Belong: Inclusive Tourism Workplaces Conference
Belong: Inclusive Tourism Workplaces Conference
Where Inclusion Meets Action.
Discover how inclusivity can transform your tourism business at the Belong: Inclusive Tourism Workplaces Conference, taking place March 10 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Toronto.
This dynamic, one-day event is designed to empower tourism employers with the tools, insights, and strategies to create accessible workplaces that attract and retain diverse talent.
Conference Highlights
- Inspiring Speakers: Hear from disability advocates, HR experts, service providers, and leading tourism employers who are championing inclusivity in the industry.
- Practical Strategies: Learn actionable ideas to make your workplace accessible and foster a culture of inclusion.
- Collaborative Networking: Connect with local service providers and like-minded professionals passionate about creating workplaces where everyone belongs and thrives.
Tourism HR Canada thanks the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario for its support of this conference:
Location
Holiday Inn Downtown Toronto
30 Carlton St., Toronto, ON M5B 2E9
Date
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
8:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Agenda
08:00 AM
09:00 AM
Registration and Welcome Breakfast
09:00 AM
09:15 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Philip Mondor
President and CEO, Tourism HR Canada
09:15 AM
10:15 AM
PANEL DISCUSSION
Breaking Barriers: Accessible Adventure is Possible
Tourism leaders and advocates to promote accessible tourism experiences share how they are proactively dismantling accessibility barriers. Gain essential insights to create seamless, empowering experiences, transform your organization, and tap into a thriving market.
Moderator:
Jasmine Qi
Director, Workforce Inclusion, Tourism HR Canada
Panellists:
Moe Alameddine
Owner, Dark Fork Restaurant
Alyson Robb
VP, Strategy & External Relations, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
Brenda MacDonald Lona
Accessibility Advocate
Vincenza Ronaldi (virtual)
President and CEO, Destination Ontario
Bruno Ronfard
Directeur exécutif, Kéroul
10:15 AM
10:45 AM
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Stephanie Cadieux (virtual)
Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer
10:45 AM
11:00 AM
Coffee Break
11:00 AM
11:45 AM
WORKSHOP
Empowering Indigenous People with Disabilities: Creating Inclusive Pathways in Tourism
This workshop explores the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous people with disabilities, especially in the tourism sector. Through engaging discussions, participants will learn about the intersectionality of culture, disability, and employment, and how tourism businesses can create more inclusive environments. Experts and community leaders will share strategies for breaking down barriers, improving accessibility, and fostering meaningful employment opportunities by celebrating the rich contributions of Indigenous people with disabilities in shaping the future of tourism.
Presenters:
Julia McEathron
National Coordinator, Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC)
Kelly Fiddler
Co-Chair, Indigenous Destinations Saskatchewan; Board of Directors, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
11:45 AM
12:30 PM
FIRESIDE CHAT Good Jobs Don't Start at the Job Posting
Most tourism businesses are stuck in a cycle of high-turnover hiring.
Join Aaron Binder from the Better Way Alliance and Stephanie Soulis from Little Mushroom Catering for a candid fireside chat on how to break that cycle by rethinking your talent pipeline.
We’re moving beyond “Indeed” to share real-world success stories – from partnering with the Grand Valley Institute for inmate work placements to utilizing specialized employment services like March of Dimes. We’ll unpack the tangible steps that build a resilient workforce, including interview designs that reduce bias and training partnerships with the Ontario Disability Employment Network. You’ll leave with actionable insights on how to move from a revolving door of staff to a “Good Jobs” culture where inclusive hiring is the foundation, not an afterthought.
Presenters:
Aaron Binder
Director, Better Way Alliance; CEO, Segway Ontario and Go Tours Canada
Stephanie Soulis
Founder & CEO, Little Mushroom Catering & Dining Lounge
12:30 PM
13:30 PM
Lunch
13:30 PM
14:30 PM
PANEL DISCUSSION
Inclusive Hiring, Stronger Tourism: Business Leaders on the Power of Disability Inclusion
This panel brings together business and HR leaders from across the tourism sector, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience to explore how inclusive hiring—particularly the inclusion of people with disabilities—strengthens workplaces and drives long-term business success. Speakers will share practical insights on expanding talent pipelines, improving retention, enhancing customer experience, and building more resilient organizations. Through real-world examples, the discussion will highlight why accessible and inclusive employment practices are not only the right thing to do, but a strategic advantage for tourism employers.
Moderator:
Jamie Millar-Dixon
Principal Consultant, MacLeod Silver HR Business Partners
Panellists:
Jennifer Riddley
Disability Employment Inclusion Specialist, ODEN
Martin Sisler
HR Project & Policy Administrator, Toronto Zoo
Allison Sharpe
Director of Operations, Canadian Ski Council
Fabienne Presentey
Inclusive Employment Specialist, Giant Steps
Derek Selwood
Staff, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel
Sarah Tabassum
People & Culture Manager, Metro Toronto Convention Centre
14:30 PM
15:15 PM
INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
Building the New Inclusive Economy: Practical Employment Practices that Work
This interactive workshop showcases the employment practices shaping a more inclusive tourism workforce. Participants will explore practical strategies and examine how these show up in real workplace scenarios. To ground these practices in lived experience, the session features a joint presentation by an inclusive employer and an employee with a disability from the same organization. Together, they will share firsthand insights on what effective inclusion looks like day to day, highlighting innovative approaches that are strengthening the future of tourism employment.
Presenters:
Leni Goggins
Director of Social Economy and Other Cool Stuff, Inclusion Power River
More Presenters to Come
15:15 PM
15:30 PM
Conference Wrap-Up
Registration Form
Per the funding agreement, ESDC requires participating employers to provide the following information as a condition for your participation in the Belong project to:
- Measure and evaluate the results and success of the project in achieving its objective
- Ensure accountability by reporting results annually to Parliament and the Canadian public.
All information collected is managed in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, and you have the right to access it under these laws.
This event is free of charge, thanks to generous funding from the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
