About The Spirit of Inclusion Initiative
Through Spirit of Sustainability, the LCBO is committed to championing equitable representation and building communities where all individuals have access to the opportunities they need to thrive. That’s why, in 2021, we launched the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative, a program designed to create opportunities for diverse women to enter, advance and thrive in the beverage alcohol industry.
Together with our Impact Partners and Good Partners, the program provides bursaries and scholarships, access to mentorship, and identifies paid co-op placements for diverse women who are looking to begin or advance their careers in the winery, brewery, and distillery fields.
Hear From our Scholarship Recipients
Our Impact Partners
George Brown College
PROGRAMS SUPPORTED: Advanced Wine & Beverage Business Management Program, Beer Specialist Program, CAPS Certified Sommelier Program, WSET Level 3 Program, WSET 2 Level Program, and Wine Specialist Program.
Niagara College
PROGRAMS SUPPORTED: Artisan Distilling, Beverage Business Management, Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management, and Winery and Viticulture Technician program.
Brock University
PROGRAMS SUPPORTED: Wine Management program
How to get involved
Prospective Recipients
Students that fulfill the following requirements are eligible to apply for the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative scholarships, bursaries, and/or programming:
• You self-identify as a woman or non-binary individual from a diverse background currently under-represented in the beverage alcohol industry. Examples include but not limited to:
o First Nations, Inuit or Métis women
o Women of Colour
o Women with disabilities
o First generation Canadians (individuals born outside of Canada)
o 2SLGBTQ+ community members
• You are a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee.
• You are interested in accessing additional resources provided by the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative such as mentorship opportunities, attending industry events, co-op placement matching, among others.
• You are open to sharing your experience as a recipient of the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative.
If you are interested in applying for the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative scholarship, application forms and Impact Partners contact information are available on the following sites:
o George Brown’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts website
and continuing education website
o Niagara College’s Financial Aid site, alongside other financial awards.
o Brock University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies website
Good Partners
Our Good Partners can join us in our vision to enhance diversity in the beverage alcohol industry in one or more of the following ways:
1. Make a donation. If your company would like to make a donation to provide additional scholarships, bursaries or programming through George Brown College, Niagara College and Brock University. Please contact spiritofsustainability@lcbo.com to facilitate your donation.
2. Identify mentors. Recommend diverse women who are established professionals within your organizations to mentor Spirit of Inclusion Initiative students who are studying to begin or advance their careers.
3. Identify eligible students. Share the program with diverse women within your organization and across Ontario who are eligible for Spirit of Inclusion Initiative scholarships, bursaries and/or programming.
4. Offer paid co-op placements or employment opportunities. Create opportunities within your organizations for participating students to gain work experience and build connections in the industry
Cheers to our Good Partners who are lifting up Ontario too
These Good Partners are supporting the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative through financial donations, mentors and employment opportunities.
About the Artist
We are proud to be working with Toronto-based illustrator, Rachel Joanis. As a female artist, she understands the importance of representation, and the significance of seeing yourself reflected in art and media. The majority of her work focuses around women, and promoting different ethnicities and body types, to help further inclusivity and promote equal representation.
Learn more about Rachel Joanis and shop her illustrations
