This spring, Ironwood Cider House joined the list of more than 400 Canadian businesses that are “rainbow registered” — a certification signalling a location is a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community.

To celebrate the occasion, Shannon Daust, sales manager at Ironwood, said the business wanted to throw a party. Luckily for them, the certification came just in time for Pride Month.

“We had to go through a rigorous qualification and show that we not only do outreach but also promote it,” Daust said. “We just really wanted to celebrate love and everyone and inclusiveness.”

Rainbow Registered is an accreditation program run by Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce alongside Tourism HR Canada. The program was launched in 2021. Ironwood is one of a handful of businesses in the Niagara region to receive this certification, along with Lindsay Mills Coaching and Gales Gas Bar in Niagara Falls and Calamus Estate Winery in Jordan.

Daust explained how winter is a slower period for the business, leaving it with ample time to work toward the certification. One element of the process is establishing restrooms for any identity to feel comfortable using.

Some elements of the Pride party, officially called Amour, included wine from MW Cellars, tattoos from artist Doug Newton and a Hunger Station food truck.

Daust is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and said she’s proud to host a Pride event so everyone can feel welcome at Ironwood.

“Not always feeling included in every space is hard, so it’s nice to get that now and to be able to host it,” she said.

Devon Ryback, office manager at Ironwood, said the cider house’s commitment to inclusivity is what sets it apart among other wineries.

It’s not Ironwood’s first Pride event, and the plan is to make it happen every single year, Ryback said.

“We’re known for doing different things […] we’re very progressive and very inclusive, and that’s kind of what we lay our head down on,” she explained.

One way Ironwood sets itself apart is by hosting the NOTL Contemporary art gallery in its building. For the Pride event, the exhibit showcased queer artists.

“We put out a call for LGBTQIA+ people, and we connected with Pride Niagara, so anybody who wanted to put together some art could come and we put it up for them,” Daust said.

But allyship does not end with simply registering as “rainbow-friendly.”

Rainbow Registered requires its members to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to inclusivity. Once a business is registered, it has three years before another assessment must be completed to keep its status.

To stay true to this commitment, Ironwood is planning to create a committee that will ensure more Pride-themed events are planned, according to Ryback.

“I am a member of the [LGBTQIA+] community, so it’s always something that’s at the forefront of my mind,” Daust said.

“We want everyone to be not only welcome, but celebrated.”