The Pride Society of the Comox Valley (Pride Comox Valley)
AND
Saplings Gender Diverse Kids
Due to these two groups requesting smaller amounts funding, they were grouped together to be voted upon by our donors and each received a portion of the donations. See the applications from each group below.
Saplings Gender Diverse Kids
Name of umbrella organization (if applicable): Saplings Outdoor Program
Website (if applicable): http://saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca
Tell us a bit about your group and its purposes/projects. Please include bit about its history. : We are running an outdoor summer camp in Nanaimo for gender diverse children ages 4-11. This camp will be led by gender diverse educators and follow forest school philosophies. The purpose of the camp is to provide a space for children to build connections with other transgender/gender creative peers and educators while exploring the natural world. The focus of forest school to promote holistic learning and a sense of belonging while fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love for the outdoors. TK Hannah is leading this project, they’re a transgender early childhood educator with a special interest in forest school and gender affirming practice in the early years. They run a workshop series on supporting gender diverse children in the early years. This will be the first year the camp will run.
Is there a specific project that this new money would be applied to, or would it be used for your ongoing work? Please describe. : This money will be applied to purchasing supplies for the camp and towards offsetting the cost of our "pay what you can" pricing and accessible pricing which is used to provide the educators their wages. We will not be taking a profit from this program, all money will be funded back into the program.
Please elaborate on how your work or project will benefit the Queer community and how it enhances the community in two or more of these critical dimensions: Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility and Equality.: Our group was formed in response to the growing need for equitable and inclusive early year experiences for gender diverse children. Most gender diverse kids programs serve children over the age of 12, leaving younger children with limited gender affirming spaces. We believe in creating an intentional space where children feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are and where guardians can feel secure that their child will be supported for their unique selves during their recreation experience. This camp directly supports inclusion, diversity, accessibility and equality for gender diverse people. In addition, forest school is often sought out by neurodivergent people, our program is inclusive to children with disabilities and firmly believes that the program should change to fit the child, rather than the other way around.
What is the estimated budget for the project that you are proposing or working on?: $2,000
What are your other funding sources for this project (if applicable) ? Include approximate amounts if possible.: Some of the parents have opted into paying a small fee for this project. Our sliding scale runs from $100 for accessible pricing, $200 for standard pricing and $300 for rebalancing pricing. So far, families have selected "pay what you can", accessible pricing or standard.
Members of the Saplings Gender Diverse Kids receive funds from Island Queers and Allies Who Care at the organization’s first birthday party in July 2023.
Members of the Comox Valley Pride Society receive funds from Island Queers and Allies Who Care at the organization’s first birthday party in July 2023.
The Pride Society of the Comox Valley (Pride Comox Valley)
Website (if applicable): https://pridesocietycomoxvalley.org
Tell us a bit about your group and its purposes/projects. Please include bit about its history. : Pride Comox Valley is re-emerging from the earlier days of the pandemic. It is working to re-engage with the community through advocacy and education. Pride Comox Valley has actively engaged in projects that support queer youth, and had been a strong voice in the local Community Health Network, and is active in promoting positive queer presentation with the local school district. It is also taking the direction of supporting local, queer artists and businesses while seeking its primary support from its local community as well.
Is there a specific project that this new money would be applied to, or would it be used for your ongoing work? Please describe. : Pride Comox Valley has joined forces this year with a local group, Queer Culture, to present Pride Weekend 2023. While Queer Culture is managing most of the party events, Pride Comox Valley is hosting Pride in the Park, a family friendly, youth friendly event to be held the afternoon of August 26. Pride Comox Valley is seeking funds to help promote Pride in the Park through local and Island supports. Funds generated from Pride in the Park, or funds left over from sponsorship will be directed towards Pride's ongoing advocacy work in the Comox Valley.
Please elaborate on how your work or project will benefit the Queer community and how it enhances the community in two or more of these critical dimensions: Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility and Equality.: Queer people see the hatred in the world right now. While Canada is a considerably safer place than many other parts of the world, queer hatred occurs here too, including a few acts of violence in the Comox Valley in recent years and months. Pride in the Park is intentionally celebrating, and promoting, the strength in our local queer community and its allies.
We will be featuring, and paying, trans and drag performers for 2 of 4 hours of stage entertainment.
We are offering free vending booths to promote the work of non profits or businesses:
Community Cares Peer Outreach (to support our unhoused neighbours in whose yard the event will be held)
Indigenous Women's Sharing Society - who will lead a drumming circle and offer a salmon bake
Queer Framers (acceptance not yet confirmed)
Sunday Station (local organization that feeds unhoused neighbours for free will be providing the food for the event and all proceeds will be used to continue their valuable work in our community).
Event organizers have disabilities and are ensuring the event is disability, and Elder, friendly. Special seating will be available throughout the park for people with disabilities and Elders.
One of the event organizers works in the field of accessibility and is currently co-leading vital accessibility work in the Comox Valley.
What are your other funding sources for this project (if applicable) ? Include approximate amounts if possible.: West & Co. $2000
Community Health Network $500
Vendors (projected) $500
Pride Comox Valley has enough funds to cover this projected deficit, but it will completely drain the bank account, and creating a red for further fundraising to continue the work we would like to do in the community.