3 Workshops: BC, Canada, and Trivia Game

Public Workshops: 2 hours

Private Workshops: Customizable length

Queer + Trans History BC

This workshop will take participants through some of British Columbia’s milestone moments in 2SLGBTQIA+ history. We will journey from the 1950s, a time when homosexuality was a crime, to current day. Learn about the people and organizations that fought for, and secured, the rights, freedoms, and protections we currently hold. The workshop will cover the many firsts in British Columbia, including the first gay rights protest, first dyke march, and the first Pride house in the Olympic Games. Please join us to learn more about queer and trans history in B.C.

Queer + Trans History Canada

This workshop will take you through the highlights of Canada’s history, including milestone moments during each decade!  We will journey from  the 1950s, when homosexuality was considered to be a “curable illness” to today, given in bite-sized pieces. Did you know that Quebec was the 2nd place in the world to provide human rights protections? Or that the Canadian Navy’s 1st kiss was on BC soil? We will see just how far our laws and media have come in regards to 2SLGBTQIA+ consideration. We will also highlight some of the rights and protections we are still fighting for today! We welcome you to join us in learning more about queer and trans history.

Queer + Trans History Trivia Game

Learn about the Queer + Trans History of Canada by playing this fun trivia game. Workshop participants have the opportunity to privately record their answers or shout them out to the group. Following each set of trivia questions, facilitators provide context and details. We have found that audiences love learning in this interactive format.

Harmony Bongat was the lead researcher for these two workshops.

Gratitude also to Jordan Lelievre, our amazing volunteer.

CAN thanks Vancouver Pride Society for providing a grant to do the research for these two workshops.

CAN is currently working with Vancouver Pride Society to develop and populate a Queer + Trans History Timeline, which will be hosted on Vancouver Pride’s website. This will be a living timeline that we will add to as we continue our research.

Facilitators:

Heather McCain (they/them) is Executive Director of Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods, a non-profit they founded in 2005. Heather is also a Crip Doula. This is a Disability Justice term for someone who helps disabled people navigate our complex systems, providing resources, support, and building community.

Heather’s own experiences with multiple types of disabilities, inaccessibility, and ableism led them to become a well-known and respected advocate, speaker, educator, and activist. Heather recognizes that those within the disability community have intersecting identities and, as a disabled, neurodivergent, trans, queer person, they work hard to ensure a multitude of voices and experiences inform their work. Heather is committed to centering decolonialization, using an intersectional lens and disability justice framework, and engaging in cross-movement organizing.

Harmony Bongat (she/her) became involved with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods after attending Chronically Queer, a support group CAN facilitates for 2SLGBTQIA+ folk with chronic health conditions. Harmony is a disability justice advocate and educator. Harmony’s experiences as a disabled person with multiple intersecting identities informs her work. Harmony is passionate about disability awareness, queer + trans history, and sharing her lived experience to further conversation about meeting the needs of disabled people, building community, and empowering those currently pushed to the margins. Harmony is the key researcher for the Queer + Trans workshops and the timeline for Vancouver Pride Society.