Workplace Inclusion Charter (WIC)

The Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter (WIC) is a locally-driven, no-cost toolkit and recognition program supporting employers to create more inclusive workplaces in the Bow Valley. 

2024 Impact

26 Employer champions

70 Participating workplaces

834 Actions completed

5,933 Employees positively impacted

How The WIC Works:

1: Co-Design

Industry associations, service providers, community organizations and employers come together to design the Workplace Inclusion Charter.

2: Commit

Employers sign the Workplace Inclusion Charter Declaration, pledging to take meaningful action on workplace inclusion within 6-12 months.

Click here to see the 2025 Commitments.

3: Act

Employers receive tailored support, resources, and training to implement specific actions to advance inclusion in their workplaces. The deadline to complete commitments this year is December 1st, 2025.

4: Celebrate!

We recognize participating employers as Bronze, Silver, or Gold Workplace Inclusion Champions.

“Becoming a member is a no-brainer to anyone looking to promote inclusive and equitable practices within their business.”

— Mandy Utton, Ashton Construction Services

Who Can Join the WIC?

  • Any employer with workplaces in Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore, Kananaskis, and west Municipal District of Bighorn can participate in this free program.

  • We encourage businesses, non-profits, and government organizations of all sizes to join the program and take these practical steps to build more inclusive workplaces.

“The Workplace Inclusion Charter program provided us with practical strategies to enhance inclusion in our workplace. We especially appreciated the plain language course, which improved our communication across the team.

The program's commitments and resources helped us create a more welcoming and supportive environment, and we encourage other organizations to take part.

— Gabrielle Myre, Basecamp Resorts

What It Means To Be A Workplace Inclusion Champion

Case Study: The Rimrock Banff

The Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff was one of the first employers to sign on to the Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter in 2017.

Their diverse team reaped the benefits as a Gold Level Workplace Inclusion Champion.

WATCH: The Rimrock Banff’s Karli Fleury (Director of Human Resources, CPHR, PCP) shares her experience of being a signatory to the Workplace Inclusion Charter and the benefits for her organization.

What the WIC focuses on:

  • Increasing employer intercultural competency

  • Inclusive hiring, onboarding, and retention practices

  • More equitable workplace policies and practices

  • Leadership commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Connecting employers with local community support and services

"A pillar or foundation to inclusivity is support, and every step of the way I felt I had the resources I needed from both BVIP, their partners, and my management to achieve our goals."

— Jimmy Ugray, HI Banff Alpine Centre

Why Join The WIC?

Productivity

Research indicates that diverse teams outperform homogeneous teams, provided inclusion is valued and protected. Your diverse colleagues have many skills and talents. Employing an inclusion lens will help identify and tap into these gifts.

Retention

Whatever the reasons employees leave their roles, our consultation indicates these are often not shared with employers. In addition to promoting career development and morale, policies in this Charter empower team members to bring forward and resolve concerns.

Customer Experience

Developing cultural competency helps your colleagues perform better together. It also allow your team to better serve visitors from around the world. The Charter promotes free skill development opportunities proven to improve cross-cultural communication skills.

Morale

The Charter represents an opportunity to clearly declare that your diverse colleagues are highly valued and lays out simple changes to promote a sense of belonging for all.

Wellness

Newcomers and minorities face many challenges and barriers to accessing community support services, as well as health and safety information. Charter commitments help your team members access community supports so they can thrive in their community.

Recognition

Participating employers receive Workplace Inclusion Champion certificates of recognition, and media attention. These tools signal to job seekers, customers, and the community that your organization is serious about valuing diversity.

“The Workplace Inclusion Charter program has been a game-changer for our organization. It not only provided us with the tools and resources to foster a truly inclusive culture but also inspired meaningful change from within.

Employees feel more valued, connected, and empowered at work and in their housing. We highly recommend this program to any organization looking to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.”

— Robyn Fisher, Banff Lodging Company

Why Workplace Inclusion Matters:

Diverse and inclusive workplaces lead to:

  • Increased employee engagement and retention

  • Improved customer service and business performance

  • More creativity and problem-solving from different perspectives

  • Stronger community connections and increased sense of belonging

Congratulations to the 2024 Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Champions!

2024 Gold Workplace Inclusion Champions

  • Banff Lodging Company

  • Buffalo Mountain Lodge

  • Emerald Lake Lodge

  • Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

  • Mt. Norquay Resort

  • Ski Big 3

  • The Fat Ox of Banff

  • YWCA Banff

2024 Silver Workplace Inclusion Champions

  • Arctos & Bird Management

  • Banff and Lake Louise Tourism

  • Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit

  • Basecamp Resorts

  • Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley

  • Bow View Lodge

  • Frankie D's Donuts

  • Juniper Hotel & Bistro

  • Municipal District of Bighorn

  • Peaks Hotel & Suites

  • Scale Naturally Inc.

  • The Rimrock Banff

  • Wildflour Bakery

2024 Bronze Workplace Inclusion Champions

  • artsPlace

  • Ashton Construction Services

  • Banff Canmore Foundation

  • e=mc² The Centre for Business Excellence

  • Fairmont Banff Springs

  • HI Banff Alpine Centre

  • Lake Louise Inn

  • The Alpine Club of Canada

  • Tourism Canmore Kananaskis

2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter Commitments

Industry associations, service providers, community organizations and employers have come together to co-create each of these commitments.

Each commitment is designed to be practical, realistic, and impactful.

In 2025, there are 4 types of commitments employers can complete:

  • Communication

  • Community Connection

  • Policy or Procedure

  • Training

Join the 2025 Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter

Step One: Sign the Declaration of Commitment to Workplace Inclusion.

The first step to joining the program is a Declaration.

We need to see two signatures from your workplace - one senior leader (C-suite, executive, senior management etc.), and one operational representative (eg: Human Resources team member).

This is to make sure your whole organization has buy-in, which will make the program more impactful and meaningful.

Employers can sign on to the 2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter between April 1st, 2025 and October 1st, 2025.

Deadline: Email your signed Declaration to bvip@banff.ca by October 1st, 2025.

Once we receive your signed Declaration, you will have 30 days to complete Commitment 01: Announce your commitment to workplace inclusion and establish a plan for accountability and transparency. Click here for instructions, details, key dates, resources, and more.

Step Two: Commit and Act

We will send you an official Welcome Email to confirm your organization is part of the 2025 WIC program.

You will gain access to the following:

  • 2025 WIC Toolkit: A list of practical actions your organization can take to create a more inclusive workplace. The more actions you complete by December 1st, the higher your recognition as a Workplace Inclusion Champion. All participating employers must complete the minimum 5 required Bronze commitments.

  • Resources: You’ll be the first to know about training opportunities, free resources, and more.

  • Community: You’re not alone! Stay up-to-date with our community of peer mentors. We use an online platform called Basecamp to exchange questions, ideas, and resources. Connect with other local employers working to advance inclusion, just like you.

Complete as many commitments as you can by December 1st, 2025.

Step Three: Evaluate and Celebrate

In December 2025, we will evaluate participating employers to see how many actions you successfully completed.

Workplace Inclusion Champion Tiers:

  • Bronze: Complete all 5 required Bronze foundational commitments.

  • Silver: Complete Bronze requirements, plus 5 additional commitments (10 completed actions).

  • Gold: Complete Bronze requirements, plus 9 additional requirements (14 completed actions).

To celebrate your participation in the 2025 WIC, we will celebrate your achievements in media, with certificates, and invite you to an Awards Ceremony in early 2026.

Acknowledgements

About the Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter

Increasingly, businesses are recognizing that inclusive practices improve innovation, retention, and productivity. Research by Deloitte, McKinsey, and more all point to the same conclusion: diverse and inclusive businesses perform better.

In 2017, Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (BVIP) pioneered the Workplace Inclusion Charter (WIC). We were the first community to launch this type of program, in partnership with community agencies and employers.

Our initial goal was to connect and support employers with local services to create more inclusive workplaces for foreign-born residents.

Following the success of the first program, the WIC has since grown and expanded to consider other dimensions of diversity. In 2024, 70 workplaces participated in the Bow Valley WIC, supporting close to 6,000 full-time local employees.

Not ready to join yet?

Find out if the Workplace Inclusion Charter program is a good fit for your organization.