Ontario resort is rewriting its entire rule book for LGBTQ2S+ safety

By Sarah Cooke, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Bay Nipissing

Inclusivity is more than just a rainbow sticker in a window — it’s a complete dismantling and reconstruction of how a business operates to create a system of safety.

For Kate Hood, human resources manager at The Northridge Inn & Resort, achieving certification through the Rainbow Registered program, a national accreditation hosted by the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC), seemed like a natural evolution of the resort’s internal culture.

Supported by a grant from FedNor, the program requires businesses to prove their commitment to LGBTQ2S+ safety through four rigorous “pillars” of evidence: policies, training, community involvement and culture.

“It is a whole pillar of evidence and submissions,” Hood said, noting the process was much more than a formality. “It specifically says this is not just a sticker for your window to say people are welcome. They work with you to fill out all of this information.”

The certification process, according to Hood, prompted a total rewrite of the resort’s employee handbook to meet both the Employment Standards Act and the specific inclusive language requirements of the CQCC.

It also involved a deep dive into staff training.

While some training was already mandatory under Ontario law, Hood said, the resort’s leadership team, including the operations manager and executive chef, engaged in new modules covering the importance of pronouns and the nuances of queer-specific tourism.

The commitment extends to the resort’s supply chain and wedding services. Hood has updated contracts to replace “bride and groom” with “the couple” and renamed the “bridal suite” to the “getting ready suite.” She also explicitly vets the resort’s vendor list, asking potential partners if they are queer-friendly.

“If the answer is no, which it has been in some cases with officiants, I am explicit,” Hood said. “I can’t in good conscience have you representing our business.”

The initiative is part of a broader regional shift led by Explorers’ Edge (RTO12). James Murphy, executive director of Explorers’ Edge, noted the registry is a vital tool for the local visitor economy.

“Rainbow Registered is important because it moves inclusion from intention into action,” Murphy said. “For tourism businesses and destinations, it provides a clear framework to help ensure LGBTQ2S+ visitors, workers, and community members feel genuinely welcomed, respected, and safe.”

Murphy confirmed that Explorers’ Edge is currently in the final stages of becoming Rainbow Registered.

“That process has reinforced how important it is to do this work with intention, accountability and care,” he added. “This is part of our broader commitment to building a more inclusive and responsible visitor economy across the region — one where everyone can see themselves reflected and feel they belong.”

For Hood, who now serves as a board member for Explorers’ Edge, the work is ultimately about the “system of safety” created for the youth they employ.

“I want to be someone’s first-time employer and show them what it means to be respected at work and honoured,” she said. “We can all be part of a safe system and we have a responsibility to build one.”

editor