Building Queer Community in Business: Meet CQCC and The FAM

Written By Jude Goodwin

Building Queer Community in Business: Meet CQCC and The FAM

Submitted by Sarah Evalina

Across British Columbia, 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives are building meaningful businesses—often while navigating systems that were never designed with them in mind. From accessing capital and professional networks, queer professionals continue to face barriers.

The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) exists to change that. And with the launch of The FAM, the organization is making its work more accessible.

What Is the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce?

Founded in 2003, the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s leading national organization supporting 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, queer-owned businesses and allies. Through advocacy, education, networking, and certification, CQCC works to ensure queer-owned businesses can grow and thrive, while contributing to a stronger, more inclusive economy. 

CQCC represents more than 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned businesses, contributing over $22 billion in economic activity and employing more than 435,000 Canadians. It also administers Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, a federally supported initiative that expands access to funding, mentorship, and business support for queer entrepreneurs nationwide. Together, these efforts support a diverse ecosystem across the country.

What Is The FAM Program?

The FAM Program is CQCC’s newest membership tier designed as a low-barrier entry point for 2SLGBTQI+ people who may not see themselves reflected in traditional chambers of commerce.

Available to any member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community who owns 1 to 100 percent of their business, The FAM Program is a national professional network that strengthens queer entrepreneurship with vibrant community support, opening doors to capital and fundraising. The FAM members enjoy access to resources and events across Canada, including networking opportunities, practical resources, workshops, and high-visibility spotlight opportunities.  

“The goal of The FAM Program is to increase the visibility of 2SLGBTQI+ businesses and to create a strong community of professionals that may have faced challenges because of their identity,” says Sarah Evalina, CQCC’s Chief Operating Officer. “These businesses bring so much to the larger communities. By connecting these queer professionals through The FAM Program, we can strengthen these individual ventures that are driving economic growth in markets across Canada.” 

It’s built for:

  • Freelancers and consultants

  • Creatives and contractors

  • Side-hustlers and early-stage founders

  • Small business owners

  • Students and recent graduates exploring entrepreneurship

The FAM Program fills the gaps for queer entrepreneurs. Says Elaine Kwok, of Go Banana!, a Toronto marketing and design agency, “The FAM can help us be part of a thriving business community. That means helping us meet potential clients and partners, providing educational and practical resources, and even lobbying for government support for small businesses.” 

What Members Can Expect

The FAM offers a mix of community, skills-building, and visibility. Benefits of the FAM Program include: 

  • Exclusive invitations to CQCC networking events that help entrepreneurs build meaningful connections and expand their business community. 

  • Access to a national Community Hub, offering opportunities to meet, collaborate, and learn from other queer entrepreneurs and supportive organizations across Canada. 

  • Industry-focused workshops designed to boost sales, increase referrals, and strengthen essential business skills. 

  • High-visibility spotlight opportunities that elevate entrepreneurs on a national stage, introducing FAM members to new customers, fellow business owners, and corporate partners committed to supporting queer-owned businesses. 

A Free Way to Try It Out

CQCC is currently offering free access until April 1st. New members can explore the Community Hub, attend events, and participate in programming at no cost during this period. For many, it’s an easy way to test the waters, without committing to a full membership or certification process.

What’s the difference between CQCC and FAM?

1. Target Audience and Scale

  • CQCC (General): Operates as the national parent organization. It represents a broad spectrum of the economy, including over 100,000 queer-owned businesses, and handles large-scale initiatives like federal entrepreneurship programs and formal business certifications.

  • The FAM: Specifically designed for individuals and smaller operations that might feel "traditional" chambers are not for them. This includes freelancers, consultants, side-hustlers, students, and early-stage founders.

2. Accessibility and Barriers

  • CQCC (General): Generally involves a more formal engagement, often associated with business certification and higher-level advocacy for established queer-owned businesses.

  • The FAM: Described as a "low-barrier entry point." It is currently offering free access until April 1st, making it a "test the waters" option for those not yet ready for full membership or the formal certification process.

3. Purpose and Benefits

  • CQCC (General): Focuses heavily on national advocacy, economic research, education, and administering federal funding/mentorship programs for the 2SLGBTQI+ business ecosystem at large.

  • The FAM: Functions more as a national professional network and community hub. Its benefits are geared toward visibility and networking, such as:

    • The Community Hub: A digital space to meet and collaborate.

    • Spotlight Opportunities: Elevating small entrepreneurs on a national stage to find new customers.

    • Skill-Building: Workshops specifically designed to boost sales and referrals for smaller ventures.

Queering Business in BC

British Columbia is home to a thriving community of queer creatives, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. The FAM connects BC-based professionals to a national network, opening doors beyond local markets while still supporting regional connection and visibility.

Whether you’re a Vancouver-based creative, a, entrepreneur on the Island, or a freelancer building something new, The FAM offers support.

How to Join

Sarah Evalina (she/they) is the Chief Operating Officer at the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce. A seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in scaling social impact organizations, they have led companies through mission-driven growth international market expansions, and purposeful acquisitions. A queer activist and community advocate, Sarah serves as a board director with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and volunteers with West Coast Community Resources to support survivors of sexual violence. Their leadership is rooted in equity, sustainability, and collective joy, with a focus on building inclusive systems and values-driven teams.

Jude Goodwin https://goodwinstudios.com
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