Wellness is not a singular activity. Striving for wellness is not only about your own personal physical and mental wellness but also about those people and the society around you. This is called social wellness. It's not just about social skills but also about creating inclusivity, diversity, and equity. Practicing social wellness creates a welcoming environment and it is a cornerstone of our welcoming communities. We're proud to showcase the people and businesses across Ontario's Southwest that are championing diversity, equity, and inclusion; and helping us all improve our social wellness.
Respecting & Commemorating Indigenous Peoples
We recognize and deeply appreciate the First Nations' historical connection to, and stewardship of this place. Ontario’s Southwest is on the traditional territories of the Anishnaabeg/Anishinaabeg/Anishnabek/Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Huron-Wendt/Huron-Wendat, Attawandaron (Neutral), Lenape, Ojibway/Chippewa, and Wendat Indigenous Peoples. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.
The lakes, rivers, and land we love to explore in Ontario’s Southwest were cared for by Indigenous Peoples who were here long before any settlers. Let's always remember that as we travel and explore. Many regional partners work with Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO), the province’s first and only dedicated Indigenous tourism organization that focuses on uniting communities, Indigenous organizations and industry leaders to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Ontario. Check out the following article that shares important information about commemorating and learning about Indigenous Peoples' history and culture.
Rainbow Registered
Rainbow Registered is an accreditation with Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce that signifies that the organization is looking inward to focus on a culture of inclusivity and other key areas such as training, policies and practices and commitment to inclusive leadership. We are a Rainbow Registered accredited organization and we are one of many across the region - read the following article to learn about more businesses and organizations that are proud to be recognized with this important accreditation.
Sustaining the Beauty of our Great Outdoors
When we think about social wellness, we must always think about the wellness of our environment. Ontario's Southwest is located within the Carolinian life zone. It is a very unique ecosystem that boasts a greater number of both flora and fauna species than any other ecosystem in Canada. Due to the importance and fragility of the beautiful outdoors we love to explore so much, sustainability is an important consideration for many businesses and organizations in our region when they are creating and delivering tourism experiences. Read the article below to see some of the great work businesses are doing in Ontario's Southwest.
Offsetting your Carbon Footprint
Interested in finding ways to offset your travel carbon footprint? Visit Sustainable Travel International and use their online calculator. You'll also find suggestions to offset your road trips and other travel.
As you likely know, using carbon offsets as a means to achieve sustainability has its limitations but it is a good way to fund projects that are helping the environment. Click here to learn more about carbon offsets.
Take the next step in your commitment to helping protect the environment for future generations by signing our Responsible Traveller Pledge:
