LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2021

LCBO NOTES

From our President & CEO

Dear friends, Summer is in full swing and as vacci- nation roll-out continues and restrictions ease, we are all getting used to the idea of socializing with close family and friends again, while remaining mindful of public health guidelines, of course. The LCBO is happy to be part of everyone’s long- anticipated entertaining plans by providing new products and exceptional experiences to our customers across the province. Continuing to remain proud of our ability to make positive contributions to Ontario at this time has been our focus for well over a year, and it still holds true— most recently exemplified by the LCBO’s official sponsorship of Pride Toronto. Key to this involvement was our #ToastToPride campaign, in partnership with Women’s College Hospital Foundation—and it was a huge success. The money that so many of our customers generously donated will go towards health-related programs at the hos- pital that help members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community access the resources they need. It is all part of the LCBO’s Spirit of Sustainability platform—our commit- ment to the health and well-being of our customers, employees, and communities. And to the same end, I am delighted to tell you that I have signed the pledge! The BlackNorth Initiative CEO Pledge, that is. Together with over 450 other leading Canadian companies, the LCBO is now a signatory to the commitment to end sys- temic racism and create more opportunities for the under-represented BIPOC (Black People, Indigenous Peoples and People of

Colour) community. We also stand in soli- darity with our Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the face of a rise in racism against people of Asian descent. Something else we have been doing for almost 100 years is taking responsi- bility for the quality and safety of all the products we sell by testing them in the LCBO’s Quality Assurance Lab. The work goes on behind the scenes, but it is a vital part of our mandate. Last year, for exam- ple, our Lab conducted 621,939 tests on 25,338 product samples, checking every- thing from label accuracy and sustainabil- ity practices to illegal additives and sugar and caffeine levels. Excess caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol, increasing the possibility of over-consumption—and that goes against another of our fundamental messages—to urge people to drink respon- sibly. We have ongoing partnerships with MADD Canada and other initiatives pro- moting public safety—but our real part- ners in this cause are you, our customers. It is something we all need to bear in mind this summer as we finally start to entertain and venture a bit further from home again, and life begins to look and feel a little more sociable. Have a great summer!

George Soleas President & CEO, LCBO

PORTRAIT BY JAMES TSE

14

SUMMER 2021 FOOD & DRINK