June is a month we look forward to every year - not just because the days are longer and the light feels warmer, but because it invites us to pause, reflect, and show up for the people and communities that make our world fuller and more beautiful. At Cher-Mère, we believe that wellness is never just personal. It is communal. It is historical. And it is inseparable from the values of inclusion, dignity, and care that have guided this brand since the very beginning.
As a proudly Rainbow Registered spa in Kingston, we were founded on the belief that everyone - regardless of age, skin tone, hair type, or background - deserves access to natural, effective, and thoughtful care. That commitment doesn't pause when summer arrives. If anything, June deepens it. This month, we recognize both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month, and we are honoured to mark both with our Kingston community.
At Cher-Mère, June is a month of celebration, reflection, learning, and action.
This month, we recognize both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. While these observances celebrate resilience, identity, culture, and community, they also remind us that progress is built on the courage of those who came before us and on the choices we continue to make today.
Pride: More Than a Celebration
Pride is often associated with rainbow flags, parades, and joyful expressions of identity. And it should be. Joy itself can be an act of resistance.
But Pride also has roots in protest.
The movement we know today grew out of individuals and communities who challenged discrimination, violence, and the criminalization of being themselves. Pride exists because people stood up and demanded dignity, safety, and equal rights. Many of those voices belonged to transgender people, racialized individuals, and community members whose contributions have not always been recognized.
As we celebrate Pride, we honour both the joy and the history. We recognize that while much progress has been made, many members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continue to face barriers and inequities. Pride calls us not only to celebrate love and authenticity, but also to advocate, listen, learn, and create spaces where everyone feels seen, welcomed, and valued.
What Pride looks like at Cher-Mère:
Inclusion has never been a campaign for us - it is woven into the foundation of who we are. Cher-Mère is a 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly spa in Kingston, and that is not a label we adopted recently. It reflects how we have operated from day one: with gender-neutral booking, inclusive language throughout our team, and products developed to serve people of all skin tones, hair types, ages, and genders. We knew from the start that the mainstream beauty industry was leaving too many people out. We built something different.
We are proud to hold Rainbow Registered accreditation - a national designation recognising businesses that have demonstrated a genuine commitment to creating safe, welcoming experiences for 2SLGBTQI+ guests. As one of Kingston's Rainbow Registered spas, we take that recognition seriously, not as a badge to display, but as a standard to uphold every single day.
This Pride Month, we invite you to celebrate who you are - and to take a little time for yourself. Whether that means booking a restorative facial, exploring our skin care collection, or simply learning more about what goes into our formulas, we are here for all of it.
National Indigenous History Month: Learning Through Action
June is also National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
Reconciliation is not a destination. It is an ongoing commitment.
It asks us to learn the true histories of this land, to listen to Indigenous voices, to acknowledge past and present harms, and to consider how we can take meaningful action in our own communities.
Sometimes that action looks like attending an event, reading Indigenous authors, supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, learning about the land we live on, or having conversations that challenge us to grow. Reconciliation happens through consistent acts of respect, curiosity, humility, and accountability.
As a community, we all have a role to play in building relationships rooted in understanding and mutual respect.
The connection between land, plants, and care:
At Cher-Mère, our identity as a natural spa in Kingston Ontario is rooted in something much older than our 40 years in business. Our founder Cheryl Bowles, a biochemist and former Nestlé executive, built this brand on the herbal knowledge passed down through four generations of Caribbean women - remedies rooted in the land, in plants, and in a deep respect for what the natural world provides. That philosophy feels especially resonant in June.
Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island have long held relationships with the land and with plant medicine that modern science is only beginning to fully appreciate. We hold that knowledge with respect. Our commitment to plant-based, chemical-free formulations - free from parabens, sulfates, and synthetic harshness - is in part an expression of that same reverence: the belief that nature, when honoured, provides.
Explore our INATURAL line for textured hair, our hemp body collection, and our skin care range - all grounded in botanical ingredients chosen for their efficacy and their gentleness.
Community Events in Kingston
Kingston Pride 2026 Theme: Resilience & Liberation in Action
June 6–14: Kingston Pride Week celebrations Saturday, June 13: Kingston Pride Parade and Community Fair
As a welcoming spa during Kingston Pride, we encourage you to take part in the week's events - and to treat yourself to a moment of rest and care when you need to recharge. Our doors are open.
National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration
Sunday, June 21 1:00–6:00 p.m. Confederation Park, Downtown Kingston
Hosted by the City of Kingston and the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest, the celebration includes performances, drumming, dancing, storytelling, cultural activities, Indigenous vendors, and opportunities to learn and connect as a community.
Giving Back
Community care has always been at the heart of Cher-Mère.
This June, we are proud to support organizations doing important work in our community through donations to:
Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest, supporting Indigenous culture, language revitalization, and community programming.
Trans Family Kingston, providing advocacy, education, support, and connection for transgender and gender-diverse individuals and their families.
We believe that everyone deserves spaces where they can simply be themselves. That belief is the reason Cher-Mère exists as an inclusive spa in Kingston - not just in June, but all year long.
Care That Sees You
At Cher-Mère, we want every person who walks through our doors to know that they can show up exactly as they are - authentic to themselves, without explanation or apology. Whether you are visiting us for a quiet moment of self-care, a celebration with friends, or a much-needed pause in a busy season, you belong here.
Not sure where to start? Our skin and hair quiz is a great way to find the right products for your unique concerns and goals. Whether you are managing dryness, navigating a curl pattern, or looking for something gentle enough for sensitive skin, we have formulations made for you - not for a narrow idea of who beauty is for.
And if you are ready to treat yourself or someone you love, our spa services offer everything from facials and massages to body treatments and brow care. As Kingston's welcoming spa for Pride and beyond, June is a beautiful time to book.
It is our privilege to pamper, care for, and serve people from all walks of life. We are grateful for the trust you place in us, and we remain committed to creating an environment rooted in kindness, respect, inclusion, and genuine hospitality.
Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates boldly, listens deeply, learns continuously, and cares for one another well.
With gratitude,
The Cher-Mère Team
Want to learn more about who we are and what we stand for? Read our story - four decades of natural care, Caribbean heritage, and science-backed formulas, made for everyone.