Seven Edmonton businesses have received Rainbow Registered accreditation, which recognises policies and practices intended to support safe spaces for queer customers and employees. The City of Edmonton is helping local businesses pursue the designation through its Beyond Belonging initiative, including covering the costs of applications and annual membership for those approved.

The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) runs Rainbow Registered. Businesses seeking accreditation go through an assessment of their policies, practices, staff training, leadership and the experience they provide to customers and employees. The designation is intended to show how a business supports safety and inclusion, rather than serving only as a sign in its window.

“Any business that has that accreditation has demonstrated what they’re actually doing through policies, through practices, through their training, their leadership, and the experience that they’re providing to customers and employees,” said Connor McKiggan, corporate business development manager with Rainbow Registered.

The city partnered with the program to make accreditation more accessible to Edmonton businesses. Under the initiative, businesses can apply free of charge. After an appointed assessor approves an application, the city also pays the annual Rainbow Registered membership fee.

“We really heard so much from folks in developing the plan, the role that businesses play in helping them feel safe and included in our city, and Rainbow Registered is a program that helps people do that and helps people know what are safe places for them to go,” said Landon Turlock, a social planner with the city.

One of the seven accredited businesses is Delavoye Chocolate Maker, located on 124 Street. Owner Antoine Lavoie said the accreditation helped the business review its internal policies and make changes to support both staff and visitors.

“As a queer business owner, it was really important to make sure that our internal policies were in line with creating a safe space,” Lavoie said. “This accreditation basically helped us tweak everything to make sure that not only our employees, but our visitors are feeling safe at Delavoye.”

Lavoie said queer people travelling often look for places where they will be safe and respected. He told CTV News Edmonton that welcoming visitors can also benefit cities through tourism. “The more safe they are, the more these individuals will come to those cities… We’ll definitely see an influx of tourists from the community,” he said.

Campio Brewing Co. is among nearly a dozen Edmonton businesses that have applied for accreditation. Server Cody Kotyk said the designation would help the brewery demonstrate its support for everyone in the community. He recalled management asking him about his pronouns and said Campio already follows many of the practices in the program’s criteria.

The brewery’s downtown location also holds a monthly charity drag brunch. Proceeds go to Edmonton’s longest-running LGBTQ2S+ non-profit, the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose.

“It’s really important to our community to show that there is a safe space for everyone,” Kotyk said. He said customers want to support businesses that share those values: “As a local Edmontonian myself, I want to know that my money is going to good people, to good businesses.” He added, “It’s easy to put up a sticker. It’s a lot harder to talk the talk and walk the walk.”

McKiggan said visible and practical signs of inclusion matter to queer consumers. “Knowing that businesses in their communities are actively saying ‘you’re welcome in our space,’ really matters, and we’re hoping that Rainbow Registered will give business the practical framework to put this in action.”

Rainbow Registered launched in 2021, and more than 500 businesses across Canada have since earned the designation. A list of registered businesses is available online. The report included files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.