Just in time for Pride Month, Hazelview Properties has secured Canada’s first Rainbow Registered accreditation for a residential rental building: Story of Midtown, at 73 and 75 Broadway Avenue in Toronto.
The national designation is awarded by Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) and is meant to recognize businesses and organizations that go above and beyond to create spaces where those in the queer community feel honoured and safe.
“When you see a Rainbow Registered symbol, you know the business or organization meets a stringent set of standards to ensure that 2SLGBTQI+ customers feel more welcomed and accepted,” reads the CGLCC’s website.
In the case of Story of Midtown Toronto — a 38-storey, 336-unit infill development in North Toronto — the accreditation was earned as a result of initiatives implemented by Hazelview to foster year-round inclusion.
“For us, this accreditation reflects a deeper commitment to doing what’s right, for residents, the communities we operate in, and the long-term value of where and how we invest,” Jasmin Pirani, Partner of Marketing and Social Impact at Hazelview, tells STOREYS. “It signals our willingness to lead with intention, build trust through action, and stay accountable to standards that foster true belonging.”
One aspect of these efforts is the ongoing ‘Belonging’ initiatives available to the building’s team, such as a paid volunteer day employees can use to support community causes and inclusive visual identifiers like Pride-themed email signatures. Employees also undergo training on 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion, pronoun usage, unconscious bias, and inclusive language underwent by all staff members.
“Belonging at Hazelview is about making sure everyone feels seen, safe, supported, and promotes diversity of thought,” says Pirani. “Our initiatives include inclusive benefits, national learning campaigns, work policies that reflect and support diversity, and property-level activations that reflect communities where we operate. We take a people-first approach, aiming to foster environments where individuals can thrive and be themselves.”
More than that, Hazelview has made a concerted effort to create a community within Story of Toronto Midtown that enables connectivity for all residents, from special events and expert-led experiences hosted within the building’s amenity spaces, paint nights, culinary classes, craft beer tasting sessions, and more.
“These experiences span a wide variety of interests, teach new skills, and provide opportunities for neighbours to connect,” shares Pirani.
Overall resident wellbeing is key mandate of Story of Toronto Midtown, alongside the rest of Hazelview’s properties, with residents at 73 and 75 Broadway enjoying access to licensed doctors, nurse practitioners, or mental health professionals through the Maple virtual health platform, a fully-equipped fitness centre that includes an indoor cycling room with seven Peloton bikes, and free in-suite Wi-Fi.
Story of Toronto Midtown is the first of Hazelview’s properties to earn the Rainbow Registered accreditation, but Pirani shares that the company is in the process of expanding their Rainbow Registered portfolio to include their Toronto offices and other residential buildings in Toronto and the GTA.
“With over 200 properties, the expansion will help ensure consistency in how people experience Hazelview, whether they live with us, work with us, or engage with us in any way,” says Pirani.