Victoria Youth Got Pride!
We’re so happy you’re here!
Questioning your sexual orientation or gender identity can be hard, especially with other people’s attitudes. Whether you’re Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, genderqueer, questioning, an ally or somewhere else on the sexual and gender spectrum, there is no reason you shouldn’t be proud of who you are.
Here are some local opportunities to find community and support. If you know of a resource we should add, please email us at info@victoriapridesociety.org
Local Discussion & Activity Groups
Victoria Pride Youth Leadership Council
Contact: nick@victoriapridesociety.org
Ages: 14-24 – Organization: Victoria Pride Society
A group to foster learning opportunities, plan events, be a forum to voice youth needs, and inform key initiatives to make positive impacts in our communities. Meetings happen monthly.
Queer Cafe
Contact: online@foundrybc.ca
Ages: 12-24 – Organization: Foundry Virtual
Event for LGBTQ2IA+ youth to meet every Thursday evening between 6:00 and 7:00 over Zoom for activities, games, workshops and conversation in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Queer Peers
Contact: info@avi.org
Ages: 13-25 – Organization: AIDS Vancouver Island
Queer Peers is a collective of queer, trans, and non-binary youth who do two months of training, followed by two months of planning and implementing a community project.
Victoria Native Friendship Centre – Youth Department
Contact: aly.w@vnfc.ca
Ages: 12-24 – Organization: Victoria Native Friendship Centre
The VNFC Youth Department provides a variety of programming and events to stimulate a positive, supportive, and creative environment for Indigenous Youth including a Two Spirit Gathering every fall. They also host a once a month 2SLGBTQIA+ youth drop in (ages 12-25).
SHIFT
Contact: allianceclub@vyes.ca
Ages: 13-19 – Organization: Youth Empowerment Society
An inclusive and safe space where youth can access support related to their gender identity and come together for peer connections. Topics and activities include self-esteem building, coping strategies, navigating medical services, and much more.
2-Spirit, Queer, & Trans Youth Drop-In (inactive)
Contact: 250-475-7624
Ages: 13-18 – Organization: District of Saanich
A drop-in for queer, trans, 2-spirit and allied youth every Friday from 5:30-10pm at the Upside Teen Lounge in Saanich Commonwealth Place (4636 Elk Lake Dr, Victoria, BC).
2SLGBTQ+ Social
Contact: maddie.parks@saanich.ca – Phone: 250-475-7624
Ages: 12-17 – Organization: District of Saanich
Drop-in after school fun for 2SLGBTQ+ Social Youth! Safe space to be yourself and connect with a youth leader and peers. Play games, make crafts, spend time outside and connect with our staff.
Gender Generations Project
Contact: info@gendergenerations.org
Ages: 10-18 – Organization: Gender Generations Project
Weekend retreats with workshops by trans superstars like Morgane Oger, Tash McAdam and Sabrina Symington. This is an intergenerational relationship building project, connecting trans youth to each other, trans adults and creative voice.
Gender Spectacular
Contact: support@genderspectacular.com
Ages: Under 12 – Organization: Gender Spectacular
Drop-in program for families with children who are two-spirit, transgender, non-binary &/or gender diverse in Southern Vancouver Island.
CampOUT
Contact: campout.director@ubc.ca
Ages: 14-21 – Organization: University of British Columbia
Leadership and learning summer camp for queer, trans, Two-Spirit, questioning, and allied youth at Camp Fircom on Gambier Island. Open to youth from across BC.
Queer Ecology
Contact: info@thrivingroots.org
Ages: 12-16 – Organization: Thriving Roots Wilderness School
Queer Ecology summer camp is a space for queer & trans youth and allies interested in questioning binary assumptions of nature and cultivating a sense of belonging in the natural world.
Health
Victoria Youth Clinic/Foundry Victoria
Contact: 250-383-3552
Ages: 12-24
Free and confidential integrated and comprehensive primary health care services, including mental health and addiction care located at 818 Douglas Street.
Island Sexual Health – Youth Committee
Contact: Text 250-812-9374
Ages: 15-25
Information on birth control, STIs, pregnancy, relationships, sexual decision making, and more.
Education
LGBT Scholarships: Equal Possibilities for High-Quality Education
If you want to apply to a Canadian university but you do not have enough financial support, here are some foundations that provide scholarships to study in Canada. LGBT scholarships are available to everyone.
Crisis Support
Kids Help Phone
Contact: Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868
Text, phone or chat support no matter what you want to talk about. No judgment, totally private, 24/7.
Youth Space
Contact: Text 778-783-0177 or chat in through the website.
Ages: Under 30
Chat & text for crisis and emotional support chat services open from 6pm-12am PST for youth.
Trans Lifeline
Contact: 1-877-330-6366.
A peer support service run by trans people available 7am to 1am at
QCHAT
Contact: Text 250-800-9036 or call 1-855-956-7111
A peer support line and resource database for LGBTQ2S youth in BC. Lines open Monday to Wednesday from 6-9pm.
Threshold Housing
Contact: assist@thresholdhousing.ca – Phone: 250-383-8830
Ages: 16-23
Safe housing, community and support for at-risk youth experiencing homelessness, aging out of care or fleeing violence in the home.
Turning Point
Contact: 250-384-9133 Ext. 225
Ages: 13-19 – Organization: Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria
Turning Point is a short-term residential program for youth experiencing personal safety issues (youth at risk of sexual exploitation, trans, homelessness).
Parents and Caregivers
PFLAG Victoria
Contact: victoriabc@pflagcanada.ca
Organization: PFLAG Canada
Pflag Canada is proud to be Canada’s only national organization that offers peer-to-peer support striving to help all Canadians with issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Gender Specaular Caregiver Support Group
Contact: support@genderspectacular.com
Organization: Gender Spectacular
Meet parents, caregivers, and close adult family members of trans, gender non-conforming, and Two-Spirit children, youth, and young adults. This group is facilitated by a trans person and a parent (on a rotating basis).
AVI Queer Sex Ed for Youth
Contact: queersexedworkshops@gmail.com
Organization: AIDS Vancouver Island
A queer centered approach to sex ed that makes fewer assumptions about people’s bodies and relationships, making it more applicable and accessible to everyone in the room. This workshop is designed to share knowledge and skills about sexual health and building healthy relationships that are relevant to today’s youth.
SOGI 123
Contact: info@sogieducation.org
Organization: ARC Foundation
SOGI 1 2 3 connects educators to proven tools and resources for aligning schools with provincial policies protecting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI).
Egale Canada
Organization: Egale Canada
Organization focused on advocacy for LGBTQI2S people in Canada with a variety of resources available online.
