Tourism HR Canada is proud to recognize eight employers and non-profit organizations as recipients of the Employer Impact Champion awards, presented this week at the Belong Forward Leadership Forum. As part of the Belong initiative, these awards celebrate those who are taking meaningful steps to advance disability inclusion and create more accessible and inclusive tourism workplaces.
Each recipient was selected to demonstrate a different pathway to impact. Their stories represent the wider community of over 340 tourism employers engaged through Belong, and the many ways businesses across the sector are making a difference.
“The impact of inclusion looks different across businesses and workplaces,” noted Jasmine Qi, Tourism HR Canada Director of Workplace Inclusion. “It may involve improving accessibility, changing recruitment practices, supporting employees to succeed, strengthening workplace culture, or sharing learning with others in the sector. Together, these stories help show the range of ways employers can make progress.”
The eight Employer Impact Champions are:
Causeway Work Centre, an Ottawa-based not-for-profit helping people facing mental health challenges and other barriers find meaningful employment. Causeway has contributed to Belong as an advisory member, a talent referral partner, and an inclusive employer that hired three people with disabilities through a Belong hiring fair. They additionally shared their journey in our Inclusion in Action video series. Causeway exemplifies how collaboration and inclusive hiring can turn shared commitment into real employment opportunities.
The Canadian Ski Council, a national not-for-profit organization supporting Canada’s ski and snowboard industry. After participating in a Belong workshop, the Council engaged in the free Tourism Workplace Accessibility Clinic advisory services for recruitment support, resulting in one candidate being hired and later moving from a term position to permanent employment. The Council returned for a second campaign, hiring two more candidates through our service provider network. By turning inclusive hiring into sustained action, the Canadian Ski Council is setting a strong example for ski areas and outdoor tourism operators across Canada.
Dark Fork, Ottawa’s unique dine-in-the-dark restaurant, known for creating meaningful employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. Through Belong, Dark Fork has shared best practices with other employers, participated in hiring fairs, and worked with our advisory services and employment providers network to hire more than ten people with disabilities. Recognized for its leadership, Dark Fork not only puts inclusive hiring into practice but also generously shares its experience and offers training to help other tourism employers follow its lead.
The Dordéan Suites of Chester, a family-owned accommodation business in Chester, Nova Scotia, rooted in connection, inclusion, and belonging. They have featured in our Inclusion in Action videos, worked with the advisory services to improve workplace accommodation and recruitment practices, and connected with job seekers through our service provider network. By investing in practical accommodations and creating meaningful employment opportunities, The Dordéan Suites has hired two people with disabilities and shown how even a small tourism business can make inclusion part of its everyday practice.
BC Pavilion Corporation, which operates the Vancouver Convention Centre and BC Place Stadium. Beyond supporting Belong’s Vancouver hiring fair and mobilizing its employer network and taking part in the Inclusion in Action videos, the organization has worked with our Tourism Workplace Accessibility Clinic to improve accessible guest services, develop staff training, and support accessibility at major events, including Taylor Swift concerts and the Invictus Games. By embedding accessibility into major events and using its industry influence to open doors for others, BC Pavilion Corporation is helping advance inclusive employment across tourism’s events sector.
The Malcolm Hotel, a flagship resort hotel in Canmore, Alberta. Since joining Belong, its leadership team has shared inclusive workplace practices at Belong events and workshops, partnered with local accessibility organizations, and mobilized the local hotelier network for accessibility training. With six people with disabilities hired since engaging with Belong, The Malcolm Hotel demonstrates how committed leadership and industry collaboration can turn inclusive employment into meaningful results.
Sleep Inn Regina East, a Regina hotel that has pursued its inclusion journey through Belong—from participating in an employer workshop to taking action at our Regina Inclusive Tourism Hiring Fair, where they hired an individual with a disability. By turning learning into practical action and continuing to build relationships with local community partners, Sleep Inn Regina East shows how employers can grow their confidence, strengthen their practices, and make inclusive hiring part of their journey.
The Drake Hotel, a Toronto hospitality leader that has helped shape Belong as an advisory member, bringing the employer perspective to the project. Their commitment goes beyond participation: the hotel’s HR team participated in Belong workshop content to integrate inclusive employment into its own staff training and development. After joining our Toronto hiring fair, the hotel hired two people with disabilities. The Drake shows how employers can move from shaping the conversation to embedding inclusion in their own practices—and turning commitment into real opportunities.
Congratulations to all eight Employer Impact Champions. Each represents an important example of how inclusive employment can take shape across the tourism sector.