Understanding Non-Binary Identities in the Workplace - A Webinar for Bow Valley Businesses
Build your team's confidence around non-binary inclusion, the language, the policies, and the mindset for a tourism-facing workplace in Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise. A practical 60-minute webinar from BVPN.
Your employees and guests include people who identify as non-binary. In peak tourism season, when your team is stretched and every guest interaction matters, confidence around non-binary inclusion is not optional, it is operational.
This webinar gives Bow Valley tourism and hospitality teams practical, respectful tools: the right language, clear policies, and the mindset to create genuinely welcoming experiences for everyone walking through your door. Designed for busy frontline and management teams, no prior DEI experience required.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Frontline team leaders and supervisors in hotels, restaurants, and attractions
HR managers updating people policies or onboarding processes
Tour operators and outdoor recreation companies managing diverse guest groups
Any Bow Valley employer who wants their team to feel genuinely confident, when it matters
See who is already a BVPN member → pridenetwork.ca/our-members
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Plain-language definitions: non-binary, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, and related terms, without jargon
How to use gender-neutral language in guest interactions, uniform policies, and internal communications
Common mistakes that create friction for non-binary employees and guests, and how to avoid them
Practical policy updates that make a real difference without requiring a full HR overhaul
How BVPN's Inclusive Workplaces framework supports non-binary inclusion, and what members are doing in practice
Resources available to Bow Valley employers who want to go further after this session
Read BVPN's insights on inclusive workplaces in the Bow Valley → pridenetwork.ca/inclusive-workplaces
James Demers
Coordinator, Bow Valley Pride Network
James Demers is the coordinator of the Bow Valley Pride Network, where he works directly with businesses and organizations across Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise to strengthen their inclusion practices. With a grounded understanding of the operational realities facing tourism and hospitality employers, James brings both the research context and the practical perspective that turns regional data into organizational action. He manages BVPN's membership relationships, training programs, and employer engagement across the Bow Valley.
WHY THIS MATTERS IN THE BOW VALLEY
Of all the findings in the 2024 Bow Valley Inclusion Project, the most actionable is also the most specific. While 86% of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees overall feel respected and comfortable in their workplace, only 52% of transgender and non-binary respondents say the same. That 34-point gap is not explained by interpersonal hostility or deliberate exclusion. It is explained by policy and systems failures: gendered facilities that were never updated, pronoun practices that depend on individual supervisor goodwill rather than organizational policy, and documentation procedures (legal name use on forms, ID handling, name tags) that were designed for a binary world.
In a region where non-binary workers are part of the workforce across every sector, from hotel front desks to outdoor guiding companies to restaurant kitchens, this gap is not a niche problem. It is a retention problem, a team culture problem, and a guest experience problem. A non-binary employee who does not feel comfortable at work does not perform at their best, does not stay for a second season, and does not recommend the employer to their network.
FAQ
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Yes. This webinar is free. It is open to BVPN members and non-members.
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Yes. All registered participants will receive a recording link within 48 hours of the session. The recording will be available for 90 days.
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Yes. Language is one layer of non-binary inclusion, the session also covers policies, physical spaces, hiring practices, and how to handle unexpected situations confidently. Most teams find there are meaningful gaps even when basic respectful language is already in use.
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BVPN members have access to ongoing support from our coordinator. If you are not yet a member, this session is a great first step.
See our training page at pridenetwork.ca/workplace-training for additional resources. -
Absolutely. This session is designed as an entry point for any Bow Valley employer curious about local inclusion data and what it means for their organization. You do not need prior DEI experience or knowledge of BVPN to attend.
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BVPN membership is a locally grounded inclusion standard for Bow Valley businesses, built around 9 Inclusion Commitments.
This webinar presents the data that informs those commitments. Many organizations attend this session as a first step before learning more about membership.
Find out more at pridenetwork.ca/join-the-network.
The Bow Valley Pride Network (BVPN) is the leading inclusion resource for businesses and organizations in Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, and the broader Bow Valley. BVPN supports employers in building workplaces where every employee and visitor feels safe, respected, and valued, through practical training, community-led standards, membership certification, and regional research. BVPN is uniquely built for the realities of a tourism-driven mountain economy: seasonal workforces, international visitors, and the fast-paced demands of hospitality operations. Our 9 Inclusion Commitments provide a practical, achievable standard for organizations at every stage of their inclusion journey.
Learn about BVPN membership → pridenetwork.ca/join-the-network
Subscribe to BVPN's newsletter → pridenetwork.ca/newsletter
Proudly supported by,
This event is made possible through the generous support of the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation, and the Banff Canmore Foundation.