Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) 

Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) is the only chamber of commerce uniting and advocating for the over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+ owned and operated businesses in Canada.

This group is a powerful one: they generate over $22 billion in economic activity and employ over 435,000 Canadians. Their impact on the economy is profound, but there are still barriers to accessing resources and partnerships to make Canada’s economy more inclusive. That’s where CGLCC and its network comes in.

CREATING A THRIVING AND INCLUSIVE CANADIAN ECONOMY, ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME.

People often ask the question: why does CGLCC exist? There are business chambers at the regional and national level, and corporations’ support for 2SLGBTQI+ initiatives is on the rise.

It’s easy to give a by-the-numbers response. Canada is home to over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned businesses. These businesses generate over $22 billion in economic activity and employ over 435,000 Canadians. In other words, 2SLGBTQI+ business is big business.

However, 2SLGBTQI+ 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 2SLGBTQI+.

There is a growing number of organizations looking to change these stats – one connection at a time. A community of 2SLGBTQI+ 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.

CGLCC does this by bringing people together, and highlighting the right resources for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs to be even more successful.

So, the answer is: CGLCC exists because 2SLGBTQI+ 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 those barriers are removed.