Community Resources
for 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion
This section includes community sources for learner support, guest speakers, etc.
Alberta Education Gay–Straight Alliances
https://www.alberta.ca/gay-straight-alliances.aspx
“Gay-Straight alliances (GSAs) and Queer-straight alliances (QSAs) promote welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe schools for LGBTQ2S+ students and their allies.”
Alberta Health Services – Sexual and Gender Diversity
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page15590.aspx
“Alberta Health Services is an inclusive organization that recognizes that everyone is different and valued. AHS attends events throughout the province to reach out to marginalized groups and celebrate the diversity of our work force.” The website provides resources, awareness, connections, and transgender health information.
Centre for Newcomers, Calgary: LGBTQ+ Newcomer Services
https://www.centrefornewcomers.ca/lgbtq
“The Centre for Newcomers offers services to the full range of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexually diverse newcomers to Canada. Whether you have permanent residency, filing for asylum as a refugee, or are here under any other status, then you can access the LGBTQ+ newcomer services.”
Edmonton 2 Spirit Society
This organization focuses on enhancing the traditional roles of Two Spirit people, and creating supportive environments for Two Spirit people.
EMCN: Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers: Rainbow Refuge: LGBTQ Refugee Support & Welcome Network
Call 587-938-6869 for more information
Edmonton Queer History Project
https://edmontonqueerhistoryproject.wordpress.com/
The Edmonton Queer History Project (EQHP) “is a multimedia, public art exhibition and community archive comprised of art, artifacts, and videotaped life history oral interviews. This collection showcases the people, places, and events that built understandings of Edmonton’s queer community over the past 40 years.”
End of the Rainbow
https://endoftherainbow.ca/lgbtq-newcomers-group/
End of the Rainbow is a newcomers’ group in Calgary with a mission “to improve socio-economic conditions for people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities or expressions (SOGIE) by providing innovative education, support programs, and research.”
GLSEN
Founded in 1990 by a group of teachers, “GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.” GLESN looks for evidence-based solutions for K–12 through original research.
ilga
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ilga) focuses on advocacy and research, and includes information on travel and human rights.
Pflag Canada
Also see the local PFLAG chapters in Calgary, Edmonton, Lacombe, Red Deer, and St Albert: https://pflagcanada.ca/pflag-chapters/alberta/
The Pride Centre of Edmonton
https://pridecentreofedmonton.ca/
The Centre provides support responsive to the “needs of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and of the people in their lives.”
Rainbow SIG
The mission of Rainbow SIG is to bring together NAFSA members who share the following goals:
- To counsel international students and study abroad students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+)
- To support LGBTQ+ professionals in international education
- To combat homophobia, heterosexism, and transphobia within NAFSA
Shades of Colour
https://www.facebook.com/shadesofcolour.yeg
This grassroots community is founded by and provides community support for People of Colour, and Queer/Trans People of Colour, living in Edmonton. It facilitates community meet-ups, workshops, mutual aid, and community outreach.
The Wellness Centre
https://www.wellnesscentreab.ca/
This centre focuses on crisis support and health and wellness support to transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse persons in northern Alberta.