🌈🏆 I won! I won! I won! 🏆🌈
🏳️🌈 I was a Finalist for the LGBQT+ Business Advocate of the Year Award at Canada’s LGBQT+ Chamber of Commerce 🏳️🌈 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Friday was the Awards Black and White Ball and grand Gala! What an event ... what a pride & joy!
I’ve won many awards in the last five years, however this one was so close to my heart as it was from my LGBTQ2S+ family and community. I am so so so honoured and inspired to double down and do more! We’ve made progress but there is a lot to do still! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💪💪💪💪
After a two-year break, the Gala was back – it was my first time attending and I was overwhelmed with how incredible it feels to spend an evening with over hundreds of guests at this fabulous Black & White Ball... all dressed up too!
There were 7 Awards and my category was the second to last one - so I was at the edge of my seat for hours!
My +1 guest was my daughter Nicki. She’s 23 now and has been by my side, at Toronto Pride since she was 2 years old. She was a key driver for me to use my first start up to rally all the retailers in Canada to celebrate diversity with our first ever "Love is Love" Summer Pride event across the country - and support Rainbow Railroad Charity. My partner, Melanie Webb was at home watching the online streaming as were many of my team members in Mexico and Ecuador and my mommy and Rick in Quebec.
It was an incredible evening, connecting with wonderful supporters and celebrating LGBT E N T R E P R E N E U R S!
Many of the sponsors are close to my heart, so it was wonderful to connect.
Also, the fabulous Mandy Rennehan from FreshCo stirred things up and hold every accountable! Mandy - It was so nice to see you in person finally! 🙏💕💪
Here’s part of my acceptance speech: “... I’m so honoured and grateful... for me, this is just the beginning ... I’m committed to being loud and proud and to use my business to drive change towards acceptance, diversity, tolerance and love. We still have so much work to do!”
Feel free to watch the video and pics.
I hope you will join me in next summer, with The Better Chocolate to drive support across Retailers in Canada with the launch of an amazing promotion to celebrate diversity and proudly display the Pride colours in store and give back to our community. Stay tuned!
CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS! and BDC!
By, Suzie Yorke
CEO and Co-Founder