Yukon pride centre: Community conversation

The Yukon Pride Centre is a major initiative of Queer Yukon Society (QYS) and All Genders Yukon Society (AGYS), who partnered in 2019 to begin the process of creating this exciting space. We want the Yukon Pride Centre to be community-driven and collectively-imagined, with a goal of creating a physical space where community members can gather and access resources, programs, and supports. As we work together to create something truly exciting, we look forward to your input on this ground-breaking project.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress!

help us find a home for the Yukon pride centre

The Yukon Pride Centre is currently searching for a space to call our own! Find out more about what we're looking for and contact us with your suggestions!

upcoming Yukon pride centre community conversationS 

Mark your calendars for our other upcoming community conversations about the development of the Pride Centre. Online conversations happening on:
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Nov. 9 - A Yukon Pride Centre
Nov. 23 - Community Discussion on RCMP (Cancelled)
Nov. 26 - LGBTQIA2S+ Community Discussion on RCMP
Dec. 10 - Inspiration from Outside
Jan. 12 - Inspiration from Inside
Jan. 16 - Queer & Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour
Jan. 19 - Trans, Two-Spirit, Non-binary
Jan. 25 - What We Heard & Next Steps

ASL Interpretation Available Upon Request

We want to hear from you

We'd love to hear your thoughts, dreams, concerns, and ideas about our developing Yukon Pride Centre.  Let us know by filling out our survey below!  Any feedback would be appreciated.
  • Imagine your dream Queer space in the Yukon. What would it be like? How would you want it to feel?
  • What services, resources and/or programming would you be interested in?
  • ​Are there any barriers you are facing that make it harder to access services, resources and/or programming?
If you have ideas or thoughts to share with us that don't fit within the survey above, please reach out to our team and send us a message!

Queer Takeover

The Queer Takeover is a series of community events organized by and for the LGBTQ2S+ community!

These events are happening across the Yukon from September 1 to November 30, 2020. We plan to build on these community events to ask community members about their vision for the Yukon Pride Centre.

To find out more about the upcoming events, please click the button below!

WHat We Heard

We want to keep you updated on what we've heard so far from our community conversations. Check out this page for all of the latest discussions about what our Yukon Pride Centre could become!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

Inspiration from Inside
Tues. Jan 12 @ 6pm
To be held via Zoom
​ASL Interpretation *Not* Available for this Session
Queer & Trans Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (QTBIPOC) Community Conversation
Sat. Jan. 16 @ 6pm
For QTBIPOC community members only
To be held via Zoom
​ASL Interpretation Available Upon Request
Trans, Two-Spirit, Non-binary Community Conversation
Tues. Jan 19 @ 6pm 
For Trans, Two-Spirit, Non-binary people and their primary supports only
To be held via Zoom
​ASL Interpretation Available Upon Request
What We Heard & Next Steps
Mon. Jan 25 @ 6pm
To be held via Zoom
​ASL Interpretation Available Upon Request

Frequently asked questions

Who is Queer Yukon Society?
Queer Yukon Society (QYS) was launched in 2013 as a small group of dedicated volunteers with the goal of providing opportunities for the LGBTQ2S+ community to gather, socialize and support one another – primarily through social gatherings and the establishment of a Pride Festival in the Yukon. Since its humble beginnings, QYS has grown to offer regular events throughout the year to the community, and Pride has now become a week-long, multi-community celebration. The organization incorporated in 2018 with the goal of increasing its capacity to support the community.
WHO IS ALL GENDERS YUKON SOCIETY?
All Genders Yukon Society (AGYS) is incorporated as a not for profit organization and is focused on providing services to members of the Trans, Two-Spirit, Non-binary and questioning community, as well as their primary supports (significant others and family). AGYS helps community members by facilitating the funding of mental health services for members of the community (including single, couples, and group session), supporting outreach so community members can connect with other members one-on-one and get individualized support, if requested, and connecting people with information about how to access trans-friendly medical services, if requested.

For more information, visit: www.allgendersyukon.com
How are QYS and AGYS partnering on this project together?
In 2019 Yukon Government approached all Yukon’s LGBTQ2S+ organizations with the goal of forming a coalition to create a Yukon Pride Centre. As a result, Queer Yukon Society and All Genders Yukon Society signed a historic agreement to work together on a collaborative and community led vision for this project. The organizations worked together as partners to hire the Executive Director and now meet regularly to discuss community engagement, policy development and governance options as the project evolves.

The Yukon Pride Centre receives core funding from Yukon Government - Women’s Directorate, with additional support from the Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Support Program to coordinate this series of events.
When will the pride centre open?
Our team is hoping to have the first Yukon Pride Centre office open by March 2021. Our Strategic Planning initiative will help us determine what kind of space we need, and it may take some time to find the space we require. In addition, COVID-19 health guidelines may also slow down the process.
 
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress!
What kind of space is the Yukon Pride Centre looking for?
The Yukon Pride Centre team is looking for a space that will meet our short and long-term administrative and programming needs. Some of our considerations include:
​
  • Wheelchair accessible entry and washroom
  • Single stall washrooms or possibility of establishing gender neutral washrooms
  • A minimum of 2 closed-door office spaces
  • Open area for activities and programming
  • Close to downtown Whitehorse or on a bus route
  • Ample parking
  • Kitchen or Kitchenette
  • 2,000 square feet or more

Please email space@queeryukon.com with information about available properties.
what kinds of programming and services does the Yukon pride centre offer?
The Yukon Pride Centre is still in the early stages of its development. Currently we do not offer any long-term programming. However, through the Queer Takeover project, we will be hosting LGBTQ2S+ community events across the Yukon until the end of November.

We are also working with our community in a variety of ways to create a shared vision for the centre and the kinds of programming, services, and resources it could provide. Look for the upcoming strategic planning process taking place in fall 2020 and discussed in more detail below.
 
Do you have ideas you want to share? Please e-mail us at: info@queeryukon.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress!
How can we share our ideas for the Yukon Pride Centre?
A comprehensive strategic planning and community engagement process will start in the fall of 2020. Various events, surveys and other engagement tools will be used to ensure we hear from as many community stakeholders as possible--primarily LGBTQ2S+ Yukoners. We plan to engage with community organizations to make sure the needs of rural, indigenous, francophone and marginalized Yukoners are heard. We welcome your recommendations on how to gather as many diverse perspectives as possible. Please email us if you have recommendations you would like to share on this process. 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch for opportunities to share your idea, or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress!
​How do we partner with the Yukon Pride Centre?
Through partnerships, the Yukon Pride Centre will be able to expand our impact and our network of support. Together we are stronger and can accomplish many things. 

At this time we are in the very early stages of developing the Yukon Pride Centre and our small team is heavily focused on our Strategic Planning Process. As such, we will be prioritizing local partnerships as we are able and may not have capacity to engage in national projects at this time.

To inquire about local partnerships, please contact us at: info@queeryukon.com

We would love to learn more about your organization and the ways we could work together to inform our visioning process. We will reach out when the time is right and our staff is able to move forward on new projects. 
How do we engage the yukon pride centre in research?
Yukon Pride Centre believes strongly in the value of evidence-based research to support our community's needs and develop innovative new policies, practices and programs.

At this time we are in the very early stages of creating the Yukon Pride Centre. Our small team does not have the capacity to actively participate in any research initiatives. However, we want to know about what you are working on. Please fill out the form below and tell us a bit about your project. We are actively monitoring this survey and we will be sure to reach out and engage when our capacity increases. 

Please fill out the form below and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress.
how do i become a member of the yukon pride centre?
The Yukon Pride Centre is in the early stages of creating a membership structure and plan.

However, if you are interested in becoming a member of Queer Yukon Society please attend our Annual General Meeting in the fall of 2020. 

To become a member of All Genders Yukon Society, please contact: AGYSboard@gmail.com

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress!
how do i volunteer?
Currently we do not have any regular volunteer opportunities. However, if you would like to let us know you're available, contact us at: info@queeryukon.com.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or join our newsletter to stay up to date on our team’s progress!. 
How do i get a job working for the yukon pride centre?
All employment opportunities for the Yukon Pride Centre will be posted on the Queer Yukon Society website here: https://www.queeryukon.com/work.html

While everyone is welcome to apply, Queer Yukon Society encourages applications from Yukoners and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, including but not limited to: francophones, People of Colour, people with disabilities, trans/non-binary people, two spirit / indigiqueer people, and women.
how is the yukon pride centre funded?
The Yukon Pride Centre receives core funding from Yukon Government - Women’s Directorate, with additional support from the Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Support Program to coordinate the Queer Takeover series of events.