Students in Grades 7 - 12
and Teachers are invited to:
Halton Inside and Out Student Conference
Thursday May 22 2008, 1:00pm -8:00pm
Halton Regional Building 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, L6M 3L1
The Halton Regional Building is a wheel-chair accessible space.
Parking is available.
PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION DETAILS (PDF) | Submission Due by May 14, 2008
POSTER (PDF) - Please distribute
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE of EVENTS (PDF Version)
Halton Inside and Out
Conference Details
Schedule of Events:
12:30 – 1:00 Registration
1:00 – 1:45 Keynote by S. Bear Bergman “GSAs Changed My Life!, and other high school lessons that turned out not to be useless.”
2:00 – 3:15 Workshop session one
3:30 – 4:45 Workshop session two
5:00 – 6:00 GSA Networking (come prepared to share what your group has done this year)
6:15 – 8:00 Dinner with entertainment
Options for Workshop session one (details below)
Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are open to both teachers and students.
1A. Getting the Relationship You Want – Leanne Cusitar, Toronto Public Health. ***students only***
1B. Homophobia and the media – Georgetown DHS Queer-Straight-Alliance, Halton School Board.
1C. GSA Activities that are Guaranteed to Succeed - Michael Erickson, Ursula Franklin Academy, Toronto District School Board.
1D.The Mysterious “T” In LGBT – Trans 101 – N. Nicole Nussbaum, Barrister and Solicitor.
1E. Egale and Education - Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada (formerly Equity for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere). ***for teachers***
1F. Filmmaking for social change - Gurbeen Bhasin, Meow Films and Night at the Indies.
Details for Workshops in Session one
1A. Getting the Relationship You Want – Leanne Cusitar, Toronto Public Health ***students only***
This workshop is very interactive and experiential, about youth identifying their priorities and goals in relationships. We’ll talk about how to seek out those who have common goals, and how to identify and avoid relationship with those who don't, or who are abusive in some way. The workshop is aimed specifically at ITT2QBLGQ2 youth, and all references take into account systems of privilege, colonization and oppression in our society, currently and through history, so that access to services, support and information are realistically discussed.
1B. Homophobia and the media – Georgetown DHS Queer-Straight-Alliance, Halton School Board
Video games, TV. and print media are full of images of homophobia as humour. Join us as we look at the images that have shaped public understandings of LGBTT2IQQA people. There’ll be some bad, and some good, and some discussion of how we can make change. This workshop will also be presented at Georgetown District High School’s Diversity Day, May 7th.
1C. GSA Activities that are Guaranteed to Succeed - Michael Erickson, teacher, Ursula Franklin Academy, Toronto District School Board
In this workshop, we'll go over some easy-to-run fun activities you can do in your GSA. They are guaranteed to work for almost any group – big, small, new or old. The activities are interactive, easy to adapt and can easily be lead by student leaders.
1D. The Mysterious “T” In LGBT – Trans 101 – N. Nicole Nussbaum, Barrister and Solicitor
An introduction and primer on trans experiences and identities. Facilitated group discussion and suggestions on method to support gender questioning and trans identified students.
1E. Egale and Education - Helen Kennedy, Executive Director, Egale Canada (formerly Equity for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) ***for teachers***
Egale is Canada’s national organization that advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-identified people and their families across Canada. With equal marriage legislation passed in Canada, Egale has identified issues in education as their national priority. Learn about what Egale is doing, and let Helen know what Egale should be doing.
1F. Filmmaking for social change - Gurbeen Bhasin, Meow Films and Night at the Indies
Learn how to tell a compelling story through filmmaking by taking a concept and exploring it visually. Your perspective is unique - learn to share your individual point of view through creating relevant artistically gripping media. Gurbeen will show student films throughout this workshop.
Options for Workshop session two (details below)
Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are open to both teachers and students
2A. LGBTQ Youth and Sexual Violence – Nicole Pietsch, SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services of Halton).
2B. Equi-knocks - Katia Berdichevesky and students, teacher, York Region District School Board.
2C. Out Teachers Panel – Adrienne Sefton, Michael Erickson and others. ***for teachers***
2D. I want to do the work but … taking the anxiety out of anti-homophobia education – Jen Colborne and Lauren Meichenbaum, teachers, Peel District School Board.
2E. Cross-Cultural Awareness for Anti-homophobia Education - Ishwar Persad, Canadian Association for Mental Health. ***students only***
2F. LGBTQ and Deaf – What Hearing People Should Know - Ellen Hibbard and Darrel Villa, Ontario Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf (ORAD)
Details for Workshops in Session two
2A. LGBTQ Youth and Sexual Violence – Nicole Pietsch, SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services of Halton.)- Workshop will examine the fundamentals of sexual violence and specifically address the needs and barriers of LGBTQ youth. Workshop will also examine strategies for change.
2B. Equi-knocks - Katia Berdichevesky and students, teacher, York Region District School Board. Equi-knocks will describe how their group emerged along with the need for workshops. They will cover what stumbling blocks they have encountered. Equi-knocks is a student group who do equity work through theatre.
2C. Out Teachers Panel – Adrienne Sefton, Michael Erickson and others.
These dynamic teachers share their experiences and collective wisdom of being out at school and advocates for equity.
2D. I want to do the work but … taking the anxiety out of anti-homophobia education – Jen Colborne and Lauren Meichenbaum, teachers, Peel District School Board. – Let’s be honest, addressing homophobia with colleagues and students can be anxiety provoking. Talking about gay issues in staff meetings, and with students is challenging. Most of us have had to do a lot of ‘unlearning’ over the years with regard to LGBT issues. In this workshop, we will discuss the reality of this anxiety in a way that makes it okay.
2E. Cross-Cultural Awareness for Anti-homophobia Education - Ishwar Persad, Canadian Association for Mental Health. ***students only***
2F. LGBTQ and Deaf – What Hearing People Should Know - Ellen Hibbard and Darrel Villa, Ontario Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf (ORAD)
The president and vice-president of ORAD present a panel and question and answer discussion on what's like to be LGBTQ and deaf. Going to school with hearing, and interacting with hearing people will also be covered. We will discuss what we wish hearing people know about us.
Dinner and Entertainment
Please plan on joining us for dinner and celebrating our work over the last year. Dinner will have vegetarian, kosher and Hallal options. Please make sure to mark your dietary needs on the registration form! The entertainment will include vignettes from Brampton Centennial Secondary School in Peel, films from a Night at the Indies and a D.J.
Display Area
You may want to bring some cash with you! Another Story Bookstore, The Toronto Women’s Book Store and others will have LGBTT2IQQA books and resources available for sale at the conference.
Even if you have no cash, be sure to tour the display area in the foyer. Many community agencies (LGBTT2IQQA and others) will have set up displays and have information available.
Presenters’ Bios
S. Bear Bergman is a writer, a theatre artist, an instigator, a gender-jammer, and a good example of what happens when you overeducate a contrarian. Ze is also the author of Butch Is a Noun (Suspect Thoughts Press, 2006) and three award-winning solo performances, as well as a frequent contributor to anthologies on all manner of topics. A longtime activist on behalf of anyone who wants to learn and be different at the same time (particularly queer/trans youth and students), Bear continues to work at the points of intersection between and among gender, sexuality, and culture, but sometimes wishes whoever's in charge would install a traffic signal.
Gurbeen Bhasin has her educational and professional background in Social Policy and International Relations. She has been practicing Social Work for over two decades. Her main goal has been teaching and learning communication techniques that work effectively and efficiently. On a creative level, Gurbeen has been writing as long as she could hold a pen and has over the last couple of years used film to further her artistic expression and capture that of others. She has lived in Iran, India, Canada and the United States and has travelled extensively and this helps her to tell the untold story in unique ways.
Michael Erickson teaches at Ursula Franklin Academy in the Toronto District School Board. He has been running a successful GSA called S.A.S.S. (Students Against Stereotyping Sexuality) since 2001. S.A.S.S. has grown to be a force in the TDSB, organizing the Board's presence in Pride Day, creating the Converge event, promoting the Youth Line and helping to organize the Pride Prom.
Helen Kennedy became Egale’s Executive Director on April 30, 2007. A life-long feminist, Helen believes all equal rights issues are feminist and all true feminists are activists for equal rights. She joins the organization with 22 years of experience in politics and a reputation as an advocate, negotiator and consensus builder who “gets the job done”.
A community grows
with HOPE
Halton Organization for Pride & Education (HOPE)
A board governed, registered charitable community organization that provides anti-homophobia training and educational resources, and provides community services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Questioning persons, their family and friends in the Region of Halton and surrounding communities in Ontario, Canada
Halton
Pride Celebrations
•
Halton
LGBTTQ
Youth Support Group
(Supervised confidential groups formed and meeting in Oakville
and Acton/Georgetown
Transportation available! )
•
Halton
LGBT Parenting Group
•
Toll Free and
Confidential
Contact Line:
1-
877-860 - HOPE
or 905-632-4551
We need your kind support
to continue to provide services:
The Halton Organization thanks the Ontario Trillium Foundation for its generous support and partnership.
HOPE COMMUNITY
PRIDE PARTNERS
Halton
Region Health Department
AID/STD and Sexual Health Clinic
Services
Telephone:
905-825-6065
Toll free:
1-866-4HALTON
(1-866-442-5866)
TTY: 905-333-1096
sexualhealth@region.halton.on.ca
Region
Sexual
Health Clinics are free, confidential and wheelchair accessible.
Halton
Regional LGBTQ Resources
Halton
Regional Police Service
Emergencies
(Police / Fire / Ambulance): 911
Non-emergencies:
905-878-5511
PFLAG HALTON REGION ON
Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
905-632-6664
haltonon@pflagcanada.ca
Sexual
Assualt & Violence Intervention Service
Crisis Line: 905-875-1555
TTY Only: 905-825-3743
ROCK Reach Out Centre for Kids
Burlington: 905-634-2347
Oakville: 905-339-3525
North Halton: 905-875-2575
www.rockonline.ca
Halton
Women's Place
Crisis Line:
905-878-8555
The AIDS
Network
905-528-0854
Volunteer, make donations or for more information, please contact us: info@haltonpride.org
HOPE
860 Harrington Court, Unit 217
Burlington Ontario
L7N 3N4
tel 905-632-4551
fax 905-632-0778
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