A New Brunswick municipality has become the first in Atlantic Canada to be Rainbow Registered.

Grand Bay-Westfield has met the standards put in place by Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce.

The national accreditation shows they are a safe, welcoming, and accepting place for members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

Brittany Merrifield, mayor of Grand Bay-Westfield, said it was not an easy designation to receive.

“There are a lot of things that you have to put in place and you have to commit to ongoing commitments in terms of improvements,” Merrifield said in an interview.

Merrifield said the town had to demonstrate that there is a culture of inclusivity within the organization.

It also had to show there are policies and practices in place to show it is respectful of sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.

“There are criteria you have to continue to meet and it is an annual renewal,” said Merrifield.

On top of being the first municipality in Atlantic Canada to receive the accreditation, Grand Bay-Westfield is only the second community in the country to do so.

Merrifield said she believes the designation embodies the town’s vision statement: A welcoming place for all to live, grow and thrive.

“We want to make sure that all of our residents, our visitors and potential residents feel safe and welcomed and accepted in our community and I think that’s really important,” she said.

“It’s part of our dedication to building a more inclusive, vibrant and accepting place to live.”

You can find more about the Rainbow Registered designation by clicking here.