On July 15th Advocacy Canada will celebrate our fourth anniversary, and we are really excited about the next chapter of our journey.
To stay informed, make sure you sign up for our newsletter and follow us on our social media for updates — it’s the best way to keep up with our advocacy work, events, and news.
Our training wheels are off — our vision is clear, our actions are aligned and our advocacy efforts are making an impact.
Thank you to all our members, sponsors and subscribers for joining us on this journey.
If you don’t yet have a membership to Advocacy Canada, you can purchase one on our website for only $35, (Less than a $0.01 a day). We need your support to help us continue to do the work that is so desperately needed in our world.
We’re presently making some changes to our communications and appreciate your patience while we work out all the kinks. Let us know if there is anything that you’d like to see, please let us know!
There’s a lot to catch up on in this newsletter, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it! Keep reading below to stay current on all things Advocacy Canada.
- Board of Directors Updates
- Pride Month Highlights
- Call for Support for the Celebration of Queer and Trans Joy and TDOR
- Beyond the Binary: Research Participants Needed
- 50+ Pride Picnic and Tea Dance
- Updates from Our Amazing Community Partners that you don’t want to miss
Until next time,
Amber Hall – Director of Communications – Advocacy Canada
Changes to our Board of Directors
We want to extend a warm welcome to our newest interim Directors. (Our Board of Directors is voted in yearly at our AGM).
Mikayla Jones (she/her) Director of Volunteer Engagement
A passionate 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate and proud Kelowna local, Mikayla believes allyship is rooted in love, empathy, and the courage to speak out. With a background in theatre and the wine industry, she’s led community initiatives through fundraising, advocacy, and compassionate leadership. Now pursuing a degree in history with hopes of becoming a teacher, Mikayla is committed to building a more inclusive future—starting right here at home.
Matteo Stewart (he/him) Director of Membership
Matteo is a 3-time International TEDx Speaker, Belonging Practitioner, and Senior Inclusive Leadership Facilitator with over 30 years of experience coaching and advising senior leaders across sectors worldwide. Following a leukemia diagnosis, he shifted from Canada’s financial district to the Okanagan Valley to focus on community building. Matteo is a passionate advocate for creating workplaces where everyone feels they belong, reminding us that tackling unconscious bias requires conscious action
Giles Ringer (he/him) Director at Large
Originally from Treaty One Territory in Manitoba, Giles is a social worker rooted in justice, community, and relational accountability. With a focus on culturally safe, trauma-informed, and person-centred practice, he integrates anti-oppressive frameworks into everything he does. As an ally to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Giles brings a grounded, systems-aware perspective to board governance, advocating for equity, representation, and safer spaces where all identities are affirmed and celebrated.
Pride Month
June has been a busy month for Advocacy Canada.
We kicked it off by proudly marching in the Kelowna Pride Parade, marching alongside community and allies. The parade finished in City Park, where we continued the celebration of belonging and inclusion at our booth —engaging in meaningful conversations and sharing the joy with the community.
The month was a whirlwind of activity and we loved every minute of it.
50+ Pride Picnic & Tea Dance
One of our favorite events during Pride Month just have been our 50+ Pride Picnic and Tea Dance co-hosted with Health Initiative for Men (H.I.M.). We’d like to thank our title sponsor Peachland Wellness Centre for their contribution in making the event a resounding success.
We have so many folx to thank, starting with our attendees who donated to Advocacy Canada and purchased You Belong merchandise. If you didn’t have a chance, you can still donate here. OR become a member for only $35 a year, less than $0.01 a day!
A massive thank you to our sponsors and door prize donors – Signcraft, Kelowna Pride Society, Juliette Sicotte, Dee McWatters, The Jason Parkes Group, and Adega on 45th. Events like this are impossible without your support!
Our heartfelt thanks to our incredible performers, Sophonda Dick and Aria Reddy, who lit up the stage and captivated the crowd with their talent and charisma.
A special shoutout to the incredible folks who worked behind the scenes and on the ground DJ Altair, Alan, Malcolm, and their amazing crew for the Pride Progress Flag charcuterie, all our incredible volunteers and the Board of Directors – we truly couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you for showing up, for being yourselves, and for celebrating community and joy with us. We look forward to seeing you at the next gathering.
Remember to support our sponsors the next time you’re looking for a service or product they supply.
Upcoming Focus Groups & Event Committees
Are you trans or queer identifying?
Do you love a good event?
Advocacy Canada is in need of your support. Our events have had some amazing feedback and we want to continue to create community. To bring you what you want, we need trans led committees for TDOV, and TDOR, in addition to Queer folx to lead the committees.
Our team will be with you every step of the way but we need YOU to help us identify what you want to see at events.
Please fill out an expression of interest for the focus group/committees here.
Country Wide Volunteers Needed
We thank those of you across Canada for expressing interest in volunteering with Advocacy Canada. As our mission grows, we are in need of support from all across Canada. Remote volunteers are needed to assist us in building a robust database of their local 2SLGBTQIA+ resources, government officials, and key community agencies.
Interested in assisting us with? Drop us a note via our volunteer form.
Queer Vespers
The Central Okanagan United Church will be holding Evening Queer Vesper Worship at 6:00pm in July, August and September. You can find more information on their website or by contacting them directly.
Like Numbers and Balanced Books?
Our Board of Directors is looking for you!
Joining our board is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, evolving organization that’s laying the foundation for lasting impact. As we transition from a working board to a governance board, we’re focused on building a robust fund development plan and applying for charitable status, setting the stage for even greater things to come.
As a board member, your voice, experience, and leadership will play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Advocacy Canada. Your involvement will directly contribute to the success of initiatives that support and uplift queer and trans communities in our region — and beyond.
Passionate about making a tangible difference driving meaningful change? We’d love to have you on board!
Click here to learn more.
Beyond the Binary
Do you want to help improve cancer research for Trans* & Gender Diverse people?!
Beyond the Binary is a study currently exploring ways to improve the inclusion of trans and gender-diverse people in cancer research. It is being led by Morgan Stirling (University of Manitoba) and Dr. Alyson Mahar (Queen’s University).
They are currently recruiting individuals to participate in focus groups. Eligible participants need to fit this criteria:
- are interested in cancer research
- are 18 or older
- identify as trans* and/or gender diverse
- live in Canada
- have experience with cancer (i.e. were/are a cancer patient OR provided care to someone with cancer, OR have participated/eligible to participate in cancer screening)
- have access to the internet
Focus groups will last between 1-2 hours. Participants will receive a $150 honorarium.
Questions? Interested? Contact Morgan Stirling (they/them) at beyondthebinary@queensu.ca
IN Magazine’s June 2025 issue is here
Discover trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, a trans icon and one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City. IN Magazine‘s June 2025 cover story tells the tale of a woman who stood at the front lines of queer history, armed with flowers in her hair and an unbreakable spirit.
Inside this issue you will find:
-Jeremy Dutcher’s revolutionary sound
-Kendall Gender on paving a path to sobriety for others
-Fast facts about Pride past and present
-Historical LGBTQ+ figures who changed the world
-And, much more!
Download a FREE copy of the June 2025 issue at: https://inmagazine.ca/issue/june-2025/.
IN Magazine is our national 2SLGBTQI+ media partner.
As a nonprofit run by volunteers, we appreciate all your support. You can continue to support the movement by becoming a member, volunteering with us or making a monetary donation.
Simply click below to be directed to the webpage!
See you next month!
