Tourism HR Canada congratulates CGLCC, Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, on its receipt of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Advancing Progressive HR Practices Award.
This prestigious award is granted to individuals, organizations, and employers with more than a decade of leadership in advancing human resource management practices that foster authentic, quality service and contributing to Canada’s ability to compete globally.
Established in 2003, the organization has a long history of supporting diversity by linking LGBT+ businesses to the wider business community and by providing resources to businesses looking to attract LGBT+ clientele and offer a welcoming workplace for LGBT+ employees.
To help LGBT+ entrepreneurs thrive, it offers:
- Access – by building relationships between the LGBT+ business community and the corporate world, and by educating LGBT+ businesses about policies, regulations, and opportunities
- Engagement – by being an advocate for LGBT+ businesses and supplier diversity, while providing a forum for people to meet and exchange information
- Visibility – through its regular workshops, webinars, and events
- Support – through its training, mentoring, supplier diversity, and global programs.
In the spring of 2019, Tourism HR Canada partnered with CGLCC to support the growth and promotion of Canada’s LGBT+ tourism market. CGLCC delivered a series of diversity training workshops across the country. LGBT+ Inclusion Training for the Tourism Industry enhanced the market-readiness of Canada’s tourism businesses, both from the perspective as a destination for visitors and for employees.
The 13 workshops guided tourism business owners and staff through best practices to make LGBT+ customers and staff feel welcome and accepted, and served in a way that exceeds their expectations. Additional online training covered inclusion in the workplace, including federal and jurisdictional legislation. Topics ranged from the impact of homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism, to the importance of safe space, and facilitators provided strategies and opportunities to put learning into practice.
“CGLCC is honoured to receive this award,” said Darrell Schuurman, CGLCC co-founder and CEO. “LGBT+ tourism contributes significantly to the economic impact of Canada’s tourism industry. As an organization that is focused on supporting social change for the LGBT+ community through business, our LGBT+ Inclusion Training for the Tourism Industry is built to ensure that Canada’s tourism industry is ready to welcome the LGBT+ traveller, and to provide those visitors the service and experiences they are looking for.”
LGBT+ Inclusion Training for the Tourism Industry was first developed in consultation with the tourism industry in 2005. Over 1,000 tourism stakeholders from Halifax to Victoria to Whitehorse have since learned to create inclusive workplaces and deliver welcoming visitor experiences. The program has evolved over the years, and now includes online and in-person components, available in both English and French.
Participants have provided rave reviews of the content and the facilitators; one participant cited how the training was “invaluable in envisioning how to make my community more inclusive”, while another expressed that the workshop helped “understand the issues that affect the LGBT+ community and how to approach them at an everyday level (personal/work/public)”.
“Our organization is proud to acknowledge the significant contributions CGLCC has made to the diversity of our tourism sector,” stated Tourism HR Canada President & CEO Philip Mondor. “Their vision and leadership have ensured employers across the country can access hands-on resources that enhance our ability to provide an open, welcoming environment for visitors and staff alike.”
Multiple regions expressed interest in hosting the program in the future. Tourism HR Canada is delighted to advise that federal funding from the new Canadian Experiences Fund targets inclusiveness and will help expand the reach of this programming.
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