A chocolate tasting experience at an event planned by Events by Dionne
Toronto, arguably the most multicultural city in the world, is home to event professionals who are redefining inclusivity. We spoke to three Toronto-based planners about how they integrate DEI into their work, ensuring events are welcoming, representative, and meaningful for all attendees. Here are a few of their insights from the conversation, including advice, perspective and the continued benefits of DEI.
Advice around inclusion: We say, ‘Okay, what's the culture? What's the natural culture of how folks in that space learn and engage?’… And the hospitality piece is always thinking, ‘How do we make you feel the most comfortable and put you in a position where you can learn?’ So for folks who are looking for different cultural experiences or different ways of experiencing events, we're definitely tuned into that.
Personal perspective: Some of our key values are hospitality, creativity and diversity. I lean on those three. Anyone that comes through our doors, I really look at that because, depending on your culture and the cultural experience of that client or attendees and what they're looking for, there's a different energy around how you can creatively activate.
Perspectives on Toronto: Toronto is a great market because it is a very multicultural city… Everything's at your fingertips. It's about having the experience and knowledge, and knowing how to connect all the dots.
An community event hosted by Events by Dionne. Photo by Tristan Barrocks Photography.
2. Dwayne Rutherford, founder and managing director, Debonair Corporate Events
Advice around inclusion: What I'm finding in my journey is that people will be inclusive, they will try to accommodate, but it's not necessarily always at the forefront of people’s minds… But if there's a need that you have that will make your experience more inclusive, I think we ask questions [around it]. And I'm finding my venues and partners are willing to partner with me to ultimately provide the end user or the attendees with the experience we're trying to create.
How events benefit from a DEI focus: Sometimes we're looking for immediate gratification—‘Show me statistics today about why diversity is so important...’ But you don't always see it right away. What it does over time is it allows other people to see your courage in including different groups of people within your space… Anytime you bring new people with different ideas and different energy into your space it’s where you're going to get the best product, the best service and the best results.
Personal perspective: I think I am unique in the [event planner] community, because there aren’t that many males and definitely not that many Black males. From that standpoint, my life's journey has been completely different from a large portion of the people in the industry… Whether for myself or any diverse group, it allows for unique thinking and challenging approaches. And with that you ultimately get the best approach for your client.
3. Mahoganey Jones, founder and CEO, Event Specialists
Advice around inclusion: True inclusivity starts with curiosity and the courage to ask questions. Too often, we hesitate because we're worried we might say the wrong thing or seem uninformed. But real progress comes from being open, seeking understanding, and inviting diverse perspectives to the table. Being inclusive isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about creating a space where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute.
How events benefit from a DEI focus: From a planner and an organizer’s perspective, we're able to make sure that all attendees feel welcomed, accepted and visible in the experience we create. From an attendee’s perspective, we want to be included, but we also want to see ourselves in the event that's being hosted
The Event Specialists team greeting attendees at the event registration booth.
How do you define accessibility: We have to look beyond what I would deem more the physical aspects. I feel like whenever we talk about accessibility, we often think about finding the ramps—‘Is it accessible for those with mobility issues?’—versus thinking a bit deeper and broader. As in, ‘Is this area welcoming to a person of colour?’
