Pieces to Pathways (P2P) is a peer-led initiative offering Canada’s only substance use support program for LGBTTQQ2SIA youth (ages 16-29).

Our program is open to all LGBTTQQ2SIA youth ages 16-29 who are concerned about their substance use, or are interested in exploring their relationship to substances. Our mission is to provide seamless, comprehensive and effective harm reduction services and a full range of addictions treatment services that are amenable to an individual’s needs and goals. We have always operated on a non abstinence or ‘harm reduction’ approach, which forms the philosophical basis for all our work, in reducing harm and enhancing the health of our clients.

THIS RESOURCE IS NOT 2SLGBTQ+ SPECIFIC

Planned Parenthood Ottawa (PPO) is a pro-choice nonprofit supporting our community’s sexual and reproductive health through education, counselling, and referral services. We envisions a community where accurate sexual and reproductive health support and services are comprehensive, accessible, and delivered equitably.

Services Offered:

Options Line support
Community members are able to reach us through email at ppottawa@ppottawa.ca or call our Options Line at 613-226-3234 ext. 101 from 12pm-4pm, Monday to Friday to receive sexual and reproductive health information, time sensitive community referrals (incl. for abortion), emotional support (incl. immediate counseling if necessary, trauma-informed safety planning, crisis de-escalation etc.), and schedule Options counselling.

Options Counselling
Planned Parenthood Ottawa offers free, confidential, evidence informed counseling grounded in respect for personal autonomy through support that is trauma-informed, client-centred, anti-oppressive, and based on informed consent. Community members are given a space to talk about their pregnancy options (parenting, adoption, abortion etc.), how to navigate an STI diagnosis and safer sex practices with a partner/s, contraception choices, pregnancy loss, hormone replacement therapy, and can receive post-abortion support (incl through an in-person peer-support group).

Resource Distribution
We offer free pregnancy tests (urine/ discreet strip tests), prenatal vitamins, safer sex supplies (condoms, dental dams, lube etc.), and sexual and reproductive health related pamphlets/ educational materials to community members and organizations.

Kiosk & Workshops
Our team also offers event kiosking and sexual and reproductive health related workshops for community organizations, universities, primary schools etc. Visit out website (https://ppottawa.ca/) for more information on our workshops and to book with our staff!

(Currently online through Zoom)
Polybilities is an open forum for exploring relationship dynamics beyond the standard societal norms (i.e., monogamy). The Pandemic has changed the way the community engages in life, love and relationships during this time. Join Christiane and Anona as we come together to share our stories, experiences, strategies and healthy relationships during a pandemic and beyond. This space will be centring 2SLGBTQIA+ Folks, but is to all polyamous folks.

We are a community-based organization made up of dedicated, caring, committed individuals. Staff and volunteers alike provide support, education, and advocacy in a safe and confidential environment for HIV-positive individuals, their families, and their friends.

In 1987, we started the AIDS Committee of Niagara. We were an advisory committee to the Niagara Regional Public Health Service’s AIDS Program. We evolved from a committee to a not-for-profit, community-based AIDS service organization (ASO).

PSI is intended to share resources and increase organizational capacity across the sector to more effectively serve LGBTQIA+ immigrants, refugees, and newcomers. The initiative consists of several overlapping components, including a robust Advisory Committee, a diverse Champion program, a living and ever-changing in-person and online curriculum, as well as an active community-grounded approach to create sustainable structures.

The strength of Positive Spaces is in creating an environment which strives to understand the overlapping and intersecting nature of our communities.

The Positive Spaces Initiative is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Positive Spaces Initiative (PSI) was developed by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) to share resources and increase organizational capacity across the immigrant- and refugee-serving sector to more effectively serve LGBTQIA+ immigrants, refugees, and newcomers. The initiative is grounded in the understanding that LGBTQIA+ newcomers are often a part of multiple communities, and seek welcoming service regardless of age, race, cultural community, faith or religion, disability, gender, status, etc. The strength of Positive Spaces is in creating an environment which strives to understand the overlapping and intersecting nature of our communities.

Positive Spaces are welcoming environments where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Pansexual, Genderqueer, etc. (LGBTQIA+) immigrants, refugees, and newcomers are able to access culturally inclusive services with dignity and respect, and where service providers can work free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Everyone can work to create Positive Spaces by challenging homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexism, monosexism, and cissexism.

We offer two programs under the Positive Space Umbrella. Namely, Positive Space (for youth ages 14-24; at our Youth Space) and Positive Space Jr. (for ages 7-12; at our main location, 45 Ellis Avenue). Both programs are drop-in programs for members of 2SLGBTQAI+ community and their allies. These are member-led, which means that our sessions will look different depending on the cohort. Some are more interested in arts + crafts, others are more interested in guest speakers, while others are more interested in socialization. We incorporate their ideas into program design and delivery. At it’s core, however, this is a safe space for people to find community and be themselves!

PSI has been traveling throughout the province of Ontario to deliver free workshops to staff members, from front-line workers to senior management and board members, on how to create welcoming spaces in their agencies that are inclusive and free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.The Positive Spaces Initiative (PSI) aims to support the settlement sector to more effectively serve LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, genderqueer, etc.) newcomers. PSI encourages training, education, leadership and resource-sharing to support LGBTQ+ newcomers, staff, volunteers and community members.

THIS RESOURCE IS NOT 2SLGBTQ SPECIFIC

Positive Youth Outreach (PYO) is a peer support program for young people (ages 16-29) living with HIV. It is coordinated by poz youth, for poz youth. The program includes weekly group programming, which includes workshops, social events, and leadership opportunities, as well as 1:1 peer support around issues such as sexual health, HIV status disclosure, navigating health and social assistance systems, and more. Meals and TTC fare provided

Formerly AIDS Committee of Windsor
We are an AIDS Service Organization that services people living with, at risk of or affected by HIV/AIDS. We offer client services, harm reduction, youth programming, ACB, GBMSM, and Women centric programs.

Families in TRANSition (FIT) is a 10-week closed group for parents / caregivers of 2-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender-questioning youth (ages 13-24) who have recently learned of their child’s gender identity. This group typically runs 4 times a year, for 10 weeks. Please contact Jordan.Zaitzow@ctys.org for more information about registration and dates.

For now, this service continues to operate virtually. Parents from anywhere in the GTA, throughout Ontario, or across so-called Canada are welcome to join.

There is also a FIT youth group that is open to youth ages 13-24 who are Two Spirit, nonbinary, trans, or exploring gender in any way. The youth group focuses on gender exploration, identity, and activism, through an arts-based lens. Contact Lev Goldberg at Lev.Goldberg@ctys.org for more details!

Queering Community is a space for queer, trans, and gender diverse youth between the ages of 16-22 to engage in games, mindfulness, and arts-based activities that explore gender, mental health, relationships, and build a sense of community. The group will be in-person at CTYS offices (65 Wellesley Street East, Suite 300) from 4:30-6:30 PM on Tuesday from November 5 to December 3. Please email daniel.robinson@ctys.org for details.

Individual and Family Counselling is for 2SLGBTQ+ youth (age 12 to 24) and their families. Contact CTYS Community Intake to discuss more at community.intake@ctys.org and/or 416-924-2100 ext. 245.