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.
2025 Impact
24 Employer champions
70 Participating local workplaces
449 Actions collectively completed
5,933 Full-time equivalent 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 a set timeframe.
3: Act
Employers receive tailored support, resources, and training to implement specific actions to advance inclusion in their workplaces.
4: Celebrate!
We recognize participating employers as Bronze, Silver, or Gold Workplace Inclusion Champions.
2025 Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Champions
2025 Gold Workplace Inclusion Champions
Employers leading in inclusion and establishing a framework for sustainable change. Gold Inclusion Champions completed at least 14 of 16 actions in 2025.
artsPlace
Banff and Lake Louise Tourism
Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit
Banff Lodging Co.
Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Emerald Lake Lodge, Post Hotel)
Fairmont Banff Springs
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Mount Norquay
Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
Rimrock Banff
SkiBig3
2025 Silver Workplace Inclusion Champions
Employers fostering a supportive, inclusive environment for all employees. Silver Champions completed at least 10 of 16 actions in 2025.
Arctos & Bird (Juniper Hotel & Bistro, Wild Flour Bakery)
Basecamp Resorts
Fuji Starlight Express (Banff Park Lodge, Bow View Lodge, Peaks Hotel & Suites)
Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley
HSS Design Build
Murrieta's Mountain Bar & Grill
Roam Transit
Town of Canmore
2025 Bronze Workplace Inclusion Champions
Employers taking foundational actions to create a more inclusive workplace. Bronze Champions completed the 5 minimum required actions.
Ashton Construction Services
Banff Canmore Foundation
Bow Valley Adult Learning Centre (Banff)
HI Banff
Tourism Canmore Kananaskis
“The Workplace Inclusion Charter not only allows our company to be held accountable to ensuring certain minimum inclusion standards are met, but also opens the door to many wonderful peer groups throughout the valley.
Access to this network of like-minded individuals helps us brainstorm and troubleshoot how we can make sustainable changes to better incorporate DEI practices into our day-to-day operations.”
— Mandy Utton, Ashton Construction Services (2023, 2024, 2025 Bronze Workplace Inclusion Champion)
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 (2023, 2024, 2025 Silver Workplace Inclusion Champion')
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.
“Being apart of the Workplace Inclusion Charter not only help companies implement inclusive workplace initiatives, but it also connects local businesses together to collaborate and share common challenges we face to create a stronger workplace environment.
It sets the precedent to other businesses for the importance and impact of having inclusive practices in your business.”
— Talia Kassner, Arctos & Bird (2023, 2024, 2025 Silver Workplace Inclusion Champion, 2022 Gold Champion)
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 (2024, 2025 Bronze Workplace Inclusion Champion)
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 improve your reputation, and signal to job seekers, customers, and the community that your organization is serious about valuing diversity.
Benefits and Impacts
Individual impacts:
As a result of participating in the 2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter:
96% agreed or strongly agreed that are more aware of workplace inclusion practices
92% reported a greater understanding of the benefits of diversity and inclusion
92% reported more confidence in addressing inclusion challenges
96% felt better equipped to advocate for inclusion within their organization.
96% would recommend the Workplace Inclusion Charter to a colleague
Workplace Impacts:
As a result of participating in the 2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter:
88% of participating workplaces have implemented new or improved inclusion practices or policies
96% participating workplaces reported being better connected to community resources to support their team members
87% of participating workplaces reported having a more inclusive and welcoming workplace culture
78% agreed or strongly agreed they have benefited from mentorship or networking opportunities
50% participating workplaces reported seeing improvements in employee morale or retention
96% participating workplaces agreed or strongly agreed they are better prepared to sustain and grow inclusion efforts in the future
“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 (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Gold Workplace Inclusion Champion)
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
Workplace Inclusion Charter Commitments
COMING SOON: We will announce the 2026 Workplace Inclusion Charter commitments in summer 2026.
How do we decide on the commitments?
We listen to the needs of local employees to understand what would make a more inclusive workplaces.
We convene a group of subject matter experts, industry associations, and supporting agencies to create a shortlist of commitments that would create meaningful impact for local employees.
We work together with local employers to decide which commitments would be practical to implement, ambitious but realistic, and impactful for their team members.
In 2025, there were four types of commitments.
Communication
Community Connection
Policy or Procedure
Training
How employers can join the 2026 Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter
Employers can sign on to the 2026 Workplace Inclusion Charter from summer 2026.
Step One: Sign the Declaration of Commitment to Workplace Inclusion.
The first step to joining the Charter is a Declaration of Commitment to Workplace Inclsuon.
We need to see two signatures from your workplace - one senior leader (C-suite, executive, senior management etc.), and one operational representative (example: Human Resources team member).
This is to make sure your whole organization has buy-in, which will make the program more impactful and meaningful.
Step Two: Commit and Act
We will send you an official Welcome Email to confirm your organization is part of the Workplace Inclusion Charter.
You will gain access to the following:
WIC Toolkit: A list of practical actions your organization can take to create a more inclusive workplace. The more actions you complete by the deadline, the higher your recognition as a Workplace Inclusion Champion. All participating employers must complete the minimum 5 required foundational 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.com 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 Charter deadline.
Step Three: Evaluate and Celebrate
Wfter the Charter deadline, we will evaluate participating employers.
We will award Bronze, Silver, and Gold Champions depending on how many actions you complete.
To celebrate your participation in the WIC, we will celebrate your achievements in media, with certificates, and invite you to an Awards Ceremony.
Acknowledgements
2025 Co-Creators:
Bow Valley Immigration Partnership
Supporters:
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 2025, 70 workplaces participated in the Bow Valley WIC, supporting close to 6,000 full-time local employees.
Sign up to learn more about the 2026 Workplace Inclusion Charter
Find out if the Workplace Inclusion Charter program is a good fit for your organization.