Rainbow Registered Promotion

Every June, the 2SLGBTQI+ community come together to celebrate the 2SLGBTQI+ community around the world and at home. The Tourism Kamloops team is excited to support our key stakeholders and community partners and help them to become Rainbow Registered. 

The Tourism Kamloops team will cover 50% of the cost to be officially certified as Rainbow Registered, administered by Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC). Offer valid from May 1 – June 30, 2023. In Kamloops, the community celebrates our local 2SLGBTQI+ every August. Show the queer community that your business is inclusive and take advantage of this offer.

What is Rainbow Registered? 

Rainbow Registered is the only national accreditation program for 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive organizations in Canada. It is administered by Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC).  

Developed in partnership with Tourism HR Canada, and with funding support from the Government of Canada, Rainbow Registered assesses organizations on their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts regarding the 2SLGBTQI+ community and helps determine their market-readiness to welcome and support 2SLGBTQI+ customers, staff, and other stakeholders.

Accredited businesses can associate themselves with the prestigious Rainbow Registered mark, gain membership with the CGLCC, and receive access to a number of program benefits, including monthly workshops and networking calls, 15+ resource guides, a listing on the Rainbow Registered consumer website, marketing support, discounted or free admission to other CGLCC programming and events, and more. 

Why is it important to become Rainbow Registered? 

When choosing where to travel, the top factor influencing destination selection for 2SLGBTQI+ tourists is safety. Considering 2SLGBTQI+ travellers have higher rates of passport ownership, take more trips and spend seven times more on average at their destination.

Knowing that you will be embraced for your true self when travelling is an important consideration for this demographic of travellers, and Rainbow Registered is an important tool to help a business demonstrate its commitment to inclusion for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. Rainbow Registered goes beyond putting a pride flag in the window; businesses must walk the walk and not just talk the talk and demonstrate that they are truly inclusive and ready to welcome 2SLGBTQI+ customers and employees.

What does this process entail?

CGLCC website, requires a business to create a CGLCC account, enter personal and organization information, and pay the registration fee. An assessor will then schedule an initial phone call (usually 30 to 60 mins) with the business to learn more about their organization and 2SLGBTQI+ DEI efforts.  

They will then ask the business to compile required documentation, and schedule a follow-up call with the assessor to ask clarifying questions. 

From there, the assessor will compile an assessment report for the business, with the final decision of accreditation sent to the business by the Rainbow Registered program manager once reviewed and finalized. 

What is the time commitment?

The application process takes roughly ten minutes to complete, while the assessment process requires roughly two hours of conversations with your Rainbow Registered assessor and any additional time to compile documentation and evidence of your policies, practices, training, DEI efforts and previous work with the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

The number of individuals in an organization who will be required to talk with their Rainbow Registered assessor will be dependent on the size of the organization.

How does a business advertise that they are Rainbow Registered?

All Rainbow Registered businesses receive a listing on the Rainbow Registered and Arc-en-ciel Officiel consumer websites (rainbowregistered.ca / arcencielofficiel.ca) and we undertake various marketing, event and social media activities throughout the year to bring attention to accredited businesses.

For the businesses themselves, it is common to feature the Rainbow Registered logo on their website, put up the Rainbow Registered decal in the front window of any physical office location, and highlight their accreditation in their own social media and marketing activities. A number of businesses have even done press releases about their accreditation.

Why is Pride Month Celebrated in June?

Pride Month, celebrated every June, is a time when the 2SLGBTQI+ community comes together to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for 2SLGBTQI+  rights.

The Stonewall riots began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City. At the time, police raids on gay bars were common, but this time, the patrons fought back. Over the course of several days, the community protested and rioted against the police harassment and discrimination they had long endured.

The Stonewall riots marked a turning point in the 2SLGBTQI+  rights movement. They inspired more 2SLGBTQI+ people to come out and demand equal treatment under the law. In the years that followed, the 2SLGBTQI+ community organized and fought for their rights, leading to major advancements in 2SLGBTQI+ rights and visibility.