{"id":9830,"date":"2025-07-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.restaurantscanada.org\/menu\/proud-to-serve-spotlight-on-rainbow-registered-hospitality-businesses\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T13:42:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T17:42:23","slug":"proud-to-serve-spotlight-on-rainbow-registered-hospitality-businesses","status":"publish","type":"menu","link":"https:\/\/www.restaurantscanada.org\/fr\/menu\/proud-to-serve-spotlight-on-rainbow-registered-hospitality-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Proud to Serve: Spotlight on Rainbow Registered Hospitality Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IRONWOOD CIDER HOUSE | NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Ironwood Cider House, inclusion isn\u2019t just a statement\u2014it\u2019s a practice rooted in purpose. Nestled in the heart of the Niagara, Ontario wine country, Ironwood has built a reputation not only for its crisp, contemporary ciders but also for creating a space that feels as welcoming as it is vibrant. That inclusive spirit is now backed by action through the business\u2019s Rainbow Registered accreditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always valued community,\u201d says Shannon Daust, Sales Manager at Ironwood. \u201cBut over time, we realized that just believing in inclusion wasn\u2019t enough\u2014it had to become something we actively practiced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community herself, Daust is candid about the shift from passive allyship to intentional change. \u201cWe have queer team members, myself included, and our lived experiences really informed how we approached this. It\u2019s not enough to assume people feel safe\u2014we need to build spaces where that safety is real, and where it\u2019s communicated clearly through our actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From rethinking staff training to refining their event strategy and customer service approach, Ironwood began weaving inclusion into every aspect of its operations. The journey toward becoming Rainbow Registered brought clarity\u2014and a few necessary wake-up calls. \u201cOne of the biggest surprises was seeing where we were unintentionally falling short,\u201d Daust recalls. \u201cThings we thought were standard practice\u2014like checking ID\u2014turned out to have more nuance than we realized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participating in Rainbow Registered\u2019s educational sessions and webinars introduced new ways of thinking, particularly around the guest experience for trans and non-binary patrons. \u201cEven small interactions can have a big impact,\u201d she says. \u201cWe started to realize how even something as routine as asking for ID could feel uncomfortable or invalidating. That was a big shift in perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process led the Ironwood team to enhance its front-of-house training, rethink language use, and develop internal practices that prioritize empathy and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ironwood\u2019s commitment to inclusion shines through in its annual Pride celebration\u2014an event that has quickly become a community favourite. \u201cEvery year, we host a big Pride party at Ironwood to celebrate and uplift the 2SLGBTQI+ community,\u201d Daust says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s event, Amour, takes that commitment further by highlighting queer artistry and culture. Featuring a curated visual arts gallery in partnership with NOTL Contemporary, as well as live music and community activities, Amour is more than a party\u2014it\u2019s a platform. And this year, it\u2019s completely free. \u201cWe want Amour to feel accessible and celebratory, but also intentional,\u201d Daust explains. \u201cWe\u2019re not just throwing a party\u2014we\u2019re creating space for queer joy, for visibility, for connection. That\u2019s what makes it powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internally, Rainbow Registered has changed the way Ironwood approaches its team culture. \u201cIt\u2019s no longer something we aim for\u2014it\u2019s something we live every day,\u201d Daust says. Inclusion is now baked into how staff are trained, how issues are addressed, and how values are modelled from leadership on down. For Daust, that change has been deeply personal. \u201cI\u2019m proud to be a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, and working for a place that genuinely supports us is truly amazing,\u201d she says. \u201cOur owner doesn\u2019t just say the right things\u2014he backs them up with real investment. That makes a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of cultural clarity also strengthens morale. Staff know where the business stands, and what\u2019s expected of them. That consistency builds trust\u2014among employees and with the guests they serve\u2014that extends out into the community. The Ironwood team is currently forming a dedicated committee
focused on building inclusion initiatives beyond the cidery walls.\u201cWe see our events not just as celebrations but as catalysts,\u201d Daust explains. \u201cThey\u2019re opportunities to build connection, raise awareness, and generate real support for the queer community in our region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plans are already underway to expand future events and channel proceeds into 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and initiatives. \u201cWe want to use our platform to amplify queer voices and create something that lasts,\u201d says Daust. \u201cInclusion has to go beyond hospitality. It has to live in how we support
our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Follow Ironwood Cider House:
ironwoodcider.ca<\/a>
IG: @ironwoodcider<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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WHICH CRAFT | GUELPH, ONTARIO<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Inclusion was never an afterthought at Which Craft\u2014it was the starting point. Located in downtown Guelph, this community-minded barbecue and craft beer spot opened its doors with a mission to create a space where everyone feels at home. \u201cI applied to become Rainbow Registered before we even opened,\u201d says owner Michael Woodley. \u201cInclusivity was built into the concept from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That commitment shows up in every detail. From private, fully enclosed stalls in gender-neutral washrooms to the way staff are trained, Which Craft was designed with belonging in mind. \u201cWe had delays getting materials for the washrooms,\u201d Woodley says, \u201cbut it was essential. Everyone should feel
safe and respected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That intention extends to guest interactions. Staff are trained to use gender-neutral language and to ask for pronouns, setting a tone of respect from the moment guests arrive. \u201cWe have a zero-tolerance policy\u2014respect is non-negotiable here,\u201d Woodley adds. \u201cWe\u2019re proud of how many reviews
mention the atmosphere and how safe people feel just being themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Which Craft goes beyond inclusion to elevate and celebrate community, joy, and expression. The venue regularly hosts drag bingo, full-cast drag shows, queer burlesque, and performances by local alt-drag troupe Riot Queer. Touring companies and Pride fundraisers keep the event calendar lively and inclusive. \u201cThese aren\u2019t side projects,\u201d says Woodley. \u201cThey\u2019re at the heart of what we do. Earlier this year, our local drag queen Chimaera offered to put me in drag for my 43rd birthday\u2014and I said yes. I gave all of my
tips from the night to Pride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Which Craft, allyship isn\u2019t performative\u2014it\u2019s built into the business structure and culture. Guests and staff alike know that their identities are not just accepted, but respected and celebrated. Woodley acknowledges that more than half of the Which Craft team identifies as 2SLGBTQI+, and leadership is evolving to reflect that representation. \u201cThough I\u2019m a cisgender white male\u2014which I totally get, boooo\u2014I\u2019m surrounded by an incredible team,\u201d Woodley says. \u201cMy head chef Kirsten is part of the community, and she\u2019ll be joining me as a business partner soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commitment doesn\u2019t end inside the restaurant. The team actively supports vulnerable communities through Pride fundraisers and uses social platforms to amplify queer voices and urgent causes. As a Rainbow Registered business, it shows that the standard for hospitality isn\u2019t just welcoming everyone\u2014it\u2019s making sure everyone feels they belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWe make sure everyone knows they\u2019re safe, heard and loved for who they are,\u201d says Woodley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Follow Which Craft:
whichcraftguelph.ca<\/a>
IG: @which_craft_guelph<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9839,"template":"","menu_author":[471],"menu-category":[499],"menu-tag":[497,509,481],"class_list":["post-9830","menu","type-menu","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","menu_author-menu-magazine","menu-category-community","menu-tag-human-resources","menu-tag-lgbtqia2s","menu-tag-spotlight"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nProud to Serve: Spotlight on Rainbow Registered Hospitality Businesses - Restaurants Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantscanada.org\/menu\/proud-to-serve-spotlight-on-rainbow-registered-hospitality-businesses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Proud to Serve: Spotlight on Rainbow Registered Hospitality Businesses - 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