March 11, 2019 Meeting 6-8 p.m.

Everyone is invited to the meeting at Camrose Public Library 6-8 pm. We hope to see you!

Here’s the agenda:

1. Introductions

2. Discussion with Camrose Police Services to help them with their strategic planning
i. Camrose Police Service representatives and City of Camrose Strategic planners will be in attendance to ask for our honest feedback on what they are doing well and how they can improve in the future. They are asking for honest and open conversation about this.
ii. They will be asking 2 questions:

1. What aspects of public safety and policing are going well in Camrose?
2. What areas of concern could be improved and/or use increased attention from police and the community?

iii. If you cannot attend the meeting, or if you prefer you may submit your responses to police@camrose.ca prior to March 11. If you wish to submit them anonymously, you may email camrosepridecommunity@gmail.com and we will not reveal your identity when we share your comments at the meeting.

3. Potential Collaboration with Walkable Camrose-Janet Roy

4. Potential Collaboration with Camrose Arts Society for various upcoming events-Jane Cherry-Lemire

5. Upcoming events and plans

a. March 23: Fostering Allyship for a More Inclusive Future Symposium at Augustana-Preregister by emailing augustanaaqua@gmail.com; $10 registration includes lunch (registering prior to March 19 would really help the organizers in planning the food!)
b. March 23 All Ages and Stages Dance and Cabaret at Retro 7-10 p.m. (all ages) and 10-? (adults only) Tickets can be purchased in advance at Retro and Quantum Comics and at the door. Space is limited.
c. BBQ in June? Planning committee?
d. Big Valley Jamboree Parade in August? Planning committee?

6. Discussion of successes of Pride Week, lessons learned and feedback

7. espressOUT on March 25 5:30-7:00 p.m. Where should we hold espressOUT in March? The Forum? Off campus in a coffee shop? Where?

8. Sharing

Check out the Queer Like Me Art Show at Camrose Public Library and the Re-imaging Normal Show below!

January 14, 2019 Meeting Agenda

January 14, 2019 6-8 pm at House of Hair Design

Agenda

Sharing and Connection

  1. Discussion of past events
  • Pizza and a Movie Night on December 10

2. Planning for upcoming events

  • EspressOUT on January 28 at Fika Coffeehouse (4803-48 street)
  • Friends and Family Support Group meeting on Feb. 4 6-8 pm. at Camrose Public Library in the Bunker
  • Queer Like Me Youth Art Project in January and Art Show in February
    • Volunteers needed for planning of Art Show opening
  • Fundraising opportunity with the Nordlys Film Festival February 15-17
    • Scheduling of volunteers for the coat check

3. Pride Week February 24 to March 2

Collaboration with AQUA

    • Lineup of events
    • Volunteers needed
  • Request to City Council to fly the Pride Flag (update)
  • Camrose Queer Symposium in collaboration with AQUA at Augustana on March 23
    • Information
    • Volunteer opportunities
  • Family Dance on March 23 at Retro
    • Volunteers needed to help with planning
  • Possible Augustana CSL student projects

4. Opportunities to be part of the Camrose Pride Community Leadership Team

5. Other ideas?

6. Next regular meeting: January 28 meeting for Conversation and Connection at Fika Coffeehouse 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

 

January 2019 Events

Monday, January 14 6:00-8:00 p.m. Regular Monthly Meeting for Connection and Planning

At House of Hair Design (4830-48 Street)

Add your input to our plans for an exciting Pride Week at the end of February and for a fundraiser on the Family Day Long weekend. There are lots more exciting plans in the works!

All LGBTQ2S+ people and allies are welcome!

 

expressOUT on Monday, January 28 5:30-7:00 p.m

At Fika Coffeehouse (4803-48 street)

All LGBTQ2S+ people and allies are welcome to this conversation group.

November 19, 2018 Meeting Notes

November 19, 2018 6-8 pm at House of Hair Design

Meeting Notes

A. Sharing and Connection: 12 people were in attendance

B. Discussion of past events

    1. Hay Lakes QSA event
      • Michael Green of altView gave an excellent presentation that was very informative and helpful. This emphasized that importance of providing an opportunity for people to express their concerns and have them addressed with accurate information.
    2. Pride Kodiaks Hockey Game on October 19
      • Boris Rybalka, GM and Head Coach of the Kodiaks, was very welcoming and did a lot to highlight inclusion in sports at the game. Thanks to the Kodiaks for their support and to Jeff McLean of Pride Tape.

3. espressOUT in October

  • Well attended in the Augustana Forum; consensus is that it is easiest for Augustana students to drop by if espressOUT is on campus or close to campus
  • Consensus to try Fika as a location for espressOUT in January.
  • Action: Melissa will contact Fika about possibility for having espressOUT at Fika on January 28.

C. Planning for upcoming events

  1. espressOUT on November 26
  • During Wellness Week at Augustana
  • Action: Carol will send information to Alex of the ASA to see if the notice can be included in the Wellness Week activity schedule.

2. Friends and Family Support Group

    • Meeting on Dec. 3 6-8 pm. at Camrose Public Library in the Bunker
    • Spread the word that all friends and family are welcome to attend.

3. December 10 Pizza and a Movie Night

  • We will meet at Gus’ house at 6:00 p.m.
  • Contact Camrose Pride for the address.
  • We still need to find a suitable movie to watch. Suggestions?

4. December 11 Potential AQUA event

    • Will not work at this time, but future possible collaborations will be explored especially regarding necessary insurance coverage

5. Queer Like Me Youth Art Project in January and Art Show in February

    • The Camrose Police Association gave Camrose Pride a $1000 grant to run the project.
    • It will be open to queer youth (up to the age of 24) in Camrose and area on January 11, 18 and 25 at the Boys and Girls Club in the Community Centre from 6-8 p.m.
    • Registration is confidential and can be done by emailing Nikki Featherstone nkmfeatherstone@gmail.com
    • Youth will have the option to include their creations in a Queer Like Me Art Exhibition at the Camrose Public Library. The Gala opening of the exhibit will be on Thursday, February 28 during Pride Week.
    • Information will be sent out about this project before the end of November.

6. Fundraising opportunity with the Nordlys Film Festival February 15-17

  • Group consensus was that we would have enough volunteers to help out at the coat check at the Nordlys Film Festival as a fundraiser for Camrose Pride
  • Action: Carol will contact the Nordlys organizers.

7. Possible Augustana CSL student projects

    • Good possibility that there will be some Community Service Learning Students who will be able to help with Pride Week activities and a community safe spaces initiative starting in February 2019.

8. Pride Week February 24-March 2: Collaboration with AQUA

  • Many exciting ideas for Pride Week were shared by Melissa, Carol and Cathie.
  • Meeting will be happening shortly with the Augustana Student Association Pride Committee

9. Formation of a Pride Week planning committee

  • Melissa and Carol will try to coordinate the various committees for planning a fantastic Pride Week.

10. Request to City Council to fly the Pride Flag

  • Action: Carol will write a letter that can be signed by the co-chairs of Camrose Pride Community and AQUA to request that the pride flag be flown again for Pride Week in February and each Pride Week thereafter

11. Family Dance

  • March 23 is a good possibility for a Family Dance at the Retro Pub
  • Action: Carol will check the date with the Retro Pub
  • Cathie has a theatrical friend from Halifax who is willing to do live Karaoke of cabaret songs with the attendees.
  • Action: The event organizers will request that Robyn Bank$ also perform that night as well as other local drag kings and queens.

12. Report from AQUA leadership rep on other upcoming events in the works

    • AQUA, in collaboration with the Chester Ronning Centre, is planning to host a one day conference on Queer Rural Issues at Augustana on either March 16 or 23
    • A committee to plan this event is being formed.
    • The group had many ideas for speakers and topics.
    • AQUA has invited Camrose Pride Community members to a movie night in the Wahkohtowin Lodge Classroom at Augustana on Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. to watch the movie “Love, Simon”. Food and snacks will be provided.

D. Opportunities to be part of the Camrose Pride Community Leadership Team

    • Carol will be retiring from her position with Camrose Pride Community in mid-March.
    • Action: If anyone is interested in taking on the role of Secretary for Camrose Pride Community, contact the Leadership Team to discuss this responsibility.

E. Other items or ideas

  • There have been some requests for activities for youth in the community who are in the 12-19 year old range.
    • Discussion and brainstorming generated ideas like collaborating with About Time Productions and/or Camrose Public Library to offer some activities and opportunities to connect with other youth. This might be possible on Friday afternoons when there is early dismissal from high schools.
  • Concern was expressed that there is a lot of misinformation around transgender issues that would be a good topic to address with a presentation in the community and at Augustana.
  • Action: Jen will do some research on who might be able to present this information and when (possibly during Pride Week?)

F. Next regular meeting: January 14 meeting for sharing and planning at House of Hair Design 6-8 pm

 

November 19, 2018 Meeting Agenda

November 19, 2018 6-8 pm at House of Hair Design

Draft Agenda

If anyone has other items to be added to the agenda, contact the leadership team at Camrosepridecommunity@gmail.com.

1. Sharing and Connection

2. Discussion of past events

  • Hay Lakes QSA event
  • Pride Kodiaks Hockey Game on October 19
  • espressOUT in October

3. Planning for upcoming events

  • EspressOUT on November 26
  • Friends and Family Support Group meeting on Dec. 3 6-8 pm. at Camrose Public Library in the Bunker
  • December 10 Pizza and a Movie
  • Fundraising opportunity with the Nordlys Film Festival
  • Queer Like Me Youth Art Project in January
  • Possible Augustana CSL student projects
  • Pride Week February 24-March 2: Collaboration with AQUA
  • Formation of a Pride Week planning committee
  • Family Dance (perhaps on March 23)
  • Report from AQUA leadership rep on other upcoming events in the works

4. Opportunities to be part of the Camrose Pride Community Leadership Team

5. Other items or ideas?

 

Kodiak’s “Pride” Game on Friday, October 19!

Join us at the EnCana Arena in Camrose this Friday night at 7:00 p.m. as the Camrose Kodiaks tape up their hockey sticks with Pride Tape to play the Olds Grizzlys and show their support for inclusion in sports!

Jeff McLean, inventor of Pride Tape,  will be present on Friday with the “You Can Play” display (https://egale.ca/portfolio/you-can-play-canada/). Camrose Pride Community will also have a display to continue to share our mission to create safe and inclusive spaces for all of us through hosting events,  providing education and collaborations (like this one with the Kodiaks!).

If you would like to show your support for inclusive sports and would like a free ticket to the game, stop by to pick up your tickets at Quantum Comics in Camrose before the Friday night game!

If you would like to, wear your pride colours!

Hope to see you at the game! Go Kodiaks!

September 10, 2018 6-8 p.m. Meeting at House of Hair Design

  1. Connecting and Sharing – 8 in attendance, Gus chaired
  2. Report on past events
  • espressOUT at Fox & Fable Book and Game Café in August

Attendance was great, lots of conversation and the games made it easier for people to participate.

  • Fall Bank$ Ball

Very well attended, 160 people. Lots of fun

  • Moving our meetings and espressOUT to the second and fourth Mondays of the month
    • Work out dates on long weekends coming up in October and November
    • We will move our Oct. and Nov. meetings to Tuesday, Oct. 9 and  Tuesday, November 13.
  1. Planning for upcoming events
  • Support for the QSA event in Hay Lakes on October 4
  • reminder of this event, 6:30 pm, bring baking
  • Family Dance on October 26 for Halloween

A suggestion was made to approach the Bailey about partnering for this event. Gus will call Simon.

Otherwise we will look at a Potluck and Family Dance on Nov. 23 or 24th.

  • Grant applications: Camrose Police Association Grant
    • Queer Like Me Youth Art Project

A copy of the application was shared for information. Mike shared that altView has developed a similar program in Strathcona County with the Boys and Girls Club. It is also art based but without the therapy component. This could be information we share to support our application.

  • Future espressOUT meetings
    • Conversation on how to respond to bigoted comments and attitudes with resource person from ISMSS

It was felt that this could be very useful at our October ExpressOUT. We would need to secure a venue as the Forum would not necessarily be suitable.

  • Holiday Potluck on December 10

A location will need to be determined for this event

  • Initiatives with Kodiaks and Vikings

There was considerable excitement about fundraising opportunities at  a game. Discussion was also held about seeing if a game could be scheduled around Augustana Pride Week. Amielle will help with this piece.

  • Fundraising ideas
  • Other ideas/information shared

Mike shared some concerning information that one of the branches of the Lutheran Church in Alberta is indirectly encouraging conversion therapy. This is being shared through their upcoming conference booklet and to their private school network. Jen will research potential impacts to be aware of especially in the county.

The question was raised about GSA activity in the county and how we can be supporting that. This may be an area where Cathie can help as a parent.

Who are we not advocating for/supporting that we could be? was another topic of conversation. We have Mike, Sophie and Jen to act as resources.

Mike is going to obtain Safer Space stickers from the University that we can offer to businesses to place in their window.

It is also possible to provide Safer Space Training to City Council through altView.

  • Next meeting: espressOUT in the Augustana Forum on Monday,
    September 24, 5:30-7:00 pm