2SLGBTQI+ Resources | Thunder Bay District Health Unit

This page contains a curated list of both local and provincial/federal resources, as well as information on a local working group that provides a network for professionals and other interested parties. This list was updated on April 4, 2024.

Upcoming trainings and workshops, suggested by SAGE members, are highlighted under "Thunder Bay and District Resources" below.

If you have a suggestion for additional resources or trainings/workskhops, please contact TBDHU by emailing SAGE@tbdhu.com.

Terminology and Acronyms

Terminology and acronyms are continuously evolving. The 2SLGBTQI+ represents Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities. The “2S” at the front recognizes Two-Spirit people as the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities. The “I” for intersex considers sex characteristics beyond sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The “+” is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies.

Source: Government of Canada "What is 2SLGBTQI+?"

SAGE – Sexuality and Gender Equity Working Group

Co-facilitated by TBDHU and Norwest Community Health Centres, SAGE is intended to be a support network for community members including health care providers, social service providers, educators, activists, and more.

SAGE intends to connect agencies and individuals, and share resources and educational opportunities. The group meets virtually every 2 months (September, November, January, March, May).

For help finding specific resources, updates on SAGE activities, or inquiries about meetings, please email SAGE@tbdhu.com.

Upcoming Workshops

Information about upcoming workshops is added as available.

Advocacy and Support

Thunder Pride Association: A 2SLGBTIQ+ community that supports all people of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario to grow into an inclusive and diverse community.

Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay: An inclusive, supportive and empowering home for the Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) communities, including those in the Two-Spirit and Intersex community and with various forms of attractions or other intersecting identities of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.

Pride Central + Gender Equity Centre (Lakehead University): An educational, lobbying, support and referral service which provides a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered, two- spirited, queer, intersex, and allies (LGBTTQIA) students. It is open to all Lakehead University students (and community). Follow on Facebook

Two-Spirit & LGBTQ+ Mentor (Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre): Provides resources, programming, and support such as sharing circles or one-on-ones to those who identify as Two-Spirit or LGBTQIA+ to build gender diverse communities. The Mentor is available to children, youth, and adults who need help or support. The Mentor can provide information sessions for parents/guardians/relations or to those who want to learn more, as well as education and resources for non-indigenous/non-LGBTQIA+ individuals to help create a safer environment and community. To contact, call (807) 345-5840 ext. 907.

Northern Ontario Pride Connection(NOPC): This group connects members of the 2SLGBTQ+ and allies across Northern Ontario to bridge the gap between organizations and community leaders to celebrate diversity, foster unity and enrich lives.

Podcast: Queer in the North with the first episode featuring Thunder Bay History.
Zine: The first edition is now available
Speakers Bureau: See website to make a request
Board training for Pride Boards: See website to make a request

Support Groups and Safe Spaces

Transfriender: This group replaces the Gender Journeys program previously offered. This group provides peer support and information, sharing of experiences, facilitated discussion a topic. This group is offered in person and is open to anyone who identifies as transgender. Interested individuals should contact NorWest Community Health Centres at (807) 622-8235 for details. Service providers with questions or those looking for more information should send an email to SAGE@tbdhu.com to be connected to the group facilitator.

The Other 10%: This group for self-identified LGBTTIQA+Questioning young people ages 12-25 years is run by Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. Check out Facebook or Instagram or contact Alicia Guy at (807) 343-5024 or aguy@childrenscentre.ca. Winter/spring 2024 dates include January 18, February 1, 15 and 29; March 28 (no group over March break); April 11 and 25; May 9 and 23; June 6 and 20.

WALKING PROUD GROUP - 2SLGBTQI+ and Allies Support Group: Offered by Alpha Court, this group creates a safe place for people to decrease isolation and increase social networking and inclusiveness. Offered the following Thursdays, from 2:00 to 4:00pm, January 11th, February 15th, March 14th , with more dates to be announced soon. Includes a Sharing Circle, a topic discussion, making a snack and playing card games. Registration for attendance is required - please call Natalie at (807) 632-9230 during the daytime.

Parents of Trans Kids Peer Support Group: Thunder Bay - A group for any parent, guardian, family member or loved one of a trans youth. The purposes of the group is to share resources and experiences. Held every 2nd Monday of each month, 6:30-8:00pm. Connect through Facebook or email SAGE@tbdhu.com to be connected to the group organizer.

Education, Social and Pride Events

Gender Journeys at ONWA: This adult group is open to adult trans, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender questioning individuals who are 18 to 25 years old. Call Shailyn at (807) 623-3442 to register or for more information.

Pride: Events offered annually in June by Thunder Pride Association and the Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay. Pride events are sometimes celebrated in other communities in the District of Thunder Bay including Marathon.

Story Time with Thunder Bay Drag Queens: Events feature local drag artists, Lady Fantasia LaPremiere and Mz. Molly Poppinz, as they read children's stories, make craftsand sing songs while fostering acceptance and appreciation of diversity. Events held in various locations throughout the year. Follow on Facebook.

Mental Health Support

Mental Health Supports: This page provides an overview of supports available in the Thunder Bay District, including crisis support lines.

Maternal Mental Health Support: The Thunder Bay District Health Unit supports a maternal mental health group therapy provided by St. Joseph's Care Group Mental Health Outpatient Program for pregnant women who are having mental health difficulties or for women experiencing mood changes after baby.

Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) Service Provider Directory: Find health and social service providers who have expressed a commitment to providing competent and welcoming care to LGBT2SQ people in Ontario by using this directory. Please note this directory is for information purposes only. RHO is not able to screen the service providers listed in this directory and cannot make any guarantees about the quality of their services.

Support Lines

Trans Lifeline: Peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning peers. Calls are accepted regardless of whether or not you are in crisis or sure if you’re trans. Call (877) 330-6366.

Youthline: LGBT YouthLine is a *2SLGBTQ+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 and under) across Ontario; 1-800-268-9688

24-hour Crisis Response Phone Line from Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): For those of any age in crisis or experiencing a mental health crisis, the crisis line at (807) 346-8282 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Kids’ Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Health Care

TBDHU Sexual Health Clinic: Sexual health clinical services available, including testing for sexually transmitted infections and blood borne infections. Call (807) 625-5976 to book an appointment or request mpox vaccine.

NorWest Community Health Centres Walk-in Clinic: A nurse and nurse practitioner will see clients on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary and you do not need to be a client of NorWest Community Health Centres. Services are free with a valid Ontario Health Card. Open on Saturday and Sunday.

Confederation College Health Centre: Open to students during the school year.

Lakehead University Student Health and Counselling: Open to students during the school year.

Gender Affirming Care

Norwest Community Health Centres: Offers medical support during transition for clients. With the closure of the Umbrella Clinic, a physician is now accepting new clients and will be offering services once a month in English and French. To access this service, please call (807) 626-2622. All clients of the Umbrella Clinic will receive a call about transferring care to NorWest.

Virtual care is also available (including psychotherapy to explore gender identify); please call (807) 622-8235 to inquire.

Foria: Provides free virtual gender affirming services to trans and non-binary people (16+) in Northwestern Ontario (regions of Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay) through a partnership with NorWest CHC, including hormone therapy and surgery assessments. Online registration is available. Learn more at ForiaClinic.com or email support@foriaclinic.com.

Anishnawbe Mushkiki Community Health and Wellness (Aboriginal Health Access Centre): A variety of services are available in a non-judgmental and caring environment with care provided by trained and experienced clinicians.

Thunder Bay Pediatrics: Physicians provide trans medical care for children and youth before their 18th birthday.

HIV Testing, PEP and PREP

TBDHU Sexual Health Clinic: The clinic offers free Anonymous Testing as well as nominal testing (tested using your own name). Other services include counselling,discussing treatment options, and referrals to appropriate community and health-care services. Make an appointment or speak to a nurse by calling 807-625-5976 OR toll free at 1-888-294-6630.

Elevate NWO: Offers an HIV Clinic. Call (807) 345-1516

HIV Care, Services and Support

Elevate NWO: Elevate NWO is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides services, opportunities and programs to improve the lives and empower people living with, affected by or at risk of HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, including HIV and hepatitis C and B testing and HIV and hepatitis C treatment. Call (807) 345-1516

Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (OAHAS): OAHAS provides culturally respectful and sensitive programs and strategies to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal people in Ontario through promotion, prevention, long-term care, and treatment and support initiatives consistent with harm reduction.

Legal Support

Affirming Faith Communities

Government of Canada Resources

Government of Canada: Learn about supports for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, communities, and organizations to help build a safer, more equitable and inclusive Canada.

Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan: Launched on August 28, 2022, the Action Plan aims at advancing rights and equality for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) people in Canada.

2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat: The Secretariat works with public servants in different departments and agencies to help them apply inclusive approaches that consider the potential impacts of policies, programs and laws on Canadians of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. The Secretariat is not a department and does not provide program funding, but helps link 2SLGBTQI+ stakeholders with relevant federal organizations who do have funding opportunities available.

Sex, gender and sexual orientation statistics: Consult a dashboard of statistics on sex, gender, and sexual orientation.

Directory of National Resources

IN Directory: Hosted by IN Magazine, the site provides a resource directory for 2SLGBTQI+-specific programs, services and supports from across all 10 provinces and three territories that is searchable by location,category and key word.

Education and Training Resources

Rainbow Health Ontario: Training is available through RHO’s online platform 2SLGBTQ Health Connect including two courses that are always available; Foundations Course and 2SLGBTQ Older Adults and Inclusive Care. Other courses are regularly scheduled including 2SLGBTQ Emotional and Mental Health (NEW), Removing the Barriers: Making your Organization 2SLGBTQ friendly and training specific to trans health care. Some are offered at no cost and others are fee for service.

Until March 31, 2024 two courses are being offered at no cost: Fondements 2SLGBTQ and 2SLGBTQ Older Adults and Inclusive Care. If the course is not completed by this date, progress will not carry over and individuals will need to re-register and pay for the course in order to receive a certificate of completion.

SAFER Project: Safer Access to Everyone in the Rainbow (SAFER) will train 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and youth-serving organizations on ways to engage 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and prevent and address the gender-based violence they experience.

Egale: Egale provides educational opportunities in both English and French. Some trainings are offered at no cost while others require a fee for service.

CATIE: Recorded webinars focusing on HIV Self Tests and other HIV related topics. Upcoming webinars are listed on the website. To be notified of upcoming webinars, subscribe to CATIE’s Webinar Updates e-mail list.

The Learning Network (TLN): TLN offers free webinars and other educational resources as part of their mission to end gender-based violence through knowledge mobilization. The Learning Network is located at the Centre for Research &Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) in the Faculty of Education at Western University.

The Canadian Centre for Gender + Sexual Diversity (CCGSD): CCGSD offers a variety of fee for service trainings; a list can found on their website.

Health

Rainbow Health Ontario: In addition to valuable resources and links, the website features a Service Provider Directory.

Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance (GMSHA): GMSHA offers resources for providers and campaigns for the community.

HIV/AIDS

Ontario HIV treatment: The Ontario HIV Treatment Network is a non-profit funded by AIDS and Hepatitis C programs at the Ontario Ministry of Health. We're a node of collaboration; our work brings together key partners from across the sector to improve the lives of all Ontarians living with and at risk of HIV.

Health HIVe: This online education portal, hosted by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) offers resources for community and healthcare providers interested in quality HIV care. The resources are aimed at HIV clinics, community-based HIV/AIDS organizations, and HIV testing programs in Ontario and beyond.

Mental Health and HIV resources: This webpage, supported by Health HIVe, offers links to educational offerings to promote and support mental health for patients with HIV, mental illness and/or substance use disorders, by enhancing collaborations between academic medical centers and community HIV/AIDs agencies and sharing evidence-informed practices to elevate care quality.

PrEP and HIV resources: This webpage, supported by Health HIVe, offers links to learning opportunities with the goal of sharing best practices and recommendations for prescribing, adherence, and follow-up.

HIV Self Test Project; I’m Ready to Know: This project offers low-barrier options to HIV self-testing and connections to care as part of a national project that is implementing, scaling-up and evaluating low-barrier options for access to HIV self-testing. The project aims to reach the undiagnosed and give people choices about how to connect to the care they need with the vision that everyone in has Canada to have access to HIV testing and support.

Women and HIV/AIDS Initiative (WHAI): WHAI builds community capacity to support women living with or facing systemic risk of contracting HIV.

Hello Ontario; HIV Directory for newcomers to Ontario: The directory provides information for newcomers including; legal rights, health services and other supports.

Canadian AIDS Society (CAS): CAS represents community-based HIV/AIDS organizations across the country to strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS in Canada and enrich the lives of people and communities living with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS.

Advocacy and Support Organizations and Resources

Egale: Egale leads through research, education, awareness, and advocates for human
rights and equality in Canada and around the world.

The Canadian Centre for Gender + Sexual Diversity (CCGSD): CCGSD promotes diversity in gender identity, gender expression, and romantic and/or sexual orientation in all its forms on a national level through services in the areas of education, health, and advocacy.

Wisdom2Action (W2A): W2A is a social enterprise and consulting firm specializing in community engagement, creative facilitation, research and evaluation, knowledge mobilization and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Canada Pride/Fierte Canada (FCP): FCP is a membership-based organization, governed by volunteers that serves as the national association of Canadian Pride organizations. The main goal of FCP is to promote gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and two- spirited Prides on a national level.

PFLAG Canada: PFLAG is a peer-to-peer support for Canadians navigating sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and their families.

Workplaces

Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada: This organization empowers Canadian employers to create safer, more inclusive workplaces that recognize the skills of 2SLGBTQIA+ people through learning, networking and community events.

EGALE Workplace Inclusion: Egale offers private, public and not-for-profit sector organizations reliable, high-quality training and development for professional, management and organizational development on both a local and national scale.

50-30 Challenge: The 50 – 30 Challenge is an initiative between the Government of Canada, Canadian businesses, and diversity organizations. The program’s goal is to challenge Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplaces while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table.

Legal Support

HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario: HALCO is a charitable not-for-profit community-based legal clinic that provides free legal services for people living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario.

Legal Aid Ontario: Those who qualify financially and have a legal issue that is covered by Legal Aid Ontario will receive help to pay for a lawyer to represent them.

Human Rights Legal Support Centre: The HRLSC provides legal advice or assistance with respect to a matter covered by the Ontario Human Rights Code (or the “Code”).

Supporting Seniors

Digital Literacy and the Digital Divide

Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN): ODLAN offers a directory
of existing digital literacy and access services along with their own resources on
how the digital divide is impacting 2S-LGBTQ+ communities.

Exposing and Mitigating Online Queerphobic Hate Against 2SLGBTQ+ Organizations: To better understand queerphobic online hate, its impacts, and the efforts used to address it, ODLAN partnered with Wisdom2Action, to engage leaders of 2SLGBTQ+ organizations in a consultation process consisting of a series of focus groups.

Educators

EGALE Building Inclusive Schools: Incudes resources and links to webinars, many offered at no cost.

Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO): ETFO provides learning materials, resources, professional development/training and strategies to help its members create welcoming, safe and inclusive classrooms for all learners.

The Healthy Relationship Plus Program; Healthy Relationships Program for 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual +) Youth: This small group positive mental health promotion program and helps build resiliency and promote well-being among 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. It affirms, validates, and celebrates sexual, gender, romantic, and sex characteristic diversity, cultivates a caring and supportive community, and helps 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth develop skills and strategies that promote healthy relationships. Available in English and French.

Tobacco

The Expand Project: This project, informed by and made for queer and trans youth 18-29, is striving to both start and expand conversations around nicotine and tobacco.

Refugees

Rainbow Railroad: Rainbow Railroad, based in the United States and Canada, is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGTBQI+ people get to safety worldwide.

For Further Information

Call the Sexual Health Clinic: 625-5900 or email SAGE@tbdhu.com.

or toll-free: 1-888-294-6630