Live Out Loud - Teen Band Challenge

November 5     7 - 10 p.m.

Lincoln Alexander P. S., 95 Church St. N., Ajax

For teens 13 - 19 years of age from Ajax or Pickering, this Teen Band Challenge event also includes interactive games, and drug awareness activities.  Teens can vote for their favourite band, enjoy free pizza, games, and prize giveaways including an iPod.  Hosted by the Youth Centre, the Town of Ajax, the City of Pickering, Durham Region Health Department and Pinewood Centre.

 

Ajax Santa Claus Parade

November 13   6 - 7:30 p.m.

Don't miss this evening of music, magic and lights!  It's a great way to kick off the festive season.  There will also be a tree lighting ceremony immediately following the parade (approx. 7:30 p.m.) at Ajax Town Hall, Heritage Square.  There's be activities for children and free hot chocolate.  For the complete parade route, visit www.townofajax.com

 

Ajax on Stage - Youth Talent Showcase

November 20   6 - 9 p.m.

J. Clarke Richardson/Notre Dame Campus Theatre, 1355 Harwood Ave. N., Ajax

Don't miss this spectacular evening filled with terrific youth performances including bands, dance ensembles, solo and group vocalists and instrumentalists.  Tickets are $4 and are on sale at the Ajax and McLean Community Centres.

 

GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Night

November 30   6:30 - 8 p.m.

Ajax Community Centre, HMS Banquet Hall, 75 Centennial Dr., Ajax

Hosted by the Youth Centre, partnering with the Town of Ajax, this fun, social event for Gay-Straight Alliances at high schools across Durham Region, offers a chance to get together, meet people from other GSAs, network and hear about what other GLBTQ youth have been doing.  There will be music, munchies, a mocktail bar, games, prizes and more.  There will also be a showcase of films made by local youth.  GSA teacher contacts and those who are not members of GSAs are also welcome.  For more information, contact Amy Nagle at the Youth Centre.

 

Robert Gruber
Manager, Community & Cultural Development

Town of Ajax - Recreation & Culture
ph.  905-619-2529 ext. 7241 



Community Rainbow Christian Church

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PFLAG Canada Durham - We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who came out to The Evening of Hope in Ajax on the anniversary of Shaquille Wisdom's death on October 20^th.  The community came out in full force and a clear message was sent out to our LGBT youth that they are not alone. The most poignant point of the evening was Shaquille Wisdom's mother Merna's passionate plea to end the bullying and homophobia that took her son's life. The most uplifting speech was from Adamo Ruggiero who truly connected with the youth in the audience and inspired hope. As always Club 717 and the Durham LGBT community was there demonstrating their support for our youth and combined with family, friends and allies we hoped it was the beginning of a renewed strength to move forward together.

We move into November with a clear purpose: If we are to protect our children we must take bolder steps to create a safer, more inclusive society for LGBT people.  We will be stepping up our commitment to fundraise and expand our educational and support services. Our invites to schools have increased and we have started our sharing meeting expansion. We met in Uxbridge in October and plan a second meeting there in January. On November 17^th we will be having our first sharing meeting in Pickering. Our vision is to have our services in all the municipalities of Durham Region and it will happen with the amazing support from the community and volunteers.

As always on the last Thursday of every month at 7-9 PM at 115 Grassmere Road we have our sharing meetings in Oshawa.  Remember all our welcome: LGBT, parents, family, friends, educators, and healthcare providers.   

Moving forward together and inspiring change! 

Donna McAllister Co-Chair PFLAG Canada Durham 

905.231.0533    

Dur-OshOn@pflagcanada.ca

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8933318069&ref=ts

http://www.pflagcanada.ca

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PFLAG Canada Durham is here for parents, family and friends of the LGBTQ community. We welcome all members of the community to come out to our sharing meetings now running in Oshawa, Pickering and Uxbridge. The Oshawa meetings are at the South Oshawa Community Health Centre the last Thursday every month at 115 Grassmere Road. Our new meetings are as follows:
 
Please inspire change and make Durham Region a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ youth! 
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As a personal favour please take 10 mins and complete the following

A friendly reminder to go to http://www.proteansurveys.com/8018/ to complete the survey (if you have already done so, thanks). And, please send this invitatioin to any other groups or friends you have. We need all the help we can get.

If the link does not work Paste into browser

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS ALONG TO YOUR NETWORKS

Thank you 
Jayme Harper 
 
PFLAG Canada Durham Team 
905.231.0533   DurOshOn@pflagcanada.ca 

To Whom It May Concern:

 
As you may be aware, the organization BullyingCanada has been calling upon both provincial and federal government officials to assist in ensuring that workplaces, schools and communities are able to be safe environments for all.

On June 18, 2009 the New Brunswick Government proclaimed "Anti-Bullying Day" to take place on December 17th of each year.
 
As someone who endured physical, verbal and mental abuse at the hands of bullies, for a number of years, I was delighted when Premier Graham stood in the Legislature to and made the following statement:
 "Bullying simply has no place on our playgrounds, in our schools, in our workplaces, in our communities, or anywhere else in our province."
 
Following the statement by the Premier, MLA David Alward added, "This is what our responsibilities as legislators are all about. We need to work on behalf of all of the citizens of New Brunswick."  He went on to say,  "I believe that it is very telling that, on the second to last day of the legislative session, we are coming together to move a motion that makes great sense for New Brunswickers and, in the long term, will allow New Brunswickers and our society to increase public awareness of the problem of bullying. I want to encourage all those in New Brunswick to get involved in this issue and to ensure that we see continued reduction of bullying within our schools and communities."
 
We are asking if it would be possible for your company to allow your employees to take a stand on our second annual "Anti-Bullying Day," by suggesting your staff wear blue, the color of the national anti-bullying awareness ribbon, on Dec 17th?
 
Media attention on the issue of bullying has been increasing over the last
several years, with regards to "Anti-Bullying Day."   We would like to compile a list of companies that will take part in this event.  This list will, with the permission of your company, be shared with the media.  However, if your company would rather not be publicised please inform us of this decision and we will honour your desires.
 
If you would be interested in learning more about how your staff can take part in wearing Blue on December 17th please contact Rob Frenette by email at:
Rob.Frenette@BullyingCanada.ca or by telephone: 877-352-4497 EXT 203.
 
Sincerely,
Rob Frenette
Founder
BullyingCanada.Ca

Durham LGBTQ 
Communities Involved Committee (CIC)

Hello Everyone!

At the last meeting in September, those of you who were present were the lucky recipients of a hard-copy one-page document from me. This page is also attached to this eblast. CLICK HERE to view it, for those of you who were not in attendance but may be able to lend your knowledge. The page is meant to serve as a space for collecting the names of any organization, business, association, informal residents' group, professional individual or practice, consultant, etc., that you know of in Durham Region that supports or is friendly towards the LGBTQ community.

The information is being collected as part of a project to develop a telephone information and helpline for the LGBTQ community. We will be talking with each name/place associated on the lists (with no mention of who may have placed the name on the list) in order to confirm their 'friendly space' or 'ally' status. With this final list, we will create a guidebook for helpline volunteers and staff to refer clients to, when they call the helpline.  The project is Durham-wide and no name or organization is too small or too big to be included in the resource guidebook. Future support of the LGBTQ community will depend on how thoroughly we can identify supports currently available in the community.

If you have your list and you feel it is about as complete as it can be, please fax it to me at the number below (905-686-4157). You can also choose to type up your list and email it to me, or even just let me know your list is ready and I  can come to pick it up. I will be attending the CIC meeting in November as well, so you can bring your hard copy to that meeting for me to collect at that time.

For anyone who has not  seen the document, please feel free to print a copy of it from the attached link and add any names/places that you are aware of. You can also just email me those names/places if there are only a few. Ideally, you would pass the list around your networks to get as many entries as possible. Everyone is always busy and working hard, so whatever you can manage is very much appreciated!

Thank you to everyone for your help. I will be in contact with you again soon.
 

Take Care,
Sarah Squire

MA (Immigration and Settlement

Studies)
Community Development Coordinator
Community Development Council Durham
134 Commercial Ave., Ajax, ON  L1S 2H5
P: 905-686-2661 ext.131  F: 905-686-4157