Hello Trans qathet Community, Allies, and Supporters!
Trans qathet Drop-in:
Unit #27-7100 Alberni st., in Town Centre Mall, between Shoppers & Subway
Tuesdays 12pm-3:00pm
Wednesdays 10am-2pm
Thursdays 2pm-5pm
Drop in for a social visit, a cup of tea, or to make use of the expanded resources and activities at our office. We provide WiFi, computers, printer and scanner, gender-affirming garments, clothes closet, a gender neutral washroom that is wheelchair accessible, a quiet room, books, tea and coffee, coloring books, board & card games, art & craft supplies, pronoun pins, flags, and more!
Announcements
Zoom Peer Support Groups: Request for input
The intention of peer support groups is to provide a non-judgemental space for anyone who may be questioning their gender identity - there is no requirement to be “trans enough” or certain of your identity in order to join. (Of course if you are certain, that is welcomed!). If you are wondering if this group is for you, it is! For Trans qathet, the people we are here to support includes anyone whose gender identity does not align with their assigned/assumed sex at birth - regardless of a person’s gender expression, appearance, pronouns, name, age, history, or any other factors. Discussions in the support group are designed to be inclusive of anyone’s experience of living when their gender identity does not match that they were assigned. You will never be forced to disclose information about yourself.
With that in mind, we would like to get direct input from those who are curious about attending, before setting a new schedule and agenda for future online groups. To participate, even if you’re not sure you’ll attend, either hit reply on this email, call or text 604-414-6187, or email laurance@transqathet.ca to set up a one-on-one meeting to discuss the support group.
For Organizations and Allies:
Attached is our updated information poster about our program! Please feel free to print out a copy and post at your place of business or organization, or share with others. If you currently have last years poster up, kindly replace with the updated one provided. Thank you for your help!
January Tq Events:
Crafternoon + Film Screening
Tq Mall Office
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 17th, 3:00pm-7:00pm
Film TBD - suggestions welcome! Drop by for a casual evening of watching a movie and crafting together. Bring your own craft, or projects to share with others, or check out our selection of donated craft supplies. Transportation can be provided to and from this event, contact us for a ride.
Games & Hang Out
Tq Mall Office
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 24th, 3:00pm-7:00pm
Join us for a diverse range of games suitable for everyone. We'll have the nintendo set up, as well as board games, card games, and puzzles in a relaxed atmosphere.
Feel free to bring snacks to share! Transportation can be provided to and from this event, contact us for a ride.
Nintendo Nite
Tq Mall Office
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 31st, 3:00pm-7:00pm
Nintendo Switch games on the projector screen! Come and play Switch games, bring your own Switch, have some snacks and share the fun. Transportation can be provided to and from this event, contact us for a ride.
Other Events:
The following two events are NOT hosted by Trans qathet; we are simply encouraging participation.
qathet Community Justice Safety Circles
Dates:
Friday, January 12 2:00pm-4:00pm
Saturday, January 20th from 3-5pm OR Wednesday, January 24th from 10am-noon
Monday, January 29th from 4pm-6pm
This Friday, January 12, 2024 from 2:00pm - 4:30pm our project team is hosting an Open House information session at qathet ART Centre (Second Floor above the Library, #215-6975 Alberni St). We will be sharing more information about our circle process, answering any questions you may have, and sharing snacks, coffee, and tea. We will also be creating some group guidelines together for our circles.
If you are not able to attend on Friday, Ashley and Siobhan will be available from 3:00pm - 5:30pm on Wednesday, January 17,2024 at the qCJ office (#116-4801 Joyce Avenue) to answer any questions you may have.
qathet Community Justice will be hosting 2 Circle engagement sessions in January 2024 for 10 people (20 people total) who have lived experiences with the RCMP. We are looking to hear from women and non-binary people who represent our community's diversity of lived experience. If you yourself, or other people you know have experience with policing and public safety in qathet, we hope you consider attending! Please save the date, or pass the save the date on to clients, for Friday, January 12th from 2-4pm (info session) and a Circle on either Saturday, January 20th from 3-5pm or Wednesday, January 24th from 10am-noon. There will also be a follow up session on the 29th from 4-6 to discuss what we learned from the Circles and get everyone's approval before we share learnings (anonymously) with the community and funders.
If you would like to attend, we invite you to contact Siobhan siobhan.brown@qathetcj.org or Project Coordinator Ashley (currently using Secretary@qathetCJ.org ) and RSVP to attend an information session on Jan 12, 2024 to meet our project team, participate in 1 of 2 Circle sessions where we will share stories and create art together, and to attend a final feedback session to review the art and writing we've created about our Circle sessions before they are released publicly.
Participation is voluntary and folks can withdraw at any time, no questions asked, if you withdraw, we will not include anything you shared in what we create. We will be providing cash honorarium to women and non-binary people with lived experience. $30/hr for 4 hours (1 hr feedback session, 2 hr circle session, 1 hr feedback session) for a total of $120. We have taxi vouchers and bus tickets available to those who request them. We have childcare funds available for parents who wish to attend our sessions.
If you have any questions, accessibility needs, or you would like to access honoraria, childcare funds, and/or transportation support, please let us know when you RSVP.
Pride AGM and Social Mixer
Saturday, January 13, 2024 (from 1-5 pm) for our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and MIXER at the Cranberry Seniors Centre, 6792 Cranberry Street.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Annual General Meeting with Election of New Board Members
3:00 PM Hosting and Performance by Conni Smudge!!
3:30 - 5:00 PM Social Mixer! Light Refreshments provided.
Please step up and help the qathet Pride Society produce LGBTQ1A2S+ events in our Community for the upcoming year. Be a member, join the board, volunteer for upcoming events.
This last year the qPride Society has:
Held a community engagement event on April 1/23 (Town Centre Hotel) where 80 people attended and gave feedback and suggestions for qPride week events.
Held fundraising events in June/23 to support Pride Week events.
Based on community feedback, qPride organized 11 events from August 11-18/23, which included Drag shows, drag bingo, drag story time, Movie night, Games night, a picnic and Pride in the Park.
Overall, the total estimated attendance for qPride week events was 950 people.
Please help us make 2024 another successful year for PRIDE!
Other Resources
An excellent resource for an in-depth presentation on why pronouns matter, how to share them and correct mistakes: https://pronouns.org/what-and-why
QMUNITY Gender and ID Clinic:
Access notarial, administrative, and emotional support for name and gender marker change processes. Drop in virtually on the first Wednesday and third Friday of each month, 4pm-6pm. For appointments, email transid@qmunity.ca or call Connie at 604-868-4238.
Trans Lifeline:
Call (877) 330-6366 for peer support by trans individuals for trans peers. Call for non-crisis situations or if unsure about your identity. Full anonymity & confidentiality; no nonconsensual active rescue.
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention:
Call toll-free at (1-800-784-2433) for confidential, non-judgmental emotional support, available 24/7 for individuals experiencing distress or despair.
Mental Health Support:
For emotional support, information, and mental health resources, call 310-6789 (no area code needed).
Trans Rights BC:
Visit www.transrightsbc.ca for resources addressing legal rights commonly faced by trans and gender-diverse people.
Trans Care BC:
Toll-free: 1-866-999-1514
Outside of BC or unable to call a toll-free number: 604-675-3647
Email: transcareteam@phsa.ca
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