ACTA Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Black North Initiative was created as a Canadian response to engage corporate Canada. Its goal is to motivate businesses to act on removing systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians along with Indigenous individuals, and People of Colour.   

ACTA along with other Travel and Tourism businesses has signed the Black North Pledge, and one of our commitments was to create a diversity and inclusion committee to explore and address ways ACTA can support the removal of barriers internally and throughout our sector.

Wendy Paradis

Wendy Paradis, President, ACTA

 Maureen Barnes-Smith

Maureen Barnes-Smith, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Unique Vacations Canada
Louise-Gardiner

Louise Gardiner,
Vice President,
The Agency Solution by the Travel Agent Next Door

 Alcindor Pierre

Alcindor Pierre,
Travel Consultant en Voyages, The Travel Agent Next Door

Katherina Thilavanh, Manager, Communications and Marketing, ACTA

 Many Kalitsis

Mandy Kalitsis,
 Senior Operations Specialist, Elder
Patrick-Doyle

Patrick Doyle,
Vice President & General Manager Canada, AMEX

Also, in collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Canada. Teresa Ryder, Director of Partnerships, will join ACTA’s upcoming video panel “The Challenges Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) travellers face on a day-to-day basis and how professional travel agents can enhance their travel experience.

ACTA is proud to partner with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). IGLTA was founded in 1983 and is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism businesses. They provide free travel resources and information while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide. 

Learn more