LCBO champions inclusion: Empowering Ontarians with disabilities
Inclusion at LCBO isn’t just a program – it’s embedded into our everyday culture. As we recognize the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, we’re proud to share the story of Erica, a Customer Service Representative at our Summerhill store in Toronto.
Erica joined LCBO in the summer of 2025 through the We Belong Program, which supports the hiring of individuals with disabilities in our stores and warehouses. She applied through one of our partners in the Ready, Willing & Able program, a federal initiative facilitated by Community Living Ontario.
“It was a great chance to gain hands-on experience and show that I could deliver great customer service and stay reliable under pressure,” said Erica. “My positive performance led to an invitation to return for the busy holiday season. That really showed me the value I was bringing to the team.”
Stories like Erica’s are at the heart of the We Belong program, designed to create pathways for individuals with diverse disabilities to access meaningful employment opportunities at LCBO.
“The We Belong program reflects our commitment to living our values, which include creating a safe place for all and we win as one team,” said Michael Nigro, Director of Accessibility at LCBO. “Our goal is to be a leader in inclusion for people with disabilities, and Erica’s story shows how accessibility strengthens our culture while empowering individuals to succeed.”
AdaptLCBO Employee Resource Group: Connecting employees with disabilities and their allies
Another way we create space for connection is through AdaptLCBO, our employee resource group for those who identify as, support, or are allies of persons with disabilities. The group fosters engaging, diverse, and inclusive discussions and learnings.
This year, AdaptLCBO marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with an internal event in collaboration with Dog Guides Canada that brought accessibility to life. Employees learned how to interact with service animal handlers, reviewed LCBO’s new inclusive service animal policy, and met service dogs in-training alongside their handlers.
The event equipped our teams with practical ways to support accessibility while reminding us that inclusion is built through awareness, respect, and teamwork.
Our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
Our journey toward accessibility is ongoing. Guided by LCBO’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, we will continue to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and create spaces where everyone can fully participate and thrive.
Recognizing the International Day for Persons with Disabilities each year is a reminder that progress is possible when we work together, and that inclusion is not just a goal, but a future we are building every day. To learn more about how we’re creating safe, healthy and diverse workplaces, visit our Careers site.
