Walking the talk on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Welcome to my new blog. I’m Iona Sky (they/them/she/her) and this is where I will share my candid thoughts, personal experiences of healing and self-care and my real life experiences working with nonprofits, corporations and people everywhere on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
People come to me when they want to learn how to put EDI into action. After George Floyd’s murder in 2020, many places created EDI and inclusion statements and policies…..but few of them actually “walk the talk” of their words. If you aren’t putting EDI work into action, then none of the statements mean anything. We need to be holding organizations accountable for their words and commitments and that’s where this blog comes in.
Vacationing in Niagara Falls, Ontario
This summer, I went on vacation! After spending so much time working, I thought I’d treat myself to a vacation in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I just wanted to go away and relax and took great time to plan a special weekend getaway.
I chose to stay at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, which prides itself on its location and service. I was looking forward to relaxing but I had to "work". From the moment I walked in, I ran into issues of equity, diversity and inclusion. These are a summary of my experiences and how they were handled by the hotel:
I was consistently misgendered and called “Sir”
I was treated badly by some staff who questioned whether I was using valet (assuming that I wasn’t “rich enough”)
I am a human being who deserves to feel safe from the moment I walk into your hotel and/or business. Consistency in delivering quality service and creating environments that are suitable for all guests should be the standard at any hotel.
What happened next
I sent my feedback directly to the Sheraton Hotel. While my experience was negative, I was sure to let them know the positives as well: “Check in staff at the front desk was wonderful. Great food and wonderful room service. The house-cleaning staff are also wonderful and did a great job ensuring I had a clean room (and I am picky!).”
I let them know that when I finally found the hotel (not well-marked) and drove up, the first thing the valet person said was "hello sir!". They corrected themself when they heard my voice but the damage was done. When I went back later to grab something from my car, another valet person called me "sir". This misgendering has continued with other staff throughout my stay.
I tried to follow up with Management at the hotel with an email to three different email addresses before receiving a “standard” reply. The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel is owned by Marriott International, an organization that shouts from the rooftops on their inclusivity and diversity, however my experience was far from being inclusive or supportive.
Committed to putting EDI into action
My final words with the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel was to urge them to take immediate action with their EDI teams and provide education and workplace inclusion initiatives on 2SLGBTQ+ identities and communities so that they can truly be open and inclusive to all people.
Walking the talk involves taking the written statement and bringing it to life. From employee culture to customer service, it needs to be seen across the board. It’s not a “one and done” deal that is not measured. Set goals and make them happen.
I’ve been working as a Social Worker and teaching people for over 25 years, but some days I feel like I am only getting started. I want to share these stories so that others do not have to experience the same harm that I did and to also hold places accountable to do better, so that everyone can enjoy a peaceful vacation no matter where they go.
Stay tuned for my next blog where I share a positive review of Swarovski Canada at Niagara Falls as they “walked the talk” of creating inclusive and welcoming spaces and service.