RRC Polytech is honoured once again to welcome Jonathan Niemczak to speak with the community as part of our Pride Month celebrations.

Jonathan, Chair and President of the Canadian Pride Historical Society (CPHS) will provide an overview of the historical events that lead to the start of the Pride Movement in Canada and Winnipeg.

Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location:

• In person: Roundhouse Auditorium (Second Floor), Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus, Red River College Polytechnic, 319 Elgin Avenue
  • Please note that in-person capacity is limited – register now to save your spot!
  • Light refreshments will be provided for in-person attendees.
  • View the interactive map of the Exchange District Campus.
    
• Online via Zoom

About Jonathan Niemczak
Jonathan Niemczak is the Chair and President of the Canadian Pride Historical Society (CPHS), a national non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and telling the story of the history of the Pride Movement in Canada. Before founding CPHS, Jonathan was the President of the Pride Winnipeg Festival, where he served on the Board of Directors for ten years and led the organization for six. At Pride Winnipeg, he identified a significant gap in the collective knowledge about the origins of Pride in Winnipeg and Pride in other Canadian communities. This insight drove him to establish the Canadian Pride Historical Society, ensuring the preservation of Pride Movement history for future generations. Jonathan is passionate about 2SLGBT+ history and committed to fostering greater awareness and appreciation of the community’s rich heritage. His work ensures that these important stories are not lost to time, highlighting the significance of the Pride Movement in Canada’s social and cultural landscape.

At RRC Polytech strive to host inclusive events. If you require accommodation, please email diversity@rrc.ca.

RRC Polytech is committed to enacting Truth and Reconciliation and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in everything we do. A big part of this commitment is creating representative and inclusive spaces on our campuses.

To visually represent our shared commitment and dedication to fostering safer spaces where all students, staff and visitors feel they belong, RRC Polytech created a personalized Pride design.

The design is an evolution of the Progress Pride flag* that includes representation for all 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual) community members, and includes specific Indigenous elements.

*”Progress” Pride Flag by Daniel Quasar is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Consultation Process

Each design element was subject to a consultation process with RRC Polytech’s Knowledge Keepers’ Council*, Students’ Association, and Gender and Sexual Diversity working group. The College also worked with the Rainbow Resource Centre on the evolution of the design.

*McLeod, A. Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Métis community of Norway House in northern Manitoba. Pride Flag Consultations – Knowledge Keepers Council meetings. April – June 2022.

Elements of Design

This evolution corresponds with the adoption of the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym, leading with “2S” as an act of reconciliation and acknowledging that Indigenous people have a history and culture that honours and is inclusive of Two Spirit Peoples.

The triangle represents the badge that LGBT prisoners were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps. Its placement also forms a teepee, which is a shelter shape used historically by many First Nations people. The resulting arrow shows forward movement, while demonstrating progress still needs to be made.

The Medicine Wheel incorporates traditional Indigenous stories and teachings, while its purple and yellow borders honour intersex individuals. Each colour used in the design represents and holds an important meaning — from healing to sunlight, for example.

• Lavender – Diversity
• Hot pink – Sex
• Red – Life
• Orange – Healing
• Yellow – Sunlight
• Green – Nature
• Turquoise – Magic
• Indigo – Serenity
• Violet – Spirit
• Black & Brown – People of Colour
• Light Blue & Pink – Transpeople
• White – those living with HIV/AIDS

Where to Find the Design

RRC Polytech’s personalized Pride flag flies alongside the Treaty One and Red River Métis flags at the bus loop entrance of the Notre Dame Campus, as a symbol of unity, pride and inclusivity.

You can also find the design painted on walkways at our Notre Dame, Exchange District and Portage campuses, where it serves as a reminder of our shared values and the understanding that our work in making our campus community more equitable, diverse and inclusive has not finished.

For more information, including usage requests, contact diversity@rrc.ca.

June is Pride Month, in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots that took place in 1969. While Pride is a time to celebrate the contributions of the 2SLGTBQIA+ community worldwide, it’s equally an opportunity to recognize its history rooted in the gay rights movement, the progress that has been made towards greater rights, and to continue to advocate for equity and inclusion.

In 2022, RRC Polytech unveiled its new personalized Pride design, which is an evolution of the Progress Pride flag. The design, which is painted as walkways on the Notre Dame, Exchange District, and Portage La Prairie campuses, represents our shared commitment and dedication to fostering safer spaces on our campuses where all students, staff, and visitors feel that they belong.

Last June, RRC Polytech’s personalized Pride flag was raised alongside the Treaty One Nation and Red River Métis flags at the bus loop entrance of the Notre Dame Campus, as a symbol of unity, pride and inclusivity. The flags fly year-round as a daily reminder of our shared commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and enacting Truth and Reconciliation in everything we do.

Show Your Pride!

Throughout June and beyond, there are resources to support you in learning how to best be an ally, amplify 2SLGBTQIA+ voices, and take action in creating greater inclusion in your personal and professional life.

RED Forum 2024

On Friday, May 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., join members of the Gender and Sexual Diversity Working Group at their Experiential Expo booth, part of RED Forum 2024. Activities will include a Match the Pride to the Flag game, DIY button making, and Pride flag giveaways. Plus test your knowledge with a quiz for a chance to win a prize!

Drop by to participate; registration is not required.

The Forecast is Calling for Rainbows: Winnipeg Pride Parade and Rally

For over a decade RRC Polytech has brought together students, staff and their friends/family members to walk alongside the College’s float in the Winnipeg Pride Parade and Rally.

On Sunday, June 2, everyone in the RRC Polytech community is invited and encouraged to bring friends, family, and pets downtown for a few hours to celebrate inclusivity and feel the love, as we show our support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Details are still be finalized and will be shared closer to the date, but a hard-working crew is once again preparing our elaborate float, tailgating festivities are being planned for prior to the event, and each registered participant will receive a complimentary RRC Polytech Pride themed t-shirt.

Canadian Pride Historical Society Talk

RRC Polytech is honoured once again to welcome Jonathan Niemczak to speak with the campus community as part of our Pride Month celebrations.

Jonathan is the Chair and CEO of the Canadian Pride Historical Society (CPHS), Past President of Pride Winnipeg, and a gender, sexuality, and relationship (GSRD) advocate with over fifteen years of community leadership experience.

• Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2024
• Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Location: Roundhouse Auditorium (Second Floor), Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus

Registration to come.

Resources for Beyond Pride Month

Our support for and allyship with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community doesn’t stop after Pride Month. Visit the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion on Campus Resources page for an evolving list of self-directed learning, including the Library’s Gender and Sexual Diversity Guide, to help foster understanding, allyship, and advocacy all year round.

International Day of Pink, also known as Day of Pink, is celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of April to celebrate diversity, acceptance, courage, and inclusivity within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and beyond.

Day of Pink is for people who have previously, or recently, experienced discrimination because of their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. This day urges people around the world to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to continue fighting for equality and acceptance.

At RRC Polytech, Campus Well-Being in partnership with the Gender and Sexual Diversity Working Group hosted a booth at Notre Dame Campus on April 10 to create awareness and share resources. Staff and students had the opportunity to create a customized button to mark the day.

You can explore the International Day of Pink website, to read more about this year’s theme, and to learn more about the anniversary of three important milestones: the birth of the Trans flag, the Brunswick Four, and the Depathologization of Homosexuality.

International Transgender Day of Visibility is observed on March 31 for celebrating Trans people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by them worldwide.

At RRC Polytech, we observed this day on Wednesday, March 27 by inviting Elder Albert McLeod for a talk centered on perspectives on understanding Transgender identities, challenges faced by the Transgender community, Two Spirit advocacy within the Winnipeg Trans community, and the importance of visibility and allyship. You can watch the recording of the talk here – Trans Day of Visibility with Elder Albert.

We invite you to celebrate this day by signing a heart to show your support in the Spectrum (FM66, Notre Dame Campus) or by adding a supportive message on this Kudoboard.

One way we can support in creating an inclusive work and learning environment is by using gender-inclusive language and preferred pronouns. Library and Academic Services team has created this Inclusive Language Guide to help us in this journey.

If you have any questions or need more information, contact diversity@rrc.ca. 

October 11th is recognized in Canada as National Coming Out Day – a positive celebration of queerness that acknowledges the importance of 2SLGBTQIA+ people feeling free and confident to share their true identity with the world. Honouring and supporting those who have come out, those who will come out today, and those who cannot or choose not to, celebrates their choice – while raising awareness of the challenges members of the community face and encouraging a more accepting and supportive society.  

National Coming Out Day was founded by American activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary in 1988 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of over half a million people marching for queer rights in Washington, D.C. – an event that resulted in the founding of several (then) LGBTQ organizations. The founders’ belief was that homophobia thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance and that once people know that they have loved ones who are 2SLGBTQIA+, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views.

Coming out is an expression that describes a process of socially acknowledging one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Coming out can provide space and opportunity for 2SLGBTQIA+ folx to define their identity and lived experiences on their own terms, with their own agency. Because coming out looks and feels different to each person and is an ongoing process, it can also be complicated and stressful, necessitating continuous courage and strength. Coming out is not a required process for anyone and all identities are valid regardless of whether others know this about someone or not. 

It’s important to observe this day in a meaningful way, and part of that includes celebrating the many wonderful and diverse stories of this often-shared experience for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Everyone’s story is different, and everyone is on a different point in their journey but sharing our experiences can help us feel connected and inspired – so even if you don’t have a story to share yet, it doesn’t mean this day isn’t for you. Sharing an experience with others may seem insignificant to some but for people who have struggled to find acceptance, hearing a story can assure them “I’m not alone.” Coming out is an empowering experience and allies showing support continues to be a critical form of activism to dispel stereotypes and eradicate hate and homophobia. 

At RRC Polytech, we believe that diversity is our strength. We are committed to creating inclusive learning and working environments where everyone feels safe, respected, and celebrated.

Today is an excellent opportunity to consider the ways each of us can make our learning and working spaces safe(r), more welcoming and more inclusive; and how we can support 2SLGBTQIA+ friends and colleagues.

Below are resources and further information on being allies for everyone – it doesn’t matter who you are, everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at diversity@rrc.ca.

Resources:

• Being a 2SLGBTQIA+ Ally
• Allyship is leadership
• How to be an Ally to a Bi+ Person
• What Does Trans Allyship Look Like?

May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia – a day that was created to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence faced by individuals of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

This year’s theme is “Together Always: United in Diversity”. At RRC Polytech, we believe that diversity is our strength. We are committed to creating inclusive learning and working environments where everyone feels sale, respected, and celebrated. Homophobia, transphobia and biphobia have no place within our college community.

Below are resources and further information on homophobia, transphobia and biphobia to support your learning journeys so that you can counter fear and panic with compassion and reason, and to make a difference in all our communities.

RRC Polytech is committed to being allies for everyone – it doesn’t matter who you are, everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.

On May 17 (every day), take a moment to reflect upon how you can stand up and speak out against discrimination; how you can create a safe and inclusive space that respects all individuals; and how you can support 2SLGBTQIA+ friends and colleagues.

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at diversity@rrc.ca.

Resources:

Being a 2SLGBTQIA+ Ally

Allyship is leadership

How to be an Ally to a Bi+ Person

What Does Trans Allyship Look Like?

Fondation Émergence: The LBGTQ Phobias Are Just As Irrational campaign

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

CCDI’s Glossary of Terms – which includes the following definitions:

• Homophobia: a fear, dislike, or hatred of and discrimination against LGBTQ2+ people. Homophobia presents in many forms, and can be structural/systemic, interpersonal, or internalized.
• Transphobia is the fear, dislike, or hatred of and discrimination against trans* people. Transphobia exists through offensive jokes, exclusion, denial of services, employment discrimination, intentional misgendering, harassment, and violence.
• Biphobia: Fear, dislike, or hatred of and discrimination against bisexual people. Biphobia presents through offensive jokes, exclusion, bi-erasure, harassment, and violence. Biphobia exists both within and outside of the LGBTQ2+ community

International Day of Pink, also known as Day of Pink, is celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of April. It’s when we wear pink to celebrate diversity, acceptance, courage, and inclusivity within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and beyond.

You may be thinking, didn’t we just do this in February? Not quite, February is when we celebrate Pink Shirt Day.

Pink Shirt Day was created when two students attending high school in Halifax were upset about the bullying that took place when one of their peers wore a pink shirt to school on the first day. Together, those two students started an international movement that takes a stand against bullying.

While similar, Day of Pink was created to specifically take a stance on bullying and discrimination faced by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The day, inspired by Pink Shirt Day, was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD), previously known as Jer’s Vision. The purpose was to stand up against homophobia, transphobia, bullying, and to promote allyship as we move towards a future free of discrimination.

Day of Pink is for people who have previously, or recently, experienced discrimination because of their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. It’s for people to stand up and say, “this is not okay!” when these kinds of things happen in schools, workplaces, or anywhere. It’s for creating allyship. It’s for people to band together and be responsible for a future of kindness and inclusivity. We are strongest when we are together.

So, how can you take part in this global event? It’s simple, on April 12^th show your support by wearing something pink (get your shirt in our Campus Stores). It can even be your favourite cardigan, newest shoes, or a bracelet. Just a little something to show you care and stand by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community members at RRC Polytech, Winnipeg, and all over the world.

Take Pledge Against Hate!

Where:

• The Spectrum (Notre Dame Campus FM66)
• P407 (Exchange District Campus)

When: April 12 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

What:

• Sign the pledge against hate, intolerance, and oppression, and
• share a photo with the Pledge Poster with #DayOfPink.

We look forward to standing together for a brighter community.

Written By: Justine Hawley, Resource Management Technician, Library and Academic Success Centre, Gender and Sexual Working Group Member

On November 20, 2022, RRC Polytech recognized Transgender Day of Remembrance and highlighted some Canadian icons who have inspired future generations of transgendered individuals to be who they are, and stand up for themselves and their community. We remembered the leaders, the trailblazers and the loved ones we have lost.

Even in the darkest times it is important that we still celebrate the light around us. Did you know that Canada is the first country to collect and publish data on gender diversity from a national census? Or that younger Canadian generations were three-to-seven times more comfortable expressing their identities? Change still needs to continue to happen until equity can be reached. However, the fact that the average life span of someone identifying under this umbrella has risen nearly ten years, is telling us we are marching in the right direction.

Manitoba is a great place to live. Rich in cultural diversity, we have fantastic artists, amazing restaurants, and we didn’t get the title of ‘Friendly Manitoba’ for no reason. Our beautiful province is also home to some amazing Two Spirited, transgender, and non-binary heroes that are continuing to advocate and stand up for trans* rights.

Shandi Strong (she/her/hers)

What can be said about Shandi Strong that hasn’t been said before? She is a pillar for the transgender community in western Canada. In 2016, she was the first openly transgendered person to run for provincial office. She’s been on the board for Winnipeg Pride, Manitobans for Human Rights and Our Own Health Centre. She even led the very first Trans March in Manitoba. It is evident by all the amazing work she’s done and all of her accomplishments that she is a shining star of Manitoba’s trans community. When asked why she loves her trans identity, she said:

“Before transition, I spent most of my life scared and trying to fit in. Finding connections and chosen family within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community finally helped me see myself and my potential. The journey wasn’t easy but because I endured it, I emerged stronger and more confident today than I ever thought possible.”

Feather Talia (he/she/they)

Art comes in many forms and Winnipeg is not lacking in that department. Feather Talia is an example of the drag queen scene in Manitoba. She not only performs fantastic, lively shows but also represents the Two-Spirit (2S) community. Originally, she started her drag career in Regina, SK, before making a home in Winnipeg. She’s works with the Sunshine Bunch through the Sunshine House, a community drop-in and resource centre that focuses on inclusion and harm-reduction. She’s also a member of the very talented group The Bannock Babes. When asked about why she loves her 2S identity and how it’s positively impacted her life, she said:

“I love my 2S identity because it just makes sense. For all my teen years, and some of my early 20s [sic], I was confused about my own personal identity (like most people are) and when I stumbled on the term Two Spirit and doing my own research, something in me just clicked. I do believe I carry Two Spirits within me. One masculine and one feminine. This also helps make me a good storyteller. Being 2S also helps me with my drag persona! It truly makes me the best version of me!”

Kael McKenzie (he/him/his)

Did you know that Manitoba is the home to the very first transgendered judge in Canada? The Honourable Judge Kael McKenzie made his way to the history books in 2015. Not only does he represent the vibrant Métis community, he’s also showing the world that you can be successful and live life as your authentic self. He has a long list of accomplishments such as serving as the Manitoba Chair for the Canadian Bar Association, acting president of the Rainbow Resource Centre and he is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. He’s a husband and a father of two and when asked why he loves his trans* identity he said:

“When I transitioned, I found myself. For the first time in my life, I felt comfortable in my own skin. I cannot imagine being anyone other than I am now. I have immense gratitude that I live in a time in history where I can be who I am and still be able to work in the profession that I love.”

As you can see, there are amazing Manitobans who are the warriors of change, inclusivity and diversity. Their contributions to the transgender community, which they are a part of, are shaping history and shaking up the Cis-tym. We appreciate and applaud them, and all the other people, paving the way to an even more inclusive future in Canada.

Sign a Heart in Support of Trans Rights

On Friday, March 31, 2023, you’re invited to join us in The Spectrum (Located on the Mall Level of the Notre Dame Campus) to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by signing a heart to show your support, and enjoy some tasty treats.

If you or anyone you know is in crisis, contact one of these supports for transgender-specific guidance:

• Trans Health Klinic
• Trans Lifeline

Resources:

• Gender and Sexual Diversity Guide
• Gender Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub (Statistics Canada)
• Honoring Trans Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Awareness (Human Rights Campaign)
• Egale: Preparing Students for the Transition of a Trans or Gender Diverse Person
• Egale: Draw The Line – Against Transphobic Violence in Schools and Supplement Resources
• Gender and Sexual Diversity Working Group: join the group

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at diversity@rrc.ca.

Join us on March 31 in the NDC Spectrum (FM66) to show your support for human rights for Transgender individuals. International Trans Day of Visibility is an annual event dedicated to celebrating Trans people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by Transgender people worldwide. One in 300 people in Canada aged 15 and older are transgender or non-binary.

Let’s showcase positive messages of support to show RRC Polytech is a safe and inclusive space for those identifying on the Trans spectrum. Please take a few minutes of your day to join us and sign your support.

• March 31st in the Spectrum (FM66)
• 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Sign a heart in support of Trans Rights
• Enjoy a sweet snack

Let’s use this day to rally support, build awareness and commit to an equitable future for those who identify on the Trans Spectrum at RRC Polytech and beyond.