2019): Naming it is just the beginning of the journey…

Globe and Mail (2019) Jessica Yaniv’s fight for trans rights misses the very point of that fight: equality

Globe and Mail (2016) It’s time for Christy Clark to show solidarity with B.C.’s LGBT community

Globe and Mail (2015) Transgender people still struggling to be heard

Notable Mentions in media

WOMEN on the BALLOT – Pathways to political power 2019, Betsy McGregor
The Economist (2019): Culture War, Canadian Style
Toronto Star (2019): Vancouver activist Morgane Oger wins ‘landmark’ transgender rights decision
Vancouver Sun (2017): Transgender Trailblazer Narrowly Lost in B.C. Election, But Vows to Continue Her Advocacy
Vancouver Sun (2017): Anti-gay activist ordered to pay $55,000 to B.C. trans candidate in fight over hateful flyer