Speaker Biographies - Rainbow Health Ontario

L G B T Q
Jacques Abourbih received his
medical doctorate from McGill in 1973. After a
year of internship at the Royal Victoria Hospital in
Montreal, Jacques continued training in surgery
at University of Toronto. Jacques specialized in
Urology, where he practiced surgery urology for
27 years. In the past 10 years, he taught at the
Northern Ontario School of Medicine where he
is currently associate professor of surgery and
recipient of Professor Honorarius at his retirement
on May 2nd, 2014.
Alex Abramovich has worked in the
area of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, questioning, and 2-Spirit (LGBTQ2S)
youth homelessness for almost 10 years. Alex
is a nationally recognized leader in the area of
LGBTQ2S youth homelessness and is one of few
Canadian researchers studying the phenomenon
of queer and trans youth homelessness. Alex
completed his Doctorate at Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto.
His Ph.D. study investigated homophobia and
transphobia in Toronto’s shelter system, the
experiences that LGBTQ2S young people have in
the shelter system, and how broader policy issues
serve to create oppressive contexts for LGBTQ2S
youth. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow
at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
(CAMH), where he is researching LGBTQ2S
youth homelessness and access to mental health
services.
Depuis près de 10 ans, Alex Abramovich
concentre ses travaux sur l’itinérance chez les
jeunes lesbiennes, gais, bisexuels, transgenres,
queers, en questionnement et bispirituels
(LGBTQ2S). Expert reconnu à l’échelle nationale
de la question des jeunes itinérants LGBTQ2S,
Alex est aussi l’un des seuls chercheurs
canadiens à s’intéresser au phénomène de
l’itinérance chez les jeunes queer et trans. Alex
est titulaire d’un doctorat de l’Institut des études
pédagogiques de l’Ontario de l’Université de
Toronto. Pour la rédaction de sa thèse, il s’est
penché sur l’homophobie et la transphobie
dans le réseau des refuges de Toronto, sur les
expériences vécues par les jeunes LGBTQ2S
dans ces refuges et sur la façon dont les enjeux
politiques plus larges entraînent la création de
contextes d’oppression pour les jeunes LGBTQ2S.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Alex I. Abramovich est présentement boursier
de recherches postdoctorales au Centre de
toxicomanie et de santé mentale (CAMH), où il
poursuit ses travaux de recherche sur l’itinérance
chez les jeunes LGBTQ2S et sur leur accès aux
services en santé mentale.
Bruce Baskerville is a Senior Scientist
with the University of Waterloo, Propel Centre
for Population Health Impact and an Adjunct
Professor with the University of Waterloo, School
of Public Health and Health Systems. He is a
mixed-methods researcher with over 20 years
of public and private sector experience in
applied research and program evaluation in the
behavioural and management sciences putting
research into action to create change. At Propel,
Bruce conducts tobacco control research with a
focus on reducing health disparities.
Bruce Baskerville est préposé principal
à la recherche, Université de Waterloo, Propel
Centre for Population Health Impact, professeur
adjoint, Université de Waterloo, École de santé
publique et des systèmes de santé, Waterloo
(Ontario). Chercheur utilisant une méthodologie
de recherche mixte, il compte plus de 20 ans
d’expérience dans les secteurs public et
privé en recherche appliquée et évaluation de
programmes dans le domaine des sciences
du comportement et de la gestion, et travaille
à transposer la recherche en action concrète
afin d’amorcer le changement. Chez Propel,
Bruce travaille en recherche sur le contrôle du
tabagisme, particulièrement en réduction des
disparités en matière de santé.
Greta Bauer, PhD, is an Associate
Professor and Graduate Chair in Epidemiology &
Biostatistics, in the Schulich School of Medicine
& Dentistry at Western University. She has almost
two decades of training and experience in
quantitative health research methodology specific
to LGBT communities. She has published 36
academic papers or chapters on lesbian, gay,
bisexual and/or trans health topics, including 8 on
research methodology.
Llani Barger, London, Ontario
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Speaker Biographies
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Joan Beecroft is a retired teacher and recipient of
Anne Bodkin’s passion for Human Rights and
Monica Bennett has over 25 years of experience
in the not-for-profit sector creating successful partnerships,
developing and implementing programming, and
developing policies and practices that improve personal and
organizational health. She has a specialized background
in commercial tobacco control, sexual health and sexual
and gender diversity. Monica currently work’s for Smokers’
Helpline as a regional coordinator dedicated to increasing
the capacity of health care providers, community service
organizations and others to integrate tobacco cessation
into their practice and programming and the knowledge
of cessation support services that are available both to
practitioners and to quitters.
Vincent Bolt is a Laurentian University Alumnus with
an Honours Degree in English Literature. He is currently
enrolled in the School of Indigenous Relations Honours
Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work Program at Laurentian
University. He has been active in the transgender community
since 2007. He is passionate about his work as the Project
Coordinator for TG Innerselves. When he has spare time he
likes to spend it curled up with a good book and his adopted
bunny Winter.
the YMCA Peace Medallion. She was the facilitator of the
youth group Pride and Prejudice Grey Bruce through ARCH,
compiled the book “Growing Up Gay in Grey and Bruce”,
and organized Owen Sound pride celebrations, collaborated
on compiling a Rainbow resource box and wrote an
educational guide available for youth workers and teachers.
She is also the educational consultant and key support
person to youth involved in Sheatre’s “Be Our Ally”.
Sonny Berenson is a trans-identified community
facilitator and artist. As a coordinator and facilitator, they
are dedicated to continually creating safer, accessible
spaces for individuals and the complex intersectional
identities they hold. As a community based artist, they have
organized and participated in numerous events across
Canada and value the power of art in asking questions,
challenging assumptions and building community. They
use a variety of art mediums throughout these programs, in
ways that promote self-care, and access to community and
relationship building.
Jeanette Blair, MSW, has worked in an array of
residential, clinical, and support services with a variety
of populations including adults living with HIV/AIDS, folks
experiencing mental health and substance use challenges,
as well as homeless and at risk youth. Jeanette currently is
Manager, Democratic Living at the YMCA of Greater Toronto
and oversees programming, and operations for both the
LGBTQ2s transitional housing program Sprott House, and
also the YMCA’s emergency youth shelter in downtown
Toronto.
activism shines through every aspect of her practice. After
working as a General Practitioner for 30 years, she switched
to working part-time at London InterCommunity Health
Centre, where she concentrates on providing healthcare
to vulnerable women in the community. To address the
overwhelming need, Dr. Bodkin embraced the opportunity
for training in trans specific care and competency, and is
thrilled to provide clinical services to trans clients.
Suzie Bordeleau, bachelière en travail social, a
débuté à la Maison ISA (Centre d’aide et de lutte contre
les agressions à caractère sexuel) comme stagiaire et par
la suite, comme intervenante. Par la suite, elle a travaillé
en santé mentale dans un milieu de vie pour se joindre, en
2000, au Groupe d’intervention en violence conjugale chez
les lesbiennes (GIVCL). Elle est l’initiatrice et la co-fondatrice
du Centre de solidarité lesbienne (CSL) qui est issu du
GIVCL. Elle a co-écrit des articles sur la violence conjugale
avec Karol O’Brien (co-fondatrice du GIVCL et du CSL).
Au fil des ans, elle se spécialise en violence conjugale,
en agression sexuelle, suicide, orientation sexuelle et plus
récemment en immigration.
Suzie Bordeleau earned a Bachelor of Social Work
and began her career at the Maison ISA (Centre d’aide et
de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel) as an
intern and later as a case worker. Next, she worked in a
supported living environment before joining the Groupe
d’intervention en violence conjugale chez les lesbiennes
(GIVCL) in 2000. She initiated and co-founded the Centre de
solidarité lesbienne (CSL), which originated from the GIVCL.
Ms. Bordeleau has co-written articles on spousal abuse
with Karol O’Brien (GIVCL and CSL co-founder). Over the
years, she has specialized in spousal abuse, sexual assault,
suicide, sexual orientation and, more recently, immigration.
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L G B T Q
Dale Boyle is the Capacity Development Coordinator
at the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County. Dale has over four
years and 100 guest speaking roles supporting LGBT work
in rural and suburban communities. Previously, he worked
as the ACSC’s Youth Programs Coordinator, facilitating
youth groups throughout the county. Dale also started the
Ally Campaign, which focuses around providing LGBT
awareness and education workshops to not for profits,
educational institutions, community groups, and more.
David J. Brennan, PhD, is an Associate Professor
of Social Work at the University of Toronto and Ontario HIV
Treatment Network Applied HIV Research Chair in Gay and
Bisexual Men’s Health. Dr. Brennan’s community-based
research program focuses on marginalized gay, bisexual,
two-spirit and other men who have sex with men. He has
examined resilience among two-spirit HIV-positive men,
body image among gay men of color, and online outreach
and health promotion via mobile apps. His research is also
supported by the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research,
and focuses on the health and well-being of gay, bisexual,
two-spirit and other MSM.
Jay Bruneau is a youth from Sudbury who has been
advocating for 4 years now. Jay is a youth from the foster
care system who believe that the voice of young people
are important and believes that everyone voice should be
elevated.
Julie Bull is of Inuit descent and is a member of
NunatuKavut, from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. She
is currently the Executive Director of the Toronto Aboriginal
Support Services Council (TASSC) – a research and policy
organization that aims to address the social determinants of
health to ensure a rich and vibrant Indigenous community
in the city of Toronto. Julie is an award winning Indigenous
scholar whose research work examines research ethics and
the governance of research in Indigenous communities.
She has published and presented on this topic nationally
and internationally. Julie is an active volunteer in various
community-based organizations in Toronto, including the
Mood Disorders Association of Ontario Research Advisory
Committee and is a mentor in the Indigenous Women in
Community Leadership through the Coady International
Institute at St. Frances Xavier University.
Ken Burgess, Family Physician, Hamilton Family
Health Team and Dawn Atwell, Practice Manager, Hamilton
Family Health Team. These participants will share the story
of the steps their primary care practice team took to increase
positive space and what the outcomes have been.
H E A L T H
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Melissa Carroll is of mixed Irish and Mi’kmaq
descent from Prince Edward Island. She is a queer woman
and Two-Spirit activist and an active member of both the
Native and LGBT*QI communities. Holding a Doctorate in
Cultural Studies from McMaster University, Melissa currently
works as a community researcher and was most recently a
consultant for Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
where she completed the policy paper “Closing the Gap: An
Education and Employment Framework for Aboriginal Youth
in Scarborough.” Melissa was also the head researcher for
the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) in
2013-2014 and completed such projects as “The Forgotten
Voices Project”—a youth-led Indigenous research project
with 2-Spirit, LGBT*Q and Asexual Indigenous homeless
youth in Toronto. Since the research stage of the project,
Melissa has been encouraging, facilitating, and mentoring
Indigenous youth in their development of ODE, a unique
drop-in program envisioned by and for the youth called
which opened January 2015.
Joan Chandler is a producer, director, writer, arts
educator and workshop facilitator. Her work focuses on
interactive productions about social issues, and on plays
that celebrate community and the creative spirit. Joan has a
keen ability to work with groups, collaboratively spinning new
plays with, by and about their own stories and concerns. She
is also an award-winning script writer. She is the founding
Artistic Director of the professional community arts company
Sheatre. Joan lives near Wiarton, Ontario.
Tamara Chipperfield is the Director of Mental
Health and Addictions at Centretown Community Health
Centre in Ottawa. Tamara has worked in the field of Mental
Health and Addictions for over ten years in the Ottawa
area. Over the last year Tamara has had the pleasure of
supporting, along with her CCHC colleagues, capacity
building within the community health sector.
Victoria Corbett is a youth from Sault Ste Marie
who has been advocating for two and a half years. Victoria
uses her own lived experiences to create change in her
community.
Kusha Dadui is the Tran Program Coordinator at
Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto. He came here as a
refugee from Iran about 20 years ago and has worked with
The 519 Community Centre, Iranian Queer Organization and
a Chelteke, a queer collective to improve the lives of Queer
and Trans refugees. He currently works with trans* youth and
mostly trans* newcomers.
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Andrea Daley is Associate Professor in the School of
Social Work at York University. She has published on social
justice issues including those impacting sexual and gender
minority communities with a particular focus on access
to equitable and good quality health care; lesbian/queer
women’s experiences of psychiatric services; and gender,
sexuality, race, and class and the interpretative nature of
psychiatric chart documentation as it relates to psychiatric
narratives of women’s mental distress.
Ilana David is a social worker with the Gender-Based
Violence Prevention Office in the Toronto District School
Board, providing a range of support and consultation
services to schools and families. Ilana facilitates groups
for parents/caregivers of trans* and gender independent
students; provides counselling services to students in the
Triangle Program, Canada’s only LGBTQ alternative school;
and advocates for safe and inclusive school climates across
the TDSB. Lara Descartes has a PhD in Anthropology from the
University of Michigan. She is faculty in Family Studies at
Brescia University College. She has published on the topics
of LGBT health and aging, qualitative research, support
exchange, work and family, and media and family. Her
current work is with sexual minority single parents.
Christoffer Dharma is an MSc Candidate in
Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University. He
earned his BSc at Simon Fraser University in statistics
and psychology. His master’s project evaluates different
measures of sexual orientation commonly used in population
health surveys.
Joël Dickinson is a Laurentian University professor
with expertise in statistics, cognitive processes, and schema
and reading, and equally co-chair of the Sexuality and
Gender Diversity Committee at Laurentian University. In the
past five years, she has focused on helping to create the
new Cognitive Health Research Laboratory at Laurentian
University, while teaching and supervising honours and
graduate students. Some typical projects include the
supervision of The Lesbian Motherhood Survey, and
research which led to the 2011 publication of her article
‘’The Impact of ‘Violating the Heterosexual norm’ on Reading
Speed and Accuracy’’. Joël has a BA and a PhD from the
University of New Brunswick.
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Tuval Dinner is a parent, a partner and violence
prevention educator. Over the past ten years he has
facilitated workshops and delivered presentations for
thousands of young people, educators, parents and
community members on issues relating to sexism, healthy
relationships, gender equity and eliminating violence from
our lives. Tuval has worked for the Victoria Women’s Sexual
Assault Centre’s teen program, Project Respect and for
White Ribbon. Tuval coordinates outreach and public
education for COPA.
Sharp Dopler
is of Sauk/Fox, Cherokee and Irish
descent and has been employed since 2006 by the Ontario
Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas) in Ottawa. In February
of 2015 Sharp took on the position of Program Manager
for Oahas. Sharp has extensive experience as a presenter
including presentations at National and International
gatherings. Sharp serves the Aboriginal community as a
traditional Helper to the Elders in ceremony and enjoys
sharing the gift of the drum. Sharp has a Master’s Degree in
Canadian Studies and an honours diploma in Social Service
Work. Sharp also holds a second Dan (or 2nd degree) Black
Belt in Taekwon Do.
Sharp Dopler est de descendance Sauk et Fox,
Cherokee et irlandaise. Depuis 2006, Sharp travaille à
l’Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas), à Ottawa.
En février 2015, Sharp a accepté le poste de gestionnaire
de programme pour cet organisme. Sharp possède
une vaste expérience de présentateur et est monté en
tribune à maintes reprises lors d’événements nationaux et
internationaux. Sharp travaille auprès des communautés
autochtones en tant qu’aide traditionnel aux aînés lors de
cérémonies et aime partager sa passion pour le tambour.
Sharp est titulaire d’une maîtrise en études canadiennes et
d’un baccalauréat spécialisé en assistance sociale. Sharp
est également ceinture noire 2e Dan en taekwondo.
Max Ducsharm is a harm reduction worker at Queen
West Community Health Centre. He has been involved in
initiatives to improve health and social services for trans folks
for over 4 years. He continues to work from a communitydriven, harm reduction perspective to try to break down
some of the barriers experienced by trans folks who are
living in poverty.
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Karly Dudar is a recent graduate of the Master of
Public Health at Queen’s University, and a member of the
OPHA. Karly is a former committee member of the Sexuality
and Gender Diversity at Laurentian University where she
participated in knowledge translation around their Climate
Survey, which assessed the LGBTQ2-S climate across
campus including faculty, staff, and students. Karly has
equally been involved with the Clinical Sciences department
at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in developing
LGBTQ2-S curriculum for undergraduate medical learners,
alongside Dr. Jacques Abourbih.
Sarah Eckler is a family doctor who works at Queen
West Community Health Centre. She has worked in the
Community Health Centre (CHC) sector for the past 9 years.
She has been providing health care to transgender and
gender non conforming clients for the past 5 years and has
a keen interest in this area of medicine.
Lindsay Elin, MSW, RSW, is an individual and family
therapist with an interest in working with trans* youth/young
adults and their parents/caregivers from an attachment
lens. She has done counselling and community-based work
within feminist and LGBT communities for the past 14 years.
She currently works at CTYS in their Pride and Prejudice
(LGBTQ) team and in private practice.
Tim Elliott, MSW, RSW, Mental Health Counsellor, is an
active member of the Hamilton Family Health Team’s Positive
Working Group and active in community advocacy.
Stephen Feder, MD, graduated from McGill medical
school in 1976 and became a member of the Canadian
College of Family Physicians in 1979. He obtained his
MPH and clinical fellowship in Adolescent Health from the
University of Minnesota 1991. Dr. Feder is currently Head,
Division of Adolescent Medicine, at the Children’s Hospital of
Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and he has been the Co-director of
the Diversity Clinic at CHEO since 2011
Stephen Feder, MD, a obtenu son diplôme de
la faculté de médecine de l’Université McGill en 1976 et
est devenu membre du Collège des médecins de famille
du Canada en 1979. Il a obtenu sa maîtrise en santé
publique et effectué son stage postdoctoral en santé des
adolescents à l’Université du Minnesota en 1991. Le Dr
Feder est présentement chef de la division de médecine
des adolescents du Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est
de l’Ontario (CHEO). Il est codirecteur de la Clinique de
diversité de cet établissement depuis 2011.
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Corey E. Flanders, PhD, is a Postdoctoral
Research Fellow with the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health
Team, affiliated with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health
at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include
understanding the positive and negative experiences of
mental, sexual, and reproductive health among sexual and
gender minority people, as well as the factors that influence
those experiences.
Agnieszka Forfa is a queer-identified cis femme,
community facilitator, artist and counsellor. Coming out as
crazy several years ago, Agnieszka became politicized
about mental health and healing, and found direction,
strength and care in the disability justice movement.
Located in Toronto, with childhood roots on the Baltic Shore,
Agnieszka spends most of her time thinking, dreaming,
talking and creating around madness, healing and justice.
Most recently, she has been published in Make/Shift
magazine, facilitated the Our Mad Selves group at SOY, and
continues to work in her counseling practice.
Anna Gaby-Trotz, printmaker and photographer,
believes in the transformative power of art. She has a
BA (Fine Arts) from the University of Guelph and MFA
(printmaking) from the University of Alberta. She has built
inner city arts programs in Edmonton, worked for the
Haliburton School of the Arts and Georgian College, and
founded a printmaking studio in Huntsville. Anna also
travels to the most remote places in Canada to explore our
relationship to the land. She is the technical lead of Open
Studio, Toronto and Associate Artist with Sheatre, based in
Kemble, Ontario.
Lorraine Gale, MSW, has built CAS-Toronto’s
capacity to provide affirming and equitable services
for LGBTQ children, youth and families for 18 years,
through education, consultation, policy and celebration.
She authored CAS-Toronto’s Out and Proud Affirmation
Guidelines: Practice Guidelines for Equity in Gender and
Sexual Diversity, using a strength-based, anti-oppressive
approach. She also designed and facilitated workshops for
parents of LGBTQ youth through Delisle Youth Services in
Toronto.
Dan Gallant received his master’s in Social Justice
and Equity Studies from Brock University, where his research
focused on not-for-profit social services and their ability to
meet the needs of marginalized groups. He has volunteered
for several years within the HIV sector, and was eventually
employed as a Community Development and Education
Coordinator at Positive Living Niagara. His work focuses on
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HIV and STI education and prevention for gay men and other
men who have sex with men. This work is done, in large
part, by working closely with many LGBTQ-oriented groups.
Outside work Dan continues to volunteer his time with
Streetworks, the local needle exchange program.
Kathleen Gamble is a PhD candidate at York
University in the Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies
Program and is the CRT’s research assistant Her research
focuses on historical and legal representations of HIV/AIDS,
histories of sexualities, Canadian health policy, and the
social determinants of health. As well, Kathleen has held
sessional teaching positions at Queen’s University, Western
University, Trent University and the University of Toronto
where she has taught on a variety of topics related to her
research interests.
Erika Gates-Gasse est présentement directrice
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Laura Gibbon is an Education and Training
Specialist and Facilitator at The 519. She works specifically
on anti-homophobia and anti-transphobia campaigns and
delivering queer and trans inclusion training to a wide range
of organizations across the GTA. She has primarily focused
her efforts on working with folks who provide services to
older LGBTQ adults, ensuring that care environments are
safe and welcoming for aging members of the community.
Rachel Giblon completed her undergraduate
degree in biophysics at York University, with a focus on
electrophysiology and neural response patterns. More
recently, she has become interested in working in community
research, addressing the social and economic barriers
faced by gender minorities, in particular those face by trans
people. She is currently finishing her MSc. in Epidemiology
& Biostatistics at Western University, investigating health
inequalities for trans people living in Ontario.
de la recherche et de l’évaluation à Youth Research
and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX). Au moment où
la recherche a été effectuée, elle était la coordinatrice
principale de la politique et la recherche à OCASI – the
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. Son
expertise se situe dans les domaines de la recherche
communautaire et de l’immigration. Elle a coordonné de
nombreux projets de recherche au cours des cinq dernières
années, y compris le projet « Envisioning LGBT Human
Rights », basé à l’Université de York, pour lequel elle a été la
présidente communautaire.
Loralee Gillis is responsible for supporting the
development of LGBT health research in Ontario and for
encouraging public policy that supports LGBT health.
In her role she supports a network of 40 researchers
across Ontario whose work focuses on LGBT health. She
hosts networking and skill building opportunities related
to research and public policy for the network, as well as
service providers and community members. Loralee is a
coinvestigator on several large team grants which focus on
different aspects of LGBT health.
Erika Gates-Gasse is currently the Manager of
Colin Green is Manager of LGBTQ Programs for the
Research and Evaluation at Youth Research and Evaluation
eXchange (YouthREX). During the course of this research,
she served as Senior Policy and Research Coordinator
at the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
(OCASI). Her areas of expertise are community research
and immigration. She has coordinated a number of research
projects over the past five years, including the “Envisioning
LGBT Human Rights” project, based at York University, for
which she served as Community Chair.
Golnaz Ghaderi
is a master’s student in the
Applied Psychology program at Laurentian University.
Golnaz obtained her BA (Honours) in psychology from
York University, and Master of Education in Developmental
Psychology and Education from OISE, the faculty of
education at University of Toronto. Golnaz is a committee
member of the RSIG at OADD conference, where she
participates in planning and organization of annual
conferences in developmental disabilities. Golnaz is also a
member of Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).
AIDS Committee of Simcoe County. Colin has held positions
in nine different not-for-profits, including The 519 Church
Street Community Centre, Goodwill Toronto, the Art Gallery
of Ontario and Hepatitis Society of Nova Scotia. Colin’s
involvement in the queer community has included board
positions with the Toronto Counseling Centre for Lesbians
and Gays (now defunct), the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action
Project and a community advisory role with Wellesley Central
Hospital HIV Unit.
anya gwynne is a performance artist and
professional queer living in Peterborough, Ontario. They
facilitate the Rainbow Youth Program at Peterborough
AIDS Resource Network and are passionate about creative
approaches to education.
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Roya Haghiri-Vijeh obtained her Bachelor of
Nursing in 2007 from University of New Brunswick in
Collaboration with Humber College. She completed her
Masters of Nursing (Honours) with stream in Health policy
and Education from Ryerson University. Roya has been
involved as co-investigator in several research projects
on topics of policy, online education, simulation, and peer
mentorship for nursing students and sole author of the
article “The Importance of Including Needs of the LGBTIQ
community in Millennium Development Goals and the
Education of Healthcare Professionals” for the Journal of
Global Citizenship & Equity Education. Roya has been a
faculty of nursing program at Centennial College since 2010.
Shazad Hai is the MSM Outreach Coordinator at the
Alliance of South Asians AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) where
he coordinates HIV/AIDS outreach and prevention-based
programing for self-identified South Asian queer men. He
facilitates ‘Dosti’ - a social support space for South Asian
men and runs the group’s well-established online presence.
Shazad is also a founding member of ‘Rangeela’ a quarterly
event for queer identified South Asians, profits of which are
donated to various local and international non-profits.
Peter Hall is a Registered Psychotherapist,
Canadian Certified Counsellor, and Canadian Certified
Counsellor—Supervisor working on the LGBT Team at the
Sherbourne Health Centre (an established communitybased primary healthcare centre in downtown Toronto).
He is also an Associate Faculty member at Yorkville
University, and an Adjunct Instructor in the University
of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
His clinical, educational, and research interests include
LGBT issues, psychotherapist/counsellor education and
supervision, education in the health professions, and
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. He is currently involved in
post-doctoral studies in the field of education in the health
professions in the Faculties of Education and Medicine at
The Johns Hopkins University.
Darlyn Hansen is 75 years old and came out in 2006.
She is one of the founding members of TG Innerselves, and
her role is Community Relation and Education to the general
public and making aviaries of who we are.
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Kate Hazell identifies as queer and femme. She works
as a Facilitator of Education and Training at The 519 and she
is a certified Activation Coordinator with a specialization in
gerontology. Kate has been a front-line worker in long-term
care, adult day program and drop-in settings. She volunteers
as a pen pal for the LGBTQ Prisoner Correspondence
Project and as the editor of a collaborative (maga)zine called
Femmes in Space.
Sue Hranilovic, MN, NP-PHC, ACRN, considers
herself an “old nurse” and a “newer nurse practitioner”. As
a Masters-prepared Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner
and an AIDS Certified Nurse, Sue has provided hospital,
community and primary health care in Toronto’s inner city
for over 25 years. Her practice has included patients living
with HIV, those injecting drugs and those on methadone
maintenance, transgender patients, patients with mental
health issues and those infected with hepatitis C. She has
a commitment to continuing involvement in professional
development and community-based volunteer activities
which have included Board of Directors positions for the
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, the Ontario
HIV Treatment Network and Fife House Foundation. Sue
is proud to have been one of the founding members of
the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment and to
have participated in volunteer nursing in Zimbabwe. She
has done over 60 presentations to colleagues, patients
and community and has received ten awards related to
excellence in academia and clinical care. Sue’s high
level of expertise and commitment to working with diverse,
marginalized, stigmatized, at-risk and vulnerable populations
has served her both locally and internationally, and she
hopes to continue nurturing the resilience of the clients she
walks with, learns from and serves.
Sue Hranilovic,
MSc, inf., IP – soins primaires,
IP – soins du SIDA, se considère comme une « vieille »
infirmière et comme une « nouvelle infirmière praticienne ».
En tant qu’infirmière praticienne spécialisée en soins
primaires titulaire d’une maîtrise, elle offre des soins en
milieu hospitalier et communautaire et des soins primaires
à Toronto depuis plus de 25 ans. Dans le cadre de sa
pratique, elle a pris en charge des personnes vivant avec
le VIH, des personnes utilisatrices de drogues injectables
ou en traitement d’entretien à la méthadone, des patients
transgenres, aux prises avec des problèmes de santé
mentale ou atteintes de l’hépatite C. Mme Hranilovic travaille
en continu en développement professionnel et à des
activités communautaires bénévoles. Elle a notamment siégé
aux conseils d’administration de la Canadian Association of
Nurses in AIDS Care, de l’Ontario HIV Treatment Network
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et de la Fife House Foundation. Sue Hranilovic est fière
de faire partie des membres fondateurs du Committee for
Accessible AIDS Treatment, et d’avoir travaillé comme
infirmière bénévole au Zimbabwe. Elle a effectué plus de
60 présentations à des collègues, des patients et dans
des communautés, et elle a reçu 10 prix d’excellence dans
le domaine universitaire et des soins cliniques. Son degré
d’expertise élevé et son engagement à travailler auprès
des personnes marginalisées, stigmatisées, vulnérables et
à risque l’ont motivée tant à l’échelle locale qu’à l’échelle
internationale, et elle espère continuer à favoriser la résilience
des personnes qu’elle sert, auprès de qui elle chemine et qui
lui permettent de poursuivre son apprentissage.
educational tool for the betterment of LGBT2-SQ health care.
He is the co-editor in chief of the OnExam App and is the 3rd
year representative for family medicine on the East campus.
His interests include family medicine, anesthesia, emergent
care and the insurance that all demographics receive
exceptional and equal health care.
Jaden Hsin-Yun Peng graduated from Gender
Studies and Mental Rehabilitation (Clinical Psychology), as a
vocational case manager who worked on the issue of gender
and work quality. She is a person with strong passion and
positive attitude. Her work experience equipped her with
advanced empathy and counseling skills to work with clients
in radical acceptance. To serve underprivileged people in
non-government organization and city welfare department
inspires her to be an open-minded person who is motivated
and willing to give.
Randy Jackson is a PhD candidate in the School
of Social Work at McMaster University. Originally from
Kettle and Stony Point First Nation (Anishinaabe), Jackson’s
research has been supported by CIHR and by the OHTN.
Jackson explores lived experience among Aboriginal
peoples living with HIV and AIDS (APHAs). Working
alongside community organizations, his thesis focuses on
experiences of depression among APHAs in ways that adapt
life course in narrative inquiry using Indigenous knowledge.
Josh Hyatt is a healthcare risk manager, medical
ethicist, compliance professional, lecturer, and professor.
He has worked in healthcare and risk management for
more than 25 years and has achieved the designation of
certified professional in health care risk management. He
received his doctorate in health science, has a graduate
degree in health law, and his academic interests primarily
focus on the relationships between health law and medical
ethics, especially related to LGBTQ health disparities. Dr.
Hyatt current works with a major MPLI as a Senior Risk
Management Specialist and is an adjunct and visiting
professor with several universities, teaching on topics such
as health law, bioethics, health leadership, health policy and
analysis, and strategic management. He has written and
published on topics of healthcare disparities and workplace
issues, social media in healthcare, and medical ethics.
Stephan Imbeau is a third year medical student
from rural Northern Ontario. Born and raised in Elliot Lake
he attended Laurentian University in Sudbury where he
received his Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
He then worked in the emergency care setting at Health
Sciences North while participating in research on Aboriginal
adolescent diabetes management. Now in his third year of
medical school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine
he has participated in the formulation of an epidemiological/
Andy Inkster, MA is the Health Promoter for the
LGBTQ Parenting Network. Andy has been involved in queer
and trans family planning work since 2005 as a member of
the Trans Fathers 2B working group. He co-facilitates Queer
& Trans Family Planning, a course developed in partnership
between The 519 and the LGBTQ Parenting Network.
Sarah James-Abra, MSW, RSW, is a Social
Worker in the Child, Youth, and Family Program at Lakeridge
Health in Oshawa, Ontario. She received an Honours
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sexuality Studies from
York University and went on to complete her Master of Social
Work at the University of Toronto. For her Master’s thesis,
Sarah explored trans people’s experiences with assisted
reproduction (AR) services, under the supervision of Dr. Lori
E. Ross.
Sharalyn Jordan is a scholar–practitioner and
educator in Counselling Psychology, and works at the
nexus of mental health and social justice. Recent and
current projects explore the implications of homophobic
and transphobic stigma, trauma, and intersectional
oppressions for refugee protection, settlement, and mental
health. Sharalyn’s research uses critical, interpretive, and
collaborative qualitative inquiry methods, and I strive to
involve communities and participants in active, respectful,
knowledge co-production. Results of these projects include
academic and practitioner publications, policy briefs, public
advocacy, and knowledge exchanges. In parallel, she works
with community agencies that support LGBTQ and refugee
mental health as they develop and assess their counselling
practices and programs.
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Olivia Kamgain est candidate à la maîtrise en
administration publique à l’École Nationale d’administration
publique (ENAP). Ses champs d’intérêt couvrent les
inégalités sociales en santé, les études sur le genre et l’équité
en administration publique.
Olivia Kamgain is a Public Administration Master’s
Candidate at the École Nationale d’administration publique
(ENAP). Her areas of interest include social inequalities in
health, gender studies and equity in public administration.
Helen Kennedy, became Egale’s Executive Director
in 2007. She is the first woman to hold the position. She
joined the organization with 22 years of experience in politics
both as an elected city councillor and a political staffer. She
is a founding member of Canadians for Equal Marriage,
widely regarded as the most influential public policy lobbying
campaign in Canadian history which ultimately resulted in
Canada being one of the first countries in the world to legalize
same-sex marriage. Helen’s work includes the Climate
Survey on Homophobia and Transphobia in Canadian
Schools, the first national survey of its kind in Canada, and
provides critical findings on bullying to schools, educators
and governments. She has delivered training to Immigration
Refugee Adjudicators and police services across Canada
and at the invitation of the US Department of Defence,
consulted with senior Pentagon officials in Washington on the
US military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. She is Co-Secretary
General of the International Gay, Lesbian, Trans and Intersex
Association (ILGA), the world federation of national and local
organisations dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people.
Rob Kerr, MD, CCF(EM), FCFP, is a family physician
from Hamilton and a member of the Hamilton Family Health
Team (HFHT). Chair of the HFHT’s Positive Space Committee
(HFHT Positive), he was recently honoured by the College of
Family Physicians for his work in furthering LGBT health in the
Hamilton region.
David Kinitz is a recent graduate from York University’s
MSW program. Previous experience working with queer
communities led to his research on the prevalence of
whiteness within them.
M A T T E R S
Ed Kucharski is a Regional Primary Care Lead
(Toronto Central LHIN South) for Cancer Care Ontario. He
is also a practicing Family Physician at Sherbourne Health
Centre where he was Medical Director from 2009-2012. Ed
focuses on health inequities of marginalized populations,
Quality Improvement and teaching LGBT Primary Care.
Dr. Kucharski holds his Doctorate in Medicine from the
University of Ottawa and completed his residency in Family
Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Maaya Kuri Hitomi is a Master’s student in Applied
Social Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan and
a vocal advocate for transgender rights in Saskatoon. Her
research addresses the issues of transgender identities
and the prejudice and discrimination faced by transgender
communities, and is written to highlight explicitly the
oppression and marginalization faced by these communities
in the healthcare fields.
Nathan Lachowsky is an epidemiologist using
interdisciplinary community-based research to address
health inequities among sexual minorities. Nathan is a
postdoctoral fellow at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social
Work, University of Toronto, and holds a Junior Investigator
Development Award from the OHTN focused on improving
HIV prevention and services for rural and online sexual
minority men. Within the community, he serves on the OHTN
Ontario Cohort Study Governance Committee and is former
President of the HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health
(ARCH) in Guelph.
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan is a second year PhD
student at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the
University of Toronto. Over the past few years, Ashley has had
the opportunity to work in a research and evaluation capacity in
diverse settings including: community-based mental health and
health organizations, a research institution, a private charitable
foundation, a policy/advocacy group, and hospitals. Ashley’s
work focuses on hard-to-reach women living with HIV who were
experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance use
issues and/or were involved in sex work.
Lu Lam, MEd, CCC, (www.lulam.ca), is a ChineseTaiwanese trans-identified counsellor, mindfulness facilitator
and educator. He brings over 15 years of frontline counselling
and group facilitation experience to his private practice. Lu is
passionate about framing mindfulness as pedagogy for social
justice in the mental health field. To find a wakeful balance in
his work, Lu has a daily meditation practice of 7 years, and
attends yearly meditation retreats.
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Marjolaine Landry completed her internship at the
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Lezlie Lee Kam identifies as a brown, carib, trini,
Centre de solidarité lesbienne and was later hired as a case
worker. She specializes in spousal abuse, and sexual and
sexological orientation. In addition to being a case worker,
Ms. Landry facilitates the lesbian discussion group. She also
prepares and delivers workshops on sexuality, which are
very popular among lesbians at the CSL. She has recently
started a sex column for Lez spread the word (LSTW), a goto social media site for lesbians.
callaloo dyke. Lezlie advocates for lesbians of colour and is
a co-founder of Lesbian Organization of Toronto, the proud
and visible coalition and world majority lesbians. Lezlie
currently volunteers at Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, as a
health ambassador with the Canadian Cancer Society “Get
Screened” program and with The 519. Lezlie co-chairs the
Senior Pride Network. Lezlie lives their life from an AOP and
it ‘colours’ their view of the world.
Marjolaine Landry a effectué son stage au Centre
de solidarité lesbienne et par la suite, elle a été embauchée
à titre d’intervenante. Elle se spécialise en violence
conjugale, orientation sexuelle et sexologique. Outre
l’intervention, Mme Landry anime le groupe de discussion
pour lesbiennes, conférence, cinéma, etc. De plus, elle
prépare et présente des ateliers sur la sexualité qui sont très
courus et appréciés par les lesbiennes du CSL. Depuis peu,
elle a une chronique sexologique pour Lez spread the word
(LSTW), référence lesbienne dans les médias sociaux.
Laura Legere completed her Master’s of Science
Julie Lassonde est une avocate bilingue, membre
du Barreau du Haut-Canada et du Barreau du Québec.
Au cours des dernières années, elle a développé une
entreprise de consultation, de recherche et de traduction
se spécialisant dans les domaines du genre, de la
sexualité et de la justice sociale. De 2010 à 2012, l’un de
ses projets principaux a été la construction de la première
maison d’hébergement francophone à Toronto. Pour plus
d’information, voir www.jlassonde.com.
in Nursing at York University, was the recipient of York’s
2015 Nursing Thesis Award, and was also awarded an
Ontario Graduate Scholarship for her qualitative thesis on
lesbian and bisexual reproductive cancer survivors and
their interactions with health care providers. She currently
works as a Nursing Research Associate with the Registered
Nurses’ Association of Ontario and is an active member of
the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group.
Melissa L. Legge, MSW, is a PhD student at
the School of Social Work at McMaster University and a
member of the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health Team. Her
doctoral research focuses on the well-being of humans,
including LGBTQ people, and other animals in shared social
environments through an analysis of the involvement of
other-than-human animals in social work practice in Ontario.
Bridget Liang is a mixed race, queer,
of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Barreau du
Québec. Over the past few years, she has developed a
consulting, research and translation business specializing
in gender, sexuality and social justice. From 2010 to 2012,
one of her main projects was to build the first Francophone
safe house in Toronto. For more information, go to www.
jlassonde.com.
transfeminine, neurodiverse, disabled, fat fangirl. They came
into their queerness in Hamilton Ontario and co-founded
RADAR Youth Group at the LGBTQ Wellness Centre (the
Well), the first queer group in a high school in Hamilton,
and were instrumental in the passing of an equity policy in
the HWDSB. They have worked for a number of queer/trans
organizations and groups over the years both in Hamilton
and Toronto. They have been involved with community
research, workshop and group facilitation, and doing
performance art.
Mari LeBlanc is a researcher and student in the
Bridget Liang est métisse, handicapée, queer,
Julie Lassonde is a bilingual lawyer and member
Ryerson University Bachelor of Social Work program. She is
interested in research on the social determinants of health
as they relate to LGBTQ communities and creating spaces
that are inclusive of LGBTQ health needs. In 2015, she did a
social work placement at the Canadian Cancer Society. Her
research poster summarizes research she did during her
placement.
transféminine, neurodiverse et fat fangirl [fanatique
enthousiaste grosse]. Bridget s’est d’abord affirmée queer à
Hamilton, en Ontario, où elle a cofondé le groupe jeunesse
RADAR (RADAR Youth Group) du LGBTQ Wellness Centre
(« The Well »). RADAR est le premier groupe queer dans
une école secondaire à Hamilton. Bridget a joué un rôle
essentiel dans l’adoption d’une politique d’équité au district
scolaire de Hamilton-Wentworth. Au fil des années, Bridget
a travaillé auprès d’un grand nombre d’organismes et de
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groupements queer et trans, à Hamilton et à Toronto. Bridget
a aussi participé à de la recherche communautaire et à des
ateliers, animé des groupes et évolué dans les arts de la
scène.
Carmen Logie is an Assistant Professor at the FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and
an Adjunct Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute.
Dr. Logie’s research focus is health equity, with particular
attention to the associations between intersectional forms
of stigma, access to care, and health outcomes. She has
active programs of research in collaboration with LGBTQ
populations, and people living with HIV in Canada, Jamaica,
Swaziland and Lesotho.
Judith MacDonnell is Associate Professor in the
School of Nursing at York University and studies LGBTQ
access and equity issues in health and education. She
completed graduate work in Sociology and Equity Studies
in Education. and was a founding member of the Rainbow
Nursing Interest Group of the Registered Nurses Association
of Ontario (RNAO).
Jenna MacKay is a qualitative researcher and a
member of the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health team. She
is interested in women’s mental health, bisexuality, violence
against women and applied research. She has worked in
academic, non-profit, hospital and government contexts.
Yaz Martens is a Toronto youth artist and advocate.
She is dedicated to bettering the lives of youth with a
personal focus on mental health and queer advocacy.
Betsy Martin is a queer mother, grandmother,
and great grandmother who lives in Kaministiquia – a rural
community north of Thunder Bay. Betsy was raised in the
Mennonite community where she did not have any exposure
to “gay people”. She quit school and left home at a young
age, and aside from parenting she spent the first half of her
life as a physical labourer. Betsy later completed her HBSW
at Lakehead University, and has been a social worker in the
north for the past 25 years. During the 90’s she worked in
a women’s shelter providing groups and services for adult
survivor’s of child sexual abuse. She spent several years
in another small program that worked with First Nations
residential school survivors. She has been working with
Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, a local children’s mental
health agency for the past 15 years. The bulk of Betsy’s
work has been assisting children and families who have
been affected by violence, bereavement, and trauma. Betsy
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
is also a co-facilitator for The Other 10% - a youth group
for kids who identify as LGBTTQ, and are often struggling
with identity, isolation, and minority stress. She had her first
opportunity to work with Rainbow Health Ontario several
years ago as a member of the advisory committee for the
gender independent children’s project. Two beliefs that
guide my own work are an understanding of the capacity
of the human spirit to “become whole” under adverse
circumstances, and an understanding of the role that
community plays in nurturing and advocating for each other,
resisting violence together, and creating healthy spaces. Betsy Martin est queer, mère et grand-mère.
Elle vit à Kaministiquia, une petite communauté rurale
au nord de Thunder Bay. Betsy Martin a grandi dans
une communauté mennonite, où elle n’a jamais eu de
contact avec des « personnes gaies ». Elle a cessé de
fréquenter l’école et quitté le foyer familial très jeune.
En plus d’être parent, elle a passé la première partie
de sa vie comme travailleuse manuelle. Plus tard, elle
a obtenu un baccalauréat spécialisé en travail social à
l’Université Lakehead, puis elle a œuvré en travail social
dans le Nord au cours des 25 dernières années. Au
cours des années 1990, elle a travaillé dans une maison
d’hébergement pour femmes, où elle offrait des services
individuels et de groupe aux adultes ayant subi des
agressions sexuelles dans leur enfance. Betsy Martin a
passé plusieurs années comme travailleuse au sein d’un
programme de plus petite envergure visant à aider les
membres des Premières Nations qui ont vécu dans les
pensionnats autochtones. Au cours des 15 dernières
années, elle a travaillé au Children’s Centre Thunder
Bay, un organisme local de santé mentale pour enfants.
La majeure partie de son travail consiste à aider les
familles et les enfants touchés par la violence, un deuil
ou un traumatisme. Mme Martin est aussi coanimatrice
du groupement The Other 10 %, un groupe destiné
aux jeunes qui se désignent comme LGBTTQ et qui
sont souvent confrontés à des problèmes d’identité,
d’isolement et de stress associés à leur statut de minorité.
Elle a travaillé pour la première fois avec Santé arc-enciel Ontario il y a plusieurs années, en tant que membre
de son comité consultatif pour le projet pour les enfants
de genre indépendant. Son travail s’appuie sur deux
croyances : comprendre la capacité de l’esprit humain à
« ne faire qu’un » dans l’adversité et comprendre le rôle
de la communauté pour permettre à ses membres de se
nourrir les uns les autres et de défendre leurs droits, de
résister à la violence et de créer des espaces de vie plus
sains.
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Carys Massarella, MD, FRCPC, is an attending
C O N F E R E N C E
Tim McConnell is a trans-masculine person with
lived experience of mental health, substance misuse and
trauma. They have previously worked as a peer support
worker and substance abuse counsellor at a youth
residential addiction treatment facility in New Brunswick, and
as a community outreach worker and workshop facilitator
with several agencies in Toronto. They write extensively on
trans accessibility, institutional cisgenderism and Insidious
Trauma, and have presented their work at Grounding
Trauma 2014 and the Canadian Conference on Child and
Youth Care.
emergency physician at St.Joseph’s Health care in
Hamilton and is also the lead physician for the Transgender
Care Program at Quest Community Health Centre in St.
Catharines. Dr. Massarella sees and treats transgender
identified clients of all ages and is a leading expert in
transgender care in Ontario. She teaches at the Degroote
School of Medicine and is an Assistant Clinical Professor
there. Dr. Massarella lectures widely on transgender
health care and has also done a TEDx talk on “The
Depathologization of Trans Identity”. She recently appeared
at TEDx Hamilton where she presented “The False Narrative
of Deception”. Dr. Massarella also appeared in the CBC doc
zone documentary “Transforming Gender”. She was the first
transgendered person to be a President of a large teaching
hospital medical staff anywhere in the world and was named
one of the World’s 50 Transgender icons by the Huffington
Post. She also sits on the gender advisory committee for
gender independent children for Rainbow Health Ontario, is
a member of WPATH
Carys Massarella, ussi médecin-chef du
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Tim McConnell est une personne trans masculine
Transgender Care Program (programme de soins aux
personnes transgenres) du Centre de santé communautaire
Quest de St. Catharines. La Dre Massarella rencontre et traite
la clientèle qui s’identifie comme transgenre de tous âges; elle
est aussi une experte de premier plan en soins aux personnes
transgenres en Ontario. Elle enseigne à la Degroote School
of Medicine, où elle est professeure adjointe en clinique. La
Dre Massarella prononce régulièrement des conférences
sur les soins de santé aux personnes transgenres et elle a
aussi livré une conférence TED sur la « dépathologisation »
de l’identité trans. Récemment, elle est montée en tribune
lors des conférences TEDx, pour une présentation intitulée
The False Narrative of Deception (La représentation faussée
de la déception). La Dre Massarella a aussi participé au
documentaire Transforming Gender, diffusé dans le cadre de
l’émission Doc Zone du réseau CBC. Mme Massarella est la
première personne transgenre au monde à occuper un poste
de présidence au sein d’un grand établissement hospitalier
universitaire. Elle a été choisie parmi les 50 personnalités
transgenres les plus influentes au monde par le Huffington
Post. Elle siège au comité consultatif sur les enfants de
genre indépendant de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario, est membre
de la WPATH et a été récemment nommée au conseil
d’administration de la CPATH.
qui a des antécédents en santé mentale et en toxicomanie.
Ayant lui-même souffert d’un traumatisme, il a travaillé en
soutien pour les pairs à titre de conseiller en toxicomanie
dans un centre de désintoxication pour les jeunes du
Nouveau-Brunswick, ainsi que comme intervenant sur le
terrain et animateur d’atelier pour plusieurs organismes
de Toronto. Il a également signé un grand nombre de
textes sur l’accessibilité pour les personnes trans, la
discrimination dont sont victimes les personnes cisgenres et
les traumatismes insidieux et a présenté ses travaux dans le
cadre de l’événement Grounding Trauma 2014 et lors de la
Canadian Conference on Child and Youth Care.
Claire McConnell is a family member and also a
professional who has worked in mental health and addictions
for many years: as a front-line staff, in senior management, at
the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and at the Central
East Local Health Integration Network. For the last 5 years
she has run her own consulting business, specializing in
healthcare system planning. She is passionately committed
to increasing and improving services for LGBTTQQ2SIA
youth.
Claire McConnell, membre de la famille, a travaillé
pendant de nombreuses années en santé mentale et en
toxicomanie, en tant que membre du personnel de première
ligne, comme cadre dirigeante, au ministère de la Santé et
des Soins de longue durée et au Réseau local d’intégration
des services de santé du Centre-Est. Depuis cinq ans, elle
exploite sa propre firme de consultation spécialisée en
planification de système de santé. Passionnée et engagée,
elle travaille à améliorer et à accroître les services destinés
aux jeunes LGBTTQQ2SIA.
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Lauren B. McInroy is a doctoral student in the
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of
Toronto. Her work investigates the impact of engagement in
the contemporary media environment on LGBTQ youth and
young adults, and the implications of this participation for
multi-level social work practice. A particular focus is the role
of online community participation and resource consumption
on identity development and negotiation, and health and
mental health.
Robbie McLaughlin is a Registered Nurse with
experience in community health services, specifically home
and primary care. He has been working with the London
InterCommunity Health Centre since May 2014, and has an
innate interest in LGBTQ2+ issues and concerns. Robbie
provides ongoing support and clinical care to transgender
clients, and participates in the development of the Health
Centre’s trans positive services.
Lesley McMillan is a community worker who
focuses on knowledge mobilization to prevent, reduce
and end youth homelessness. As the Program Officer with
Eva’s Initiatives, Lesley works with other youth serving
organizations to disseminate emerging and promising
practices. Utilising a collaborative approach, Lesley
develops tools for organizations working to end youth
homelessness; most recent is the national toolkit for
youth organizations to better support LGBTQ2S youth
experiencing homelessness.
Arti Mehta, MSW, is the Coordinator of Get Screened
at the Canadian Cancer Society. She has over a decade
of experience working with LGBTQ communities in health
promotion as well as providing LGBTQ cultural competency
to health care providers.
LeeAndra Miller has more than 20 years’
experience as a psychotherapist specializing in arts
based therapy. LeeAndra works at Central Toronto Youth
Services in the Pride & Prejudice Program since 2001,
providing individual counselling and facilitating groups for
Transgender youth. LeeAndra’s expertise is in providing
positive and affirming psychotherapy for Transgender youth,
adults and their families. LeeAndra has a Master’s degree
and is a Registered Psychotherapist.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Steven Mock is Associate Professor (at the
University of Waterloo) and an adult developmental
psychologist with research interests in the areas of aging
and retirement, coping with stigmatization, sexual minority
adult development, and leisure as a coping resource. His
research has been funded by the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council of Canada and the RBC
Retirement Research Centre. Dr. Mock is also the recipient
of an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of
Research and Innovation to support research on retirement
planning among diverse family forms.
Paul Morneau, BSc, ACP, is Acting Commander
(Professional Standards) at the Ottawa Paramedic Service.
He is in his 25th year as a practitioner and leader within the
profession. He is also a past-president of the Paramedic
Association of Canada where he advocated for both patients
and paramedics. Paul is also a very active member in the
Service’s Diversity Champion Program and, as an openly
gay man; he has been a key advocate for both LGBT
patients and staff.
Andrew Morrison-Gurza is a Disability
Awareness Consultant with an MA of Legal Studies
specializing in Persons with Disabilities. Andrew also has
the experience of living as a Person with a Disability. He
understands that the concept of disability is one that many
individuals are very new to, and may not feel comfortable
discussing. Through his work, Andrew aims to give everyone
the opportunity and most importantly, the permission to
start the conversation by discussing his day to day lived
experience and making disability accessible to everyone.
Andrew works within a number of different communities
educating through his lived experience. These include:
LGBTQ communities, educational institutions, business
organizations, etc.
Nick Mulé is an associate professor in the School of
Social Work at York University. His research interests include
the social inclusion/exclusion of LGBTQ populations in
social policy and service provision and the degree of their
recognition as distinct communities in cultural, systemic,
and structural contexts. He also engages in critical analysis
of the LGBTQ movement and the development of queer
liberation theory. A queer activist for many years, Nick is the
founder, past chairperson and currently member at large of
Queer Ontario. In addition, he is a psychotherapist in private
practice serving LGBTQ populations in Toronto.
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Ashley Murfin, MA, ACP(f), is Commander
(Operations) at the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Ashley is a
founding member of the Diversity Champion Program. His
passion for celebrating diversity comes from his extended
family. His family is represented with links to Ireland, France,
Argentina, Portugal, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Métis, as
well as, Gay & Trans people. Ashley enjoys discussing the
social & biological aspects of gender & believes we are all
far more similar, than society allows us to believe.
Kate Murzin, MPH, works as the Health Programs
Specialist at the Canadian Working Group on HIV
and Rehabilitation, which strives to build and nurture
relationships between the HIV, aging and chronic illness
sectors and to foster collaborative initiatives which improve
the health and quality of life of older adults living with and
vulnerable to HIV in Canada. She facilitates workshops,
engages in community-based research, and supports the
development of tools and policies that address the needs of
older adults.
Devan Nambiar has a Masters of Science in
Integrated Health care and coordinates Rainbow Health
Ontario’s training and education initiatives. He has been
working in the gay/ethno-racial MSM/HIV sector for 22 years.
In his previous position at CATIE, he worked as treatment
educator and co-authored/co-edited four publications;
Managing Your Health (CATIE, 2009), contributing editor
to the Practical Guide to Nutrition for PHAS (CATIE 2007)
and A Practical Guide to Complementary Medicine and A
Practical Guide to Herbal Therapies for PHAS (CATIE, 2004).
He was Co-principal Investigator of Improving the Capacity
of the HIV Sector to respond to the Ethno-Racial MSM:
Tapping Front-Line Expertise and Wisdom, OHTN (2006)
and Co-investigator of Canadian Transgender Research,
Canadian AIDS Society (2014). Devan has been practicing
and teaching Kriya and Hatha yoga for close to thirty years.
In his professional capacity, he lectures on complementary
medicine, provides input on community based research
and has served on numerous boards and ethics review
committees. He is currently completing his doctoral study.
Nancy Nicol (Producer, Director, Editor), is a
professor in the Visual Arts and Art History Department,
York University, a documentary filmmaker and the principal
investigator for Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights,
an international research project that brings together 31
partners in 12 countries to research and document LGBT
rights and social movement histories. Nicol’s award-winning
documentaries have screened widely in international
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film festivals and are used in universities and colleges
internationally. Her films include the four-part documentary
series From Criminality to Equality (2002-2009) on the
history of lesbian and gay rights organizing in Canada; One
Summer in New Paltz, A Cautionary Tale (2008) on the civil
disobedience same-sex marriage movement in the USA;
and Dykes Planning Tykes: Queering the Family Tree (2011).
www.envisioninglgbt.com
Tony Nobis is Ojibway from Rocky Bay First Nation in
northwestern Ontario. Working in the field of Aboriginal HIV/
AIDS since 1996, Tony was the first male Aboriginal Person
living with HIV/AIDS representative on the Board of Directors
of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network. Tony currently
serves as Executive Director of the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/
AIDS Strategy, a non-profit social service agency serving to
address the needs of Aboriginal people infected/affected
with HIV/AIDS.
Rita Olink is a Community Relations Representative for
TG Innerselves, the Sudbury based transgender support
group. Rita has had a lifelong struggle with dealing with
being transgender and has now successfully resolved
the issue in a wonderful way and enjoys living here in our
community. Rita is a lifelong northerner and a proud Sudbury
citizen. Rita also volunteers with the Canadian Cancer
Society and helps as a Lay Health Educator.
Celeste Pang is a PhD student in Anthropology at
the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the formal
and informal economies surrounding later life care for older
LGBTQ persons in Ontario. It explores the structural forces
shaping the options people have, and how care is obtained
from various sources. Celeste is committed to research
that can feed back to the community, and is interested in
how ethnographic research can effectively draw from and
helpfully inform broader public discussions.
Sebastien Pangallo, RSW, MSW
Sonali Patel is a second year student at the
University of Toronto with a passion for equity and inclusivity.
Recognized by Harmony Canada, Sonali consistently strives
to foster a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+
community. She successfully spearheaded campaigns for
gender-neutral washrooms, sexual health education lessons
to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ population, and for
school guidelines to accommodate transgender and gender
non-conforming students in her high school. Sonali believes
it is crucial for LGBTQ+ youth to meet each other, thus
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she has been involved in planning events such as Halton
Pride and the Halton Pride Semi Formal. Sonali is constantly
involving herself in projects that will create a more inclusive
environment.
a web listing of LGBT2Q positive resources. Leanne is
committed to working with others to make positive changes
for the LGBT2Q community.
Sonali Patel est étudiante de 2e année à l’Université
Shannon Pringle, BA, MA, is a multidisciplinary
de Toronto. Passionnée par tout ce qui touche l’égalité et
l’inclusion, elle a été reconnue par Harmony Canada et
travaille sans relâche à favoriser un environnement sûr et
inclusif pour tous les membres de la communauté LGBTQ+.
Sonali a entre autres mis sur pied des campagnes visant
l’aménagement de salles de toilettes neutres et de cours
d’éducation sexuelle plus inclusifs aptes à accommoder
les étudiants transgenres ou de genre non conforme.
Sonali estime qu’il est essentiel pour les jeunes LGBTQ+
de fraterniser. Dans cette optique, elle a participé à
l’organisation de Halton Pride et de Halton Pride Semi
Formal, deux événements liés à la fierté gaie dans la région
de Halton. Sonali Patel s’engage régulièrement dans des
projets visant à favoriser un environnement plus inclusif.
Shoshana Pellman, a mature Orthodox Jew
became a TransLesbian activist in 2005. Over the years she
has spoken at TransPride and Trans Day of Remembrance.
In addition she has presented or co-presented at various
workshops and conferences in places in Ontario including
Oakville, Guelph and GTA. She featured in The Current CBC
special “Back in The Closet” that was aired June 20, 2011
and in summer of 2011. She is a SPN member and sings in
Singing Out a LGBTQ choir in Toronto.
Karleen Pendleton Jiménez is a Professor in
Education at Trent University. She has recently completed
a study on gender and gender transgression in Grade 4-12
students in Ontario rural schools. Results of her study can be
found on the Facebook Forum “Tomboys and Other Gender
Heroes,” and in her upcoming book Only Girls Ride Horses:
Gender Confessions from the Classroom. She is the author
of Are You a Boy or a Girl and screenwriter of the animated
film Tomboy.
Leanne Powell is a public health nurse, working
at the Middlesex-London Health Unit in the area of Sexual
Health Promotion. Her passion is LGBTQ health issues
and is actively involved with community to help improve
access and equity. Over the last 14 years she has been
involved with developing resources for the community and
for care providers, participating in research and listening
to community needs. Leanne has partnered with local
agencies and Rainbow Health Ontario to provide training to
health care providers in the Middlesex-London area. Her
most recent work with community partners is developing
sexuality and gender researcher and educator, whose
work bridges the humanities, social sciences and health
sciences. She frequently lectures in the human sexuality,
gender studies, nursing, contemporary studies and research
methods classes at four Halifax universities, and is a long
term sexuality educator at the award winning Venus Envy,
an educationally based sex shop and bookstore in Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
Daniel Pugh, BSW, is currently working on
his Masters of Social Work (health and mental health
specialization) from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social
Work through the University of Toronto. Daniel completed
his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work (Renison
College) from the University of Waterloo and is student
director (and member) on the Board of Directors for the
Ontario Association of Social Workers. Daniel has been
actively involved in the Ontario HIV movement since 2005
in a variety of capacities. Between 2009 and 2011, Daniel
served as the Director of Education for the Regional HIV/
AIDS Connection in London (Ontario) after extensive frontline
practice. In early 2009 Daniel co-created and chaired the
London HBT (homophobia-biphobia-transphobia) Working
Group with over 20 community partners as a communitybased coalition/collaboration for addressing homophobia,
biphobia and transphobia in London. In 2008, Daniel joined
forces with University of Western Ontario as a Co-Principal
Investigator for a research project entitled: HIMMM (Health
in Middlesex Men Matters). Daniel was also an investigator
for the BLACCH (Black African and Caribbean Canadian
Health) research project in London. Daniel is former
President, member on the Board of Directors for ACCKWA
(AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo
& area). From 2011-2012 Daniel was awarded a CIHR
research fellowship under the Universities without Walls
program through the Ontario HIV Treatment Network. His
fellowship allowed him to build experience and engagement
in quantitative research methodologies. Today, Daniel is
currently the Director of Health Promotion for the Gay Men’s
Sexual Health Alliance of Ontario.
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Rupert Raj, MA (Counseling Psychology), RP, CCC,
Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP). Black CAP is a
charitable organization focused on reducing the spread of
HIV infection within Toronto’s Black, African and Caribbean
communities and enhancing the quality of life of Black
people living with or affected by HIV or AIDS. Shannon is
also co-Chair of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Black, African and
Caribbean Network (CHABAC).
Lynx Sainte-Marie is a (dis)Abled/chronically
ill, Jamaican-Canadian, Non-Binary Gender, Afro+Goth
Poet and student who breathes art, social justice, antioppression, critical social work and feminism/s that
decentralize whiteness & cisheteronormativity. Lynx is
the creator of QueerofGender, a grassroots organization
and transnational visibility project, celebrating the various
experiences of gender within Black, Indigenous and People
of Colour communities. Lynx serves on various committees
dedicated to disability justice and art as a tool for social
change & collective healing. As a writer and performance
artist, Lynx tackle issues around identity, isolation and love.
As an activist and workshop facilitator, Lynx stresses the
importance of spaces where marginalized communities can
share their stories – stories often erased from mainstream
narratives.
Margaret Robinson, PhD, is a Researcher in
Residence at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), an
Associate Research Scientist at the Centre for Addiction &
Mental Health, and a member of the Re:searching for LGBTQ
Health Team. She is a feminist researcher and bisexual
activist interested in LGBTQ health and substance use,
bisexual and trans liberation, and the negative health impact
of oppression. A Mi’kmaw who gained Indian status under Bill
C-31, she is committed to Aboriginal cultural continuity, food
justice, and self-government, and has published on Aboriginal
sexuality, cultural values, and education.
Elizabeth M. Saewyc, PhD, RN, FSAHM,
Ron Rosenes, MA, LLD (hon), CM, has been living
with HIV for over 30 years and has worked as a volunteer at
the local, national and international levels. He has chaired
ACT, was a founding Board Member of the Sherbourne
Health Centre, and worked on the Canada AIDS Russia
Project. He is a member of several research teams working
on Aging as a Community Scholar. Ron chairs the Research
Working Group on HIV and Aging housed at CWGHR and
in May of 2014 was awarded the Order of Canada for his
volunteer work. Ron is currently a consultant with OODP, the
Ontario Organizational Development Program that works with
ASOs throughout the province.
Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
She is also an Affiliate Scientist with the Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health. Lori’s work is mostly focused on
community-based research studies on topics related to
LGBTQ health.
C O N F E R E N C E
Shannon Ryan is the Executive Director of the Black
has been working as a clinician (psychotherapist and
gender specialist) since 2000 as a mental health counsellor
on the LGBT Health Team at the Sherbourne Health
Centre in Toronto since 2002, and, in 2011, resumed his
private psychotherapy practice (www.RRconsulting.ca). In
2015, he became a member of the College of Registered
Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Mr. Raj provides
individual, couple, family and group therapy for transgender,
genderqueer, intersex and two-spirit people (adults and
teens), gender non-conforming youth, those questioning
their gender and sexual identity, and their loved ones.
Mr. Raj also provides professional development training
workshops on trans-focused issues and trans-positive care at
conferences, universities, colleges, hospitals, health centres,
social service and community agencies, etc. for health
care and social service providers, educators, researchers,
students, policy makers, politicians, journalists, etc.
Lori Ross, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the
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FCAHS, is Professor of Nursing and Adolescent Medicine
at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Dr.
Saewyc heads the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable
Youth Centre there. She is a Fellow in both the Society
for Adolescent Health and Medicine, and the Canadian
Academy of Health Sciences. For 20 years, Dr. Saewyc’s
research and clinical practice has focused on how stigma,
violence, and trauma influence adolescents’ health,
coping and risk behaviours, and what protective factors
in relationships and environments can foster resilience
among: runaway and street-involved youth, sexually abused/
sexually exploited teens, LGBT adolescents, immigrants and
refugees, and indigenous youth.
Elizabeth M. Saewyc, PhD, IA, FSAHM,
FACSS, est professeure en soins infirmiers et médecine
pour adolescents à l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique,
à Vancouver. La Dre Saewyc dirige le Stigma and Resilience
Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, un centre pour jeunes qui
se trouve dans cet établissement d’enseignement. Elizabeth
est fellow de la Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
et de l’Académie canadienne des sciences de la santé.
Depuis 20 ans, elle concentre ses travaux et sa pratique sur
les effets de l’ostracisme, de la violence et des traumatismes
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recently Ramraajh has completed the Access, Identity, and
Men (AIM) Study funded by the OHTN as the Nominated PI,
where he and his team studied the sexual and overall health
of South Asian MSM populations in the Greater Toronto Area.
sur la santé des adolescents, sur les comportements
adaptatifs ou à risque et sur les facteurs de protection dans
les relations et les environnements susceptibles de favoriser
la résilience chez les jeunes en fugue ou vivant dans la rue,
sur les adolescents agressés ou exploités sexuellement, de
même que sur les adolescents, les immigrants, les réfugiés
LGBT, et sur les jeunes autochtones.
Rusty Souleymanov is a PhD student at the
Factor‐Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of
Toronto. His doctoral work focuses on the health promotion
of substance-using gay and bisexual men in Ontario.
Ayden Scheim is a PhD Candidate, Trudeau
Scholar, and Vanier Scholar in Epidemiology and
Biostatistics at Western University in London. His research
includes a focus on social determinants of health and health
care access in trans communities. He was a member of the
London, Ontario Trans Health Working Group.
Melissa St. Pierre is a Post-Doctoral Visitor on the
LGBTTQI Home Care Access Project at York University.
She has been conducting LGBT health research for the
past 10+ years. She also enjoys teaching courses in Health
Psychology at York University.
Deanna Schofield, BSc, ACP, is Acting
Superintendent (Operations) at the Ottawa Paramedic
Service. Deanna has been a paramedic for 16 years and has
worked as an EMS Coordinator responsible for developing
& delivering continuing education for paramedics. Promoted
to Acting Superintendent, she took on a mentoring role for all
new Ottawa paramedics & teaches cultural safety. She has
worked for positive change through as a Diversity Champion
& advocates for cultural competency for staff & the patients/
families we serve.
Jennifer Searle, BSc, is currently finishing her
undergraduate degree in Nursing at Dalhousie University. As
a queer identified intersectional feminist, who holds a double
major Science Degree in Biology and Social Anthropology,
her unique critical analysis promises to flourish in her future
profession of Nursing.
david sereda has over 30 years of experience and
a national reputation as theatre artist, singer/songwriter,
composer and producer. He began to write songs because
the ones he was hearing didn’t express his reality as a gay
man in the 1970’s. He has performed across Canada, has
sung with notable choirs and is a seasoned collaborator
on new music theatre productions, and has released three
albums. Author Michael Ondaatje said: “david sereda sings
like an angel and writes like a sinner.”
Ramraajh Sharvendiran is a Communications
Studies graduate of York University and has been the Men’s
Sexual Health Coordinator with the Alliance for South Asian
AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), working with South Asian Queer
men in the GTA for the last four (4) years. He has been
working with queer and trans communities in the Greater
Toronto Area for over 8 years in various capacities including:
health promotion, community radio, and GSA’s. Most
M A T T E R S
Theodore Syrette is a 2-Spirited/Queer-Indigenous
artists and advocate, living in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Their
experience in theatre and passion for advocacy for queer/
indigenous peoples, provide them with a unique perspective
and lecture style for any audience. Theodore has worked
with many LGBT2QIA+ focused equity groups such as
EGALE Canada, Jer’s Vision/Canadian Centre for Gender
and Sexuality Diversity, and the Ontario Advocates Office
for Children and Youth - You Are Not Alone Committee and
Be Our Ally subcommittee. They have also provide regular
lectures on diversity and equity for classes at Sault College
and Algoma University.
Theodore Syrette est bispirituel, queer et
autochtone, artiste et militant pour la défense des droits de
la personne. Il vit à Sault Ste-Marie, en Ontario. Personne
de théâtre, passionné par la défense des droits des
Autochtones queer, Theodore se distingue par son point
de vue unique et ses conférences qui rejoignent tous les
auditoires. Il a travaillé avec de nombreux groupes militant
pour l’égalité LGBT2QIA+, notamment EGALE Canada, Jer’s
Vision/Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexuality Diversity
et avec le Bureau de l’intervenant provincial pour les enfants
et les jeunes – comité Tu n’es pas seul-e et sous-comité Sois
notre allié. Theodore donne régulièrement des conférences
sur la diversité et sur l’égalité à l’intention des étudiants du
Sault College et de l’Université Algoma.
Gordon Tanner has worked at the City of Toronto
in the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration division
since at 2005, helping to develop and deliver high quality
services to people experiencing homelessness. Gord was
one of the pioneers of Toronto’s highly successful Streets
to Homes program, and has been the lead for the division’s
LGBTQ2S strategy.
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Lesley A. Tarasoff, MA, is a PhD Candidate in
the Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division of the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto,
and a member of the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health team
(www.lgbtqhealth.ca), a Toronto-based interdisciplinary
team of LGBTQ and ally researchers who explore how
LGBTQ people experience health and access health
services. She is a critical feminist scholar whose program
of research focuses on improving the health and health
care experiences of marginalized groups of women, with an
emphasis on reproductive/perinatal health and mental health
among sexual minority women and women with physical
disabilities. For more information about her research, visit
www.latarasoff.com
Zachary Templeman is a Health Worker for
Transgender Communities at London InterCommunity Health
Centre, and provides one-to-one support to trans clients;
they run Gender Journeys (a group for folks considering or
early in transition). They identify trans positive services in the
community and build organizational capacity to better serve
trans folks. Zach’s passion for LGBTQ2+ work also shines
through their work facilitating Open Closet (an LGBTQ2+
youth group) and working at Camp Ten Oaks (a camp for
youth with LGBTQ2+ identities, families and communities).
Donna Turner coordinates the development and
implementation of communications strategies and materials
for Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO). She is responsible for the
RHO website, social media, and newsletter. She coordinates
the creation of print materials such as brochures, posters,
and postcards and delivers training. Donna is the RHO lead
on youth, tobacco, and cancer projects. She supports the
development of local networks, events and partnerships in
the following Regions: North Simcoe Muskoka, Central East,
and South East.
Donna Turner coordonne la conception et la
mise en œuvre de stratégies et de documents de
communication pour Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario (SAO).
Elle est responsable de noter site Web et de notre
présence dans les medias sociaux et de la préparation
de noter infolettre mensuelle. Elle coordonne également
la production d’imprimes tels que des brochures, des
affiches, des cartes postales et des rapports. Elle dirige
les projets SAO à propos de la jeunesse, le tabagisme
et le cancer. Donna aide à la mise sur pied de réseaux
locaux, d’évènements et de partenariats dans les régions
suivantes : North Simcoe-Muskoka, Centre-Est et SudEst.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Cyrus Uhrig
is a youth from Windsor Ontario, advocating for two and a
half years. He believes being different shouldn’t affect the
community because we are human beings, we all should
have the opportunity to work together.
Alexandra Vamos, Policy Development Officer, City of
Toronto Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
Alexandra Vamos, MA, is a Policy Development
Officer with the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
Division, Homelessness Partnership Initiative at the City
of Toronto. In her current role, Alex provides policy and
program support to the Housing Stability Policy and
Strategic Investments Unit, which is responsible for
developing policies, strategies and program evaluations that
enhance services in the housing and homelessness service
delivery system. Alex has been involved with the division’s
LGBTQ2S initiatives since 2012, including supporting the
youth transition-to-housing projects.
Hector Vargas,
JD, is Executive Director of
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality, a
multidisciplinary membership organization of LGBTQ health
professionals and their allies whose mission is to ensure
equality in health care for LGBTQ individuals and health care
professionals. GLMA (formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian
Medical Association) is a leading voice on LGBT health and
employs the expertise of its health professional members in
policy, advocacy and education to advance the health and
well-being of the LGBTQ community. Vargas serves on the
Health Disparities Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee
to the Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and served for four years on President
Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders. He has more than 20 years of LGBTQ
and civil rights advocacy experience, including with
organizations such as Lambda Legal, the National LGBTQ
Task Force and the American Bar Association’s Section of
Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
Hector Vargas,
JD, est directeur général de
Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality (GLMA), un
organisme multidisciplinaire regroupant des professionnels
de la santé LGBTQ et leurs alliés et dont la mission
consiste à assurer l’égalité dans les soins de santé pour
les personnes et les professionnels de la santé LGBTQ.
GLMA, connue autre fois sous le nom de Gay & Lesbian
Medical Association, est une voix forte en matière de
santé LGBTQ et a recours à l’expertise de ses membres
professionnels de la santé en matière de politique, de
défense des droits et d’éducation pour l’avancement
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Geoff Wilson is a mixed race gender queer of
filipinx descent. They are an activist, grassroots community
organizer and writer. They identify as a sober addict in
recovery. geoff is a graduate of the social service worker
program at George Brown college. Recently, they completed
their undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto,
majoring in equity and sexual diversity studies. They wish to
politicize their experiences with substance use and sobriety
while unravelling the limited representation of the addicted
body. More of their work can be found at < livingnotexisting.
org >.
de la santé et du bien-être de la communauté LGBTQ.
M. Vargas est membre du sous-comité sur les disparités
en matière de santé (Health Disparities Subcommittee)
du comité consultatif du directeur du Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) américain et a fait partie
pendant quatre ans de la commission consultative du
président Obama sur les Asiatiques américains et sur les
citoyens des îles du Pacifique. Il possède plus de 20 ans
d’expérience en défense des droits des personnes LGBTQ
et des droits civils, notamment auprès d’organismes tels que
Lambda Legal, la National LGBTQ Task Force et la section
du Barreau américain sur les responsabilités et droits
individuels.
Geoff Wilson est queer et biracial, de descendance
philippine de genre neutre. Activiste, organisateur d’activités
populaires communautaires et écrivain, Geoff Wilson
se définit comme un dépendant sobre, actuellement en
rémission. Diplômé en travail social du George Brown
College, il vient d’obtenir un diplôme de premier cycle
de l’Université de Toronto, avec spécialisation en égalité
et diversité sexuelle. Geoff Wilson souhaite politiser son
expérience des drogues et de la sobriété, tout en favorisant
une représentation simplifiée du corps toxicomane. On
peut avoir un aperçu plus large de son travail à www.
livingnotexisting.org.
Albina Veltman, MD, FRCPC, is an Associate
Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural
Neurosciences at McMaster University. She is also the
Diversity & Engagement Chair for the Undergraduate
MD Program at McMaster. Dr. Veltman has been the
recipient of numerous awards and grants, including a 2014
AMS Phoenix Project Call to Caring Grant and the 2015
Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Gay
and Lesbian Psychiatrists.
Jenna Webber is entering her third year of medical
Kathy Witterick
school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Her
interests in LGBT2-SQ health and advocacy were sparked
during her undergraduate education at McMaster University,
during which time she volunteered at a downtown centre for
at-risk and homeless youth. She took the lessons learned
through this experience back to Northern Ontario and
immediately began her collaborations with local LGBT2-SQ
advocacy groups and individuals.
Kate Welsh is a queer crip community activist, artist
is a rebel parent, writer and
violence prevention consultant, and a Facilitator at the 519
in Toronto. Two decades of anti-oppression facilitation
has led Kathy to work fostering transformative discussions
about gender and sexual diversity, including working with
hospitals to build capacity for LGBTQ inclusion. Find Kathy’s
published work in GUTS or in Chasing Rainbows: Exploring
Gender Fluid Parenting Practices. Kathy hatches projects at
a remote community-built straw bale cabin. and workshop presenter who resides in the Toronto where
she is working on a Masters in Social Justice Education
focusing on critical crip identity. She is passionate about
building communities of care and striving to create safer,
anti-oppressive spaces. Living with both visible and nonvisible disabilities, Kate navigates through complex realities
and experiences through art, activism and community care.
Kate’s interests include community building, intersectionality,
disabilities, queer identities and knowledge sharing.
Kate Whitehead is a Palliative Care Physician at
Toronto Grace Hospital. She has diverse clinical experience
in hospital, home, and hospice settings. Dr. Whitehead is an
expert in Conflict Resolution and is a Qualified Mediator. She
is a facilitator with the Centre for Inter-Professional Education
at University of Toronto.
M A T T E R S
Sandy Wynia Katz (she/her) is a Child and Youth
Advocate with the Provincial Advocate for Children and
Youth and the Lead Advocate on the You Are Not Alone
Project. She is passionate about human rights and the rights
of children and youth in particular; working to elevate the
voices of those who are seldom heard. Sandy is honoured to
work alongside and support the voices of queer youth in and
from Ontario’s care systems. Sandy has been working with
youth for many years and values their energy, knowledge
and willingness to challenge systems that are not working for
them. Thank you to the YANA team for being great teachers
and leaders.
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B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
Jan Yorke is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University
H E A L T H
in Social Work (MSW), and has a PhD from the University of
Tennessee, Knoxville. She has worked frontline in downtown
Toronto with homeless individuals and was the director
of a withdrawal management service in Simcoe County
for over 20 years. Her research focuses on therapeutic
communication, human-animal interaction, First Nations’, and
LGBTQ populations. She is currently an assistant professor
in Social Work at Laurentian University, Barrie.
M A T T E R S
Art Zoccole is Anishinawbe Ogokwe from Lac des
mille Lacs First Nation in Ontario. Art has been involved
in activism for the last three decades on issues relating
to Aboriginal people and HIV/AIDS. Art is the Executive
Director of 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations (an Aboriginal
social service agency with members comprised of Aboriginal
two spirit, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex
individuals) and a board member of the Toronto Aboriginal
Support Services Council.
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