Since the beginning, Starbucks has been committed to creating a welcoming third place for our partners, customers and communities. From our early decision to offer healthcare to part-time workers to our commitment to support diverse hiring and equal opportunity for all — we have been dedicated to building a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Here are some of our milestones along the way:&nbsp;

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Since the beginning, Starbucks has been committed to creating a welcoming third place for our partners, customers and communities. From our early decision to offer healthcare to part-time workers to our commitment to support diverse hiring and equal opportunity for all — we have been dedicated to building a culture of inclusivity and belonging.

Starbucks Canada History of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada History of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

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National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) marks a day for us all to honour the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.&nbsp;At Starbucks Canada, we believe that taking the time to learn more about Indigenous Peoples, places and experiences is a step forward on the path to Reconciliation.

This <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2022/18366/">Indigenous History Month</a>, we have been inspired by the passion and continued engagement of our partners (employees) from coast-to-coast connecting with their Indigenous community members and allies to foster a community of belonging. Today, while we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, we also acknowledge the many partners proudly working to create a more inclusive future, representative of diverse identities and experiences.

An in-depth look at how one partner is advocating for Indigenous communities

A partner of seven years, Halifax-based District Manager Sara (she/her) has advocated for Indigenous communities for as long as she can remember. So, it came as no surprise when she joined the Indigenous Partner Network (IPN) when it was founded in 2020 to foster safe and supportive spaces for Indigenous partners and their allies. With over 500 members, partners like Sara regularly come together to connect, build allyship and continue to advocate for opportunities for and within Indigenous communities across the country.

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As part of the IPN, Sara has been able to strengthen ties to the local community while also addressing critical needs identified by local Indigenous community organizations. Sara also rallies her East coast community to come together for back-to-school backpack drives for Indigenous youth, food drives and so much more.

Uplifting communities in partnership with the Starbucks Foundation

One local organization Sara works with is the <a href="https://mymnfc.com/">Mi’Kmaw Native Friendship Centre</a>, a not-for-profit working to improve the lives of aboriginal peoples living in urban environments. Through social and cultural programs, the Mi'KMaw Friendship Centre supports the local Indigenous community with multiple initiatives including tackling food and housing needs.

Sara explained that the learnings go both ways, sharing how her team of partners has been able to get extra education like treaty education, which supports partner growth and move the march to Reconciliation forward. The organization also focuses on supporting Indigenous youths' personal and professional development—something Sara is personally invested in, through programming and resources like mock interviews, skill-building, resume-building and interview readiness workshops, mentorship conversations and beyond. It’s one of the many reasons she nominated the Centre to receive a Starbucks Neighbourhood Grant.

Neighbourhood Grants are investments that help build sustained local impact and inspire increased partner volunteerism with nonprofit organizations that work in our communities. Through this unique program, The Starbucks Foundation invites Starbucks partners – like Sara – to nominate a local organization that they are actively involved with in their community. 

“Through this Neighbourhood Grant and the IPN's long-lasting commitment to the betterment of Indigenous lives, we can be deliberate and intentional in providing resources, platforms and support wherever and whenever we can,” Sara shares. &nbsp;

By providing the support and resources to community-development focused organizations, the Starbucks Foundation’s Neighbourhood Grants program puts the power of a platform and room for advocacy in the hands of partners. It’s through this movement and with the work of our very own IPN that we can celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, every day.

National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) marks a day for us all to honour the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Turning acknowledgement into action and advocacy for the Indigenous community  - Starbucks Canada

Turning acknowledgement into action and advocacy for the Indigenous community 

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Pride Month started during the Stonewall Uprising in June of 1969, to commemorate and celebrate LGBTQIA2+ communities, culture and activism around the world. As a company focused on building community, acceptance and inclusion, Starbucks Canada is celebrating Pride with every sip and every cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This summer, bold, Starbucks Refreshers aren’t the only colourful visuals you’ll see at Starbucks Canada stores. Customers will see many partners proudly wearing the bright and eye-catching 2022 Starbucks Canada Pride T-shirt, which has become an iconic symbol that the start of Pride celebrations is underway in stores across the country.&nbsp;

As part of the company’s annual Craft Your Pride contest, which began in 2019 and is coordinated through the Starbucks Canada Pride Network, this year’s winning design was created by Vancouver-based barista (employee), Rex (he/him) and was inspired by this year's theme of #InclusivityForAll. Showcasing how an intense ray of sunlight can produce a unique light prism, Rex brought the beauty of the rainbow to life with his design while sharing a vibrant world where everyone is there for each other and is full of Pride. 

"This year's (t-shirt) was yellow, which reminds me of the sun.” says Rex. “I noticed every ray of light during the time I was creating my design. I also knew that I wanted to layer in as many identities as possible—from the colours to the pronouns and languages on the Starbucks cups."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rex, who has always found art therapeutic, grew up in the Philippines and shares that before moving to Canada and finding community, he felt like he was wearing a mask to survive.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I always knew that I was gay, and I knew that I didn't necessarily behave the way people expected me to, so fitting in was really hard for me,” he shares. “But when I came to Canada from the Philippines, I felt more comfortable being myself because I noticed that many around me were more open to the queer community,"&nbsp;&nbsp;

As a winner of the Starbucks Craft Your Pride T-shirt contest, Rex is able to select a charity to receive a donation from Starbuck and has selected QMUNITY, a BC-based resource centre that helps local queer, trans and Two-Spirit communities navigate their identities, meet their needs and helps them thrive.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I made this decision for my younger self, who felt alone and didn't have someone to turn to. I want to support a community that prides itself on being that pillar of support to those who need it."&nbsp;

Pride means something different for everyone. And for Rex, Pride means celebrating one's true self and the freedom to live life to the fullest, without letting anyone hold you back.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As part of the company’s annual Craft Your Pride contest, which began in 2019 and is coordinated through the Starbucks Canada Pride Alliance, this year’s winning design was created by Vancouver-based barista (employee), Rex (he/him) and was inspired by this year's theme of #InclusivityForAll.

How we're wearing our Pride on our sleeves - Starbucks Canada

How we&#8217;re wearing our Pride on our sleeves

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How we’re wearing our Pride on our sleeves

How Starbucks partners are fostering a sense of belonging through their differences

The month of May marks the start of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, making it the perfect time to learn more about the many achievements and contributions of Asian communities across the country and just how they have made Canada feel more like home. It is a call to action for all of us to come together to use our differences and unique experiences to create and foster community and belonging. In doing this, we can continue to create welcoming spaces, stop anti-Asian racism and discrimination, and truly celebrate each other.

This May, Starbucks Canada is proud to honour Asian Heritage Month and celebrate its partners (employees), who uplift their communities and proudly represent diverse identities and experiences.

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Starbucks partners share how they've embraced their differences and the differences of others to strengthen community and connection

Starbucks partners embrace opportunities to be as inclusive as possible, and this means recognizing the many identities within Pan-Asian communities and continually educating ourselves. Born out of a desire to foster meaningful connections between and elevate Pan-Asian partners and allies, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/behind-the-green-apron-meet-the-co-chairs-of-the-starbucks-canada-pan-asian-partner-network-who-want-to-change-the-world/">Starbucks partners and Canada Pan-Asian Partner Network</a> members share how their differences bring them together as one community of partners.

Jam left the Philippines in 2004 to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong before making her way to Canada in 2009 under the Live-In Caregiver Program for childcare—the easiest path to Canada. Leaving home alone in hopes of planting roots elsewhere is a task that requires courage, and that is something Jam needed to tap into to embark on this new journey to a brighter future. "Filipinos take pride in family; it's always family first. I was so homesick for years. Leaving my home country was the hardest and the scariest thing I've ever done, but it is the best decision I ever made for myself", she shared. "Moving allowed me to start a new life and be the person I want to be."

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"What I love about Starbucks is that it feels like home. Before I joined Starbucks, I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere. My Starbucks community made me feel like I matter and that I belong. No matter who I want to be." — Jam, store manager

Summer came to Canada about a decade ago to gain work experience and learn English, and she decided to stay after she fell in love with just how much room there was to be herself. In Summer's case, the diversity of her surrounding community and the differentiating factors of all the cultures she was exposed to were the keys to her feeling like she belonged. "Here, we have many different people from different backgrounds, so I feel free from the pressure of following the majority in the society. Here, we embrace and celebrate our differences", she shared. Summer's appreciation for her Korean roots has grown deeper through this freedom.

"After I moved here alone, I had a hard time finding a place where I belonged, but since I started working at Starbucks, I've felt that I belong to something bigger. It's bigger than just a workplace. Starbucks gave me friends and mentors. And now, I want to create a store environment where I can provide that home to partners who moved here from overseas." - Summer, store manager

Being exposed to other cultures and becoming aware of his differences is what ties the appreciation of life closer to Jason's world and way of living. Having been raised in the Taiyuan region of northern China, he first experienced foreign cultures during a junior high field trip to Japan. This very eye-opening experience inspired him to explore other countries and cultures. "Getting to know different cultures helped me open myself up to making lots of friends from different backgrounds with different perspectives, cultures and practices," Jason shared about his deep sense of respect and value for folks from diverse backgrounds.

"Racism and discrimination still happen, and we have a long way to go as a society. But at Starbucks, I always feel like I belong and that my voice, no matter what language I choose to speak in, will be heard. Over the last few years, I've trained my new partners with this in mind: No matter what background we come from, we will always have a safe and welcoming space to share our unique stories and connect over a cup of coffee." — Jason, assistant store manager

Born and raised in Mauritius before successfully pursuing a bachelor's in Business Management in Melbourne, Camben made his way to Canada for love—to be closer to his then-girlfriend, now wife. Living in different countries allowed Camben to learn about and embrace diverse cultures, which empowered him to experience what it's like to be a part of a new community that they were able to form. "It also gave me cultural awareness and acceptance, which helped me break down cultural barriers while interacting with people of different backgrounds," he shared.

"What I love about Starbucks is being able to work in an environment where diversity is top of mind and the sense of belonging that comes with that. I feel supported and mentored, and empowered to actively live by the mission and values to be a better person." — Camben, store manager

With community at the center of all that he does, meet Kal, the Starbucks partner known for his commitment to uplifting those around him

From a very young age, Kal—a Starbucks partner of Filipino and Spanish descent—moved around quite a bit, from the Philippines and Japan to Korea and Vancouver, before eventually landing in Calgary. Though these moves meant that he had to restart a few times, he sees his exposure to various cultures as the silver lining he's grateful for. "We've been around the block, but I've been exposed to many cultures, and for that, I'm thankful."

His mother successfully planted new roots for her family through a program similar to what is offered via <a href="https://ecssen.ca/">ECSSEN Career School</a> (ECSSEN), so he's always had a passion for community empowerment initiatives. He spent much of his youth tutoring and volunteering, some of which was done through an ECSSEN program alongside his family.

His passion and awareness of ECSSEN were reignited when he found out that some of his store's <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-national-foodshare-expansion/">FoodShare</a> donations were going to ECSSEN. <a href="https://ecssen.ca/">ECSSEN</a> is a Canadian non-profit organization that helps immigrants and youth gain work experience and skills through workplace programs and partners with agencies to help immigrants adjust to society through volunteering and counselling. Kal believes in the organization so much that he's even referred a new partner from his store location to ECSSEN's programs. As a member of Starbucks Canada's Pan-Asian Partner Network, Kal has advocated for diverse, inclusive, accessible, and equitable environments and spaces in and out of the shop. So, when the opportunity arose, he naturally began his effort to secure a Neighbourhood Grant for ECSSEN.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/the-starbucks-foundation/">The Starbucks Foundation's</a> Neighbourhood Grants program supports grassroots, community-led charities through catalytic investments in the form of small grants that range from $1,000 to $10,000. Through this unique program, The Starbucks Foundation invites Starbucks partners to nominate a local organization in their community to help build sustained local impact and inspire increased partner engagement with their communities. Since 2019, Starbucks partners have helped more than 3,500 organizations across North America, amounting to more than $7.5 million in grants.

Why ECSSEN was a natural fit

"When we think of our Mission and Values as Starbucks partners, ECSSEN aligns most with my understanding of these and my personal beliefs," he shared, speaking to how natural it felt to help those who helped him and his family in the past. Knowing first-hand the challenges that often come with adjusting to a new space, Kal saw himself in the many people that ECSSEN helps and uplifts. He's prioritized supporting critical organizations that ensure everyone can feel a sense of belonging. "I always appreciate things that can take someone from alienation and isolation to acceptance," he shared.

Beyond the Neighbourhood Grant that he secured, Kal also makes personal donations whenever he can and is looking to get more involved with ECSSEN's initiatives again now that he's done school. "After graduating and being done with school forever [haha], I want to focus on advocating for diversity, representation and inclusion through my work. I started a production company with my close friends. We're starting slowly, focusing on our local community northwest of Calgary, but I want to expand. Maybe I can even produce something for Starbucks one day".

Celebrating community, diversity and belonging during Asian Heritage Month - Starbucks Canada

Celebrating community, diversity and belonging during Asian Heritage Month

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In February, Starbucks Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate Black excellence and the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate it every day.

Rudo, store manager

"My journey is one of hard work and striving to achieve the impossible. I am bold, brave, and comfortable in a world that has different standards of beauty and where acceptance is a rare commodity. I’m proud to share my culture through love, song, dance, and a sense of community where everyone feels like a family. I reignite my self-confidence by knowing that I am a role model for others that would never be able to have the grace to be authentic and true to themselves. I celebrate those that welcome me and focus on the amazing humans that just love on everyone. I know the light within me will uplift, encourage, and touch many and I am meant for greater things. I am a proud Black woman.

Chris, district manager

“I've been a partner for 21 years and this year I had the privilege to become the A220 Black Partner Network (BPN) advocate lead. Reigniting and celebrating Black Excellence means to me that we pay homage and respect to the trailblazers who've made significant contributions within the Black community, the world and in culture.&nbsp; During the time of Black History Month, I take the time to listen, educate myself and peers, and share stories with my team.&nbsp; I believe it's vitally important to create an inclusive space and community for Black Partners. The BPN has become that space. They continue to advocate and celebrate Black Excellence every day. My goal is to continue to promote equity, education, allyship, partner development and creating an environment for partners to be their authentic selves.”

Nicole, barista

“I believe for a lot of young Black people, there is a high expectation to excel in every area of life such as work, school etc. I think the need to disprove stereotypes and live up to the standard of Black Excellence drives a lot of us to take on so much in our lives, which can lead to burnout. I know I’ve experienced this in high school, and again in university which led to my time off in school for the sake of my mental health. And so, I’d love for other young Black people to know, Black Excellence doesn’t necessarily mean taking on the weight of the world while continuing to be successful but accepting that your existence is enough to be excellent. Despite the odds of systemic racism and being such a minority in Canada, we can and will thrive. I believe, Black Excellence shouldn’t exist simply in the doing of Black people but in the being of Black people. You are enough!”

Brittany, store manager

This Black History Month, I am challenging myself to share more, to be present, and to embrace more of my accomplishments. Black Excellence is about connecting our diversities and our experiences. It is about spending the time to figure out what fills us up, and what enriches our lives. I work hard to show up for myself, create new experiences, and find ways to connect with other people.&nbsp; For me, I am living Black Excellence when I am actively working towards achieving my goals, when I am involved with projects, I am excited about, and when I take on opportunities that allow me to grow.

Alicia, shift supervisor

“I was born and raised in Toronto, ON in a Guyanese/Indian household. To me, Black Excellence for everyone looks a little different, but what I think remains the same is being unapologetically yourself. My journey to owning my Blackness took a hitch in the road after a DNA test when I was 18 turned out I was 47% Indian and 53% a mix of African descents. These results shouldn’t have technically changed anything for me: I still looked Black, grew up Black, and loved being Black, but somehow, I now doubted myself. I felt as though I was a fraud and that I could no longer identify myself as Black. None of that was true because being Black and owning everything excellent about it is not just your origins, but the sense of community and culture that comes with it. Understanding the trials and tribulations, but also celebrating the beauty and uniqueness. Remembering this helps me to wake up every day and be proud of who I am.”

Starbucks Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate Black excellence and the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate it every day.

In their own words: Starbucks partners on what owning and celebrating everyday Black excellence means to them - Starbucks Canada

In their own words: Starbucks partners on what owning and celebrating everyday Black excellence means to them

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In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we hear from Starbucks partners and reflect on the tragic legacy of residential schools and commit to truth and reconciliation through education, awareness and action.

Giving Space, Sharing Stories

How the Starbucks Indigenous Partner Network is turning acknowledgement into action.

Starbucks partners, Sara Hunter and Jessica Novak, had a vision: to foster a safe, supportive space where Indigenous partners (employees) and their allies could share their truth and educate one another about Indigenous experiences in Canada. In the Fall of 2020, the first ever Indigenous Partner Network (IPN) was born at Starbucks Canada, and today the network has grown to more than 500 members.&nbsp;

Sara Hunter is Ojibway and a member of the Sheguiandah First Nation on Manatoulin Island in Ontario. Her family are survivors of residential schools, and she felt first-hand the damage that experience has inflicted on their community.

“I grew up not really immersed in Indigenous culture. I don’t speak the language. I only heard my grandmother speak a few words,” Sara shares. “It wasn’t until my teen years when I remember attending my first traditional powwow.”

Recognizing this gap inspired her to not only deepen her own connection with her culture, but help other Indigenous partners connect with — and learn from — one another through the IPN.

As an ancestor of settlers, Jessica Novak believes that the IPN represents just one platform for allyship with Indigenous peoples. &nbsp;For Jessica, participating in the IPN is a clear response to the <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf">92nd Call to Action put forth by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada</a>. It calls on businesses to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples, providing equal access while educating all staff on their history.

“As a corporation, as leaders in a lot of spaces, how do the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission show up here?” Jessica asks, "Where does it live? How do we build relationships with Indigenous communities?” &nbsp;

With the most recent discoveries of hundreds of unmarked graves at residential schools in communities across Canada and the urgent calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the IPN's mission has become even more critical and creating opportunities for acknowledgement has been the focus of Sara and Jessica’s efforts since founding the network. &nbsp;

This summer, the network hosted sharing circles, giving space for partners to speak and listen to one another, and also participated in meaningful discussions to help partners learn and deepen their understanding of Indigenous history, some of the key issues impacting Indigenous peoples today and&nbsp; Truth and Reconciliation. The network also proudly celebrated Indigenous culture throughout National Indigenous History Month and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

The two women are committed to using the work of the past year as a foundation as they look ahead to the future.

“We’re now moving into that space of building relationships,” says Sara. “So how can we use what we learned in this last year and really put it into action through volunteering, through listening, through growing into new communities?”

&nbsp;It’s one of the reasons why the IPN selected the <a href="https://www.irsss.ca/">Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society</a> (IRSSS) as the recipient of a $20,000 donation from Starbucks Canada in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Our first year of existence was really all about education,” Sara reflects. “How can we talk about history, but also celebrate the great things happening in the culture itself: the teachings, protecting our environment and water, and at the same time giving acknowledgement to the truth of what has happened”

The IRSSS provides essential services to Residential School Survivors, their families, and those dealing with Intergenerational traumas. Their focus is on delivering care, not only physically but mentally and spiritually, to affected communities.

“It was a simple choice for us,” Jessica explains, “It’s the most direct way for any donation to have an impact on the people traumatized by residential schools.”

As she looks ahead to building new relationships and putting what they learned from one another into action, Sara hasn’t lost sight of her original vision: “We have created a space where people can feel safe to share their truth. But there are still a lot of partners out there who may not know about us yet or haven’t had a chance to share their story. So we’re going to continue open up doors for people to do that.”

For the Next Seven Generations

How mentorship can move us forward to Truth and Reconciliation

Stephanie Yoshida denies that she is an educator, but when she shares her journey, one cannot help but learn.

Stephanie is the child of an Indian Day School survivor and the grandchild of residential school survivors. The revelations this year of unmarked graves at a school in her home province of British Columbia compelled her to give voice to this generational pain through poetry. Her poem “The Tears that I Shed, are Their Cries for Justice”, published at the end of this article, was shared with Starbucks partners in the summer, inspiring many across the country to share their own experiences and allyship. But she sees her poetry as simply a step along a personal process of understanding, one among countless others on the path toward Truth and Reconciliation.

“Truth and Reconciliation is a process,” Stephanie explains when reflecting on the legacy of the schools and the path ahead. ”First finding and acknowledging the truth&nbsp;of the&nbsp;history of Indigenous peoples,&nbsp;the reality of residential schools, and truly hearing the survivors&nbsp;and the impacts that this has had in their lives. For seven generations, they were&nbsp;taught that their way of life&nbsp;as Indigenous people was&nbsp;inferior, at the same time non-Indigenous&nbsp;children in schools were taught the same thing about Indigenous peoples.” “Limited access to opportunities, networks and mentors is an overwhelming barrier faced by Indigenous youth today, which only widens the gaps created by residential schools,” says Tanya Tourangeau, Indigenous Engagement Lead at <a href="http://www.mentoringcanada.ca/">MENTOR Canada</a>, an organization committed to expanding access to mentoring for youth in Canada.&nbsp; She knows that mentorship not only has the potential to help move our country towards Truth and Reconciliation but can be a transformative opportunity for the economy.

“Indigenous youth are the largest, youngest, fastest growing population in Canada,” she shares. “If our Indigenous youth were graduating, were entering the workforce, completing post-secondary education, becoming business owners, becoming landowners at the same rate as non-Indigenous people, we could raise the GDP of Canada today by 100 billion dollars.”

Tanya is also the child of a survivor, and her path has been shaped by that experience.

“Early on in life, it was apparent to me that our people needed help. They needed assistance, they needed capacity-building. That brought me to MENTOR Canada. Mentorship has always been informally a part of being an Indigenous Person. It’s part of that belief in taking care of the next seven generations,” she says.

On September 28th, Stephanie will join Tanya and Indigenous youth and allies across Canada to share experiences and mentorship. The <a href="https://www.mentoringcanada.ca/en/power-of-mentoring/focused-connections-virtual-career-mentoring-indigenous-young-leaders">Power of Mentoring event</a>, facilitated by MENTOR Canada in collaboration with Starbucks Canada and Deloitte, is focused on expanding networks, enhancing skills and increasing access to employment. These events are part of an urgent movement that spans all facets of Canadian society. For organizations like Starbucks Canada, they represent just one response to <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf">the 94 Calls to Action provided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.</a>

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day in honour of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad who was one of tens of thousands of Indigenous children stolen from their families and placed into a system designed to destroy what made them who they are.

For Stephanie and so many other children of survivors, there is still much work to be done to heal.&nbsp;

“I ask myself,&nbsp;‘How&nbsp;can we&nbsp;take the&nbsp;necessary steps forward to&nbsp;reconcile the past and work together&nbsp;as a nation to&nbsp;build a brighter future for the next generations?’&nbsp;In that lies the answer: the next generations,” she says. &nbsp;“It will take generations for&nbsp;us to truly work together to build a path forward, and&nbsp;it is through education that our healing will begin.”

In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we hear from Starbucks partners and reflect on the tragic legacy of residential schools and commit to truth and reconciliation through education, awareness and action.

Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Starbucks Canada

Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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When you visit your local Starbucks this summer, you may notice your barista wearing a specially designed vibrant t-shirt in celebration of Pride.

For the past 3 years ,the Starbucks Canada Pride Network, one of Starbucks oldest and largest partner networks, made up of hundreds of members of the LGBTQ2+ community and their allies, commissions a t-shirt design contest, giving partners (employees) the opportunity to design a t-shirt in celebration of Pride at Starbucks.

This year’s design was created by Starbucks partner Leigh-Anne from Nova Scotia. Leigh-Anne’s design was selected by the Starbucks Canada Pride committee which received over 100 creative submissions from across the country.

In addition to being a 4-year Starbucks partner, Leigh-Anne is an artist, designer and mom of three.

“Creativity is a passion of mine and I always love a t-shirt design challenge,” says Leigh-Anne who found inspiration for the design through the pandemic.

The design, titled "Pride, Far &amp; Wide", features colourful paper planes with a dash of Rewards Stars, surrounding a Starbucks cup.

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“I wanted to create a design that felt like a fun and colourful celebration of Pride, but still acknowledged the fact that we are in a pandemic, and last year most in person celebrations had to be cancelled. I came up with the idea of using the paper plane as a symbol of virtual connection, as it's a common icon used when sending an email or text message. It also represents the fact that most people have been isolated and only able to dream of travelling again someday to celebrate together,” Leigh-Anne says.

“Starbucks has managed to continually connect and uplift people through this past year even if it was simply through a virtual coffee date with friends and loved ones. I included a plane for every colour of the Pride rainbow and I think the design has a hopeful and playful spirit.”

When asked how it feels knowing that partners across the country will be wearing her design, Leigh-Anne says, "It's so exciting to see partners sharing pictures and videos on social media, celebrating Pride in my shirt design! My fellow partners here in Nova Scotia have been wearing the shirts to work and it is wild to see them in real life. I myself usually wear mostly black and grey, but I will be going out of my comfort zone this month to wear that bright orange T!”

On why it was important to take part in the contest, Leigh-Anne says “I would always want my fellow partners and my own kids to feel loved, accepted and valued for exactly who they are.”

As another motivation for entering the contest, Leigh-Anne described that the winning designer was able to select a local charity to receive a small donation. She’s selected a local youth organization in her hometown of Halifax that strives to make the province a happier, healthier and safer place for&nbsp;LGBTQ+ youth by providing support and resources.

Join us as we celebrate the LGBTQ2+ community, hear partners’ (employees) stories of connection and learn how to be an ally.

Starbucks Pride: How one Starbucks partner’s t-shirt design is connecting partners with “Pride, Far &amp; Wide” - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Pride: How one Starbucks partner’s t-shirt design is connecting partners with “Pride, Far &amp; Wide”

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-pride-how-one-starbucks-partners-t-shirt-design-is-connecting-partners-with-pride-far-wide/

Starbucks Pride: How one Starbucks partner’s t-shirt design is connecting partners with “Pride, Far & Wide”

When Star joined Starbucks in 2013, they identified to others as a woman. However, deep within, they never quite felt like they fit into a specific gender.&nbsp; After searching more into their Indigenous culture, Star came out as two-spirit in 2015.

Star describes two-spirit as an Indigenous person with both spirits, male and female, in which they can flow in between.&nbsp;

Star’s path to discovering their two-spirit identity began several years ago and not only took deeper understanding of their Indigenous roots, but also a desire to set a strong example for their kids.

“I teach my children about inclusion by just being understanding and accepting. We don't really require anything, we just accept,” says Star. &nbsp;

Having kids as part of their family was always Star’s dream, but feeling the pressure of growing up in a society where they were taught the ‘right way’ to have a family was to get married, Star got married at a young age and started a family. Star realized early on that things didn’t feel right but found it difficult to share these feelings with others.

As time passed and Star became a parent to seven children, they thought seriously about the example they wanted to set for them.

This was the catalyst for Star opening up to discover more about themself. Through the journey, Star came out as pansexual. They felt that they loved their husband at the time, and it seemed like it made sense, but Star still didn’t feel quite right about it. Star later came out as lesbian, and that also didn’t feel right. As Star explored more about their Indigenous heritage, things became clear.

“Learning about my two-spirited identity has helped me understand me. I've never felt quite like a woman or a man, I've always been just me, flowing in between”, says Star.

Star believes there is still little knowledge and understanding of the two-spirit identity and describes coming out to people as challenging and complicated at times, both within and outside of the Indigenous community.&nbsp;

“Before colonialism and residential schools, two-spirited people were looked to as more powerful due to their ability to flow between the sexes and their ability to flow within the spirit world,” says Star.

Star regularly attends virtual meetups with other two-spirit people in their province to connect and learn more about Indigenous cultures, including the historical standing of two-spirit people in Indigenous communities.

“We were looked to as healers and visionaries, as we are able walk within the spirit world, and freely flow between our spirits,” Star continues. “Two-spirited people, who are warriors, hunters, gatherers and everything in-between, they have the ability to possess the gifts of both genders. We are truly the third/fourth gender.”

Learning more about their identity has helped Star build confidence. When Star joined Starbucks,&nbsp; they were shy and reserved, but after moving to their current store, and being surrounded by partners who support and accept them for who they are, they have been able to come out of their shell and build great connections with customers, and was even recently recognized as partner (employee) of the quarter in their district.

“We accept each other for who we are. We are truly our authentic selves, we embrace each other's uniqueness and quirks. Coming into my store is like coming home. Truly having a store where I can walk in and know that my coworkers have my back. If somebody mislabels me, my coworkers correct them.” When asked what they want people to learn from their story, Star says, “I hope that people learn to just respect and accept people for who they are, no matter where they came from. Because at the end of the day we never know what people are going through, so the number one thing is just be kind. Be real and true to yourself and that's all that matters.”

Starbucks Pride: Meet Star (they/them), the barista finding strength in discovering more about their Indigenous and two-spirit identities - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Pride: Meet Star (they/them), the barista finding strength in discovering more about their Indigenous and two-spirit identities

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-pride-meet-star-they-them-the-barista-finding-strength-in-discovering-more-about-their-indigenous-and-two-spirit-identities/

Starbucks barista, Tristan met his partner five years ago when they sang in the same choir.

His partner, Shannah, is a woman and he describes the start of their relationship as an “odd situation”.

Before they got together, Tristan identified as gay. Today, Tristan identifies as pansexual: he is attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender identity.

His journey to discovering his pansexual identity began when he was much younger. &nbsp;Tristan knew at a young age that he was attracted to men, but he worried about what that meant for his future as he struggled with religion and sexual identity.

“I was concerned and thought I wouldn’t have children and I wouldn’t be able to get married in the church that I grew up in. I always pictured a suburban home with a white picket fence, so that was my struggle coming out,” he says.&nbsp; He also worried about whether he would be accepted by his family and community, so growing up, he kept his identity to himself. &nbsp;

It wasn’t until he went to college in another city, where he met his then boyfriend, that he made the decision to come out to his family as gay. &nbsp;While he was nervous to share the news with his family , to his relief and surprise, his family accepted and supported him. &nbsp;The challenge was, Tristan still had questions about his own identity.

“When I came out as gay, I knew I was attracted to my boyfriend at the time, but in the back of my mind, I also knew that I was attracted to women. When I expressed this to some of my friends in the queer community, they didn’t understand.”

Some of Tristan’s friends in the community, suggested that his attraction to women was just a phase. Despite knowing that he was attracted to men and women, Tristan felt like he needed to identify one way or the other and so he felt it would be easier to live life as a gay man.

When Tristan met his current partner Shannah, it took time for her to fully understand his feelings and identity and it took time for his friends and family, too. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“I had to come out for a second time this time, but as pansexual,” he says. “In many ways it was harder coming out as pansexual to my friends and family than it was coming out as gay years earlier.”

After coming out for the second time, Tristan lost a couple of friends in the queer community, but he was fortunate to have the acceptance of many, including his family.

Through his journey to discovering his identity, Tristan realized that emotions and feelings can change. Discovering your identity can be a continuous process and things can change throughout your life. He also learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are accepting of you. He shared this advice for others who may be in the process of discovering their own identities: “I want people to know that it’s ok to love whoever you want to love and be whoever you want to be. Don’t let people judge or put you into a box.”

Starbucks Pride: Tristan (he/him) shares his journey to self discovery and acceptance - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Pride: Tristan (he/him) shares his journey to self discovery and acceptance

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-pride-tristan-he-him-shares-his-journey-to-self-discovery-and-acceptance/

Growing up, Devon knew he didn’t fit into his assigned gender, so as a teenager, using public washrooms in his city was difficult to navigate. A friend told him that if he needed a washroom to look for a Starbucks because their washrooms were open, safe, and gender neutral. It was the only place he knew he could use the washroom in peace. &nbsp;&nbsp;

As an adult, Devon joined the company as a barista, and eight years later, he is still at Starbucks, now a store manager, and helping to create a sense of warmth, belonging and safety for trans partners and customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Devon transitioned during his time at Starbucks and describes it as a&nbsp;steady series of steps rather than a big event.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I gradually changed my name, my pronouns, and it was never a secret that I had been saving up for chest surgery for years. My whole life I'd presented as male as I possibly could. I mark starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as my 'transition'. This is the point where I physically started to change in ways that were obvious to anyone looking, and I dropped my tolerance for being addressed with female pronouns.”&nbsp;

Devon made the decision to share the news of his transition with his team at a store meeting not long after starting HRT.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I knew my team was amazing, and we already had trans people on staff. It wasn't going to be a surprise to anyone, but even going into a&nbsp;best-case&nbsp;scenario it still made me&nbsp;pretty nervous. The build up to putting myself out there was much worse than actually coming out.”&nbsp;

When Devon talked to his team about his transition, he had a twofold goal in mind. First, as a trans person, he wanted to be supported in ways that were meaningful to him, and second, as a leader, he wanted his team to be clear on what they could talk&nbsp;about&nbsp;and where they should set boundaries, not only for his benefit, but for the benefit of all trans partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“To me, this is how we were all going to be most comfortable. I let my partners know explicitly that they are welcome to disclose my transition to customers who are curious. They can correct my pronouns, especially with regulars, but did not need to take it upon themselves to correct every passing customer who just didn't know better. We also talked about when to end conversations.”&nbsp;

Devon believes that with more visibility comes more understanding, and he has chosen to be to open about his transition to help create safe and welcoming spaces for other trans people.&nbsp;

“I am very fortunate to have a life that allows me to be open about being a transgender person safely. That is still a luxury not afforded to many trans people. If I can make a choice to be visible, and that helps change even one person’s perspective on trans people for the better, I'm going to do it.”&nbsp;

Transphobia is still an everyday reality for many trans people, and there is much work to be done towards acceptance. One thing that has been helpful in supporting partners manage these encounters is Starbucks Third Place Policy, which was&nbsp;introduced in&nbsp;2018.&nbsp;Displayed&nbsp;in Starbucks stores across the&nbsp;country, the Starbucks Third Place Policy, is a set of&nbsp;clear principles that every person in the store will use the space as intended and communicate with respect&nbsp;and empowers partners to stand up against&nbsp;inappropriate behaviour.&nbsp;&nbsp;

““The Third Place Policy&nbsp;been big for partners because this is how we set boundaries and expectations.&nbsp;It gives autonomy to each barista to say no, this is not respectful behaviour, I need you to stop before we continue this transaction.”&nbsp;

Devon believes that Starbucks has laid a groundwork for creating safe environments for trans people, including respecting pronouns and gender identities explicitly in policies, resource pages with information by province, including trans scenarios in harassment training, the availability of branded pronoun pins, and Partner Networks to educate and celebrate LBGTQIA2+ identities.&nbsp;However, he adds that these things only make a difference if every leader applies and upholds them as standards on their team.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As someone who was unwilling to compromise on his identity, having a safe workplace where he is not at a disadvantage because of his gender expression and as a trans person was incredibly important, and he strives to create the same experience for others. &nbsp;Devon’s advice for leaders is to lean into uncomfortable conversations in team environments and to model behaviours of acceptance. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“When you are part of any marginalized group you are constantly assessing the environment around you for indications of safety and acceptance. Inappropriate jokes, turn of phrase, slang, can all be indicators of a less safe environment, and as a leader anything you don't call out, you endorse.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

He also wants leaders of trans partners to know that support can look different for every&nbsp;person, and&nbsp;being collaborative with the person will typically lend the best results. Education and awareness are so critical.&nbsp;

Devon’s first experience with Starbucks, using its gender neutral washrooms as a teenager, highlighted to him that Starbucks was more than just a coffee shop, and throughout his eight years at the company, he can now say that people in our communities come for coffee, washrooms, water, warmth, human connection and so much more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Join us as we celebrate the LGBT2+ community, hear partners’ (employees) stories of connection and learn how to be an ally.

Starbucks Pride: Meet Devon (he/they), a store manager helping to create safe environments for trans partners and customers - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Pride: Meet Devon (he/they), a store manager helping to create safe environments for trans partners and customers

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/pride-month-meet-devon-he-they-a-store-manager-helping-to-create-safe-environments-for-trans-partners-and-customers/

This week Cynthia and Sadaf share their stories and the impact of the model minority myth

I came to Canada when I was three years old. We first lived in a small village with a population of 500. It was my father’s dream to live in a huge house with a barn like in the Western movies he watched as a child.

Inclusion