Paige Harlock's Contact Details

Paige Harlock's Company Details

Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce

Toronto, ON, US • 10 - 19 Employees
Non-Profit

We often get the question: why do you exist? There are business chambers at the regional and national level, and corporations' support for LGBT+ initiatives is on the rise.It's easy to give a by-the-numbers response. Canada is home to over 28,000 LGBT+-owned businesses. These businesses generate over $22 billion in economic activity and employ over 435,000 Canadians. In other words, LGBT+ business is big business.However, LGBT+ entrepreneurs still face barriers. Nearly half have hidden who they were in business dealings to avoid losing opportunities, and more than a third have lost opportunities due to being LGBT+.There is a growing number of organizations looking to change these stats – one connection at a time. A community of LGBT+ businesses, government liaisons and even diverse procurement practices are helping tip the scales. CGLCC is a coalition of all of these positive forces advocating for change to make a more inclusive Canadian economy possible.We do this by bringing people together, and highlighting the right resources for LGBT+ entrepreneurs to be even more successful.So, the answer is: we exist because LGBT+ entrepreneurs already have a huge impact on the Canadian economy, with barriers. Let's see what kind of thriving and inclusive Canada is possible when we remove them.