For our Season Finale we sit down with Leslie Rose Titze, a musician and a software and technical consultant from Dryden. Since feeling so welcomed and accepted at her very first Pride event, Leslie has made it her goal to create intentionally warm, welcoming spaces for folks new to Pride, inviting folks at all stages of their identity journey to celebrate and gather in safety and solidarity, much like she was first welcomed.

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Instagram: @northernontarioprideconnection
Facebook: facebook.com/northernontarioprideconnection
Email: info@northernontarioprideconnection.ca
Website: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Pasanen, a researcher and health equity advocate from Sudbury, Ontario to talk about their experiences finding and building community in the North.

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Instagram: @northernontarioprideconnection
Facebook: facebook.com/northernontarioprideconnection
Email: info@northernontarioprideconnection.ca
Website: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

In this episode, we sit down with Michel Dumont. Michel self-identifies as a queer, Métis, Two-Spirit, disabled artist and trauma survivor based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He studied Visual Arts and Psychology at Lakehead University, and his work specializes in breathing new life into discarded vintage tile in striking mosaic pieces. As a survivor of intergenerational trauma stemming from Indian Day School, Michel's work often explores emerging themes in anti-colonial urban indigenous and queer identities.

Dumont has exhibited widely in group and solo exhibitions in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. In 2018 he was recognized as Visual Artist of the year by Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage. He has received two residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts & Creativity, an artist fellowship at the Leslie-Lohman Museum, NYC, and was chosen as the 2022 Indigenous Artist in the Park, a residency at Allen Gardens, Toronto.

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Instagram: @northernontarioprideconnection
Facebook: facebook.com/northernontarioprideconnection
Email: info@northernontarioprideconnection.ca
Website: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

In this episode, we sit down with Rita O'Link a 69-year-old transgender woman with grandchildren and one of the founding members of Sudbury-based transgender support group, TG Innerselves.

Rita works with transgender people, especially youth, to provide resources, advocacy and support all throughout northeastern Ontario.

*Content Warning: Please be advised that today's episodediscusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you're having thoughts of suicide, feelingsuicidal, or have concerns that someone you know may be at risk of suicide, pleaseknow that you're not alone and that there is support and resources available.

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Instagram: @northernontarioprideconnection
Facebook: facebook.com/northernontarioprideconnection
Email: info@northernontarioprideconnection.ca
Website: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

In this episode, we delve into the captivating life of David Belrose, a longtime figure in the queer community of Thunder Bay. With a legacy spanning decades, David has been at the forefront of community development since the 1970s. As a founding member of Gays of Thunder Bay in 1980, he played a pivotal role in shaping the local queer narrative.

Join us as David shares his journey, from his early involvement with AIDS Thunder Bay (ATB), where he served as a founding member and past board chair, to his impactful role as Education Coordinator in HIV/AIDS prevention and education until his retirement. From 2008 to 2014, he served as an outreach worker with Rainbow Health Ontario, leaving an indelible mark on LGBTQ+ health advocacy.

In 2016, David penned his autobiographical memoir, "Answering A Different Call: My (Queer) Thunder Bay Life," offering a personal and profound perspective on the challenges and triumphs of navigating a queer identity in Thunder Bay.

Currently, as a member of Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship, David continues to contribute to the community by delivering monthly Sunday services on a variety of themes. Join us for a rich conversation that explores the evolution of Thunder Bay, the challenges faced by the queer community, and the enduring spirit of advocacy that defines David Belrose's remarkable life.

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Instagram: @northernontarioprideconnection
Facebook: facebook.com/northernontarioprideconnection
Email: info@northernontarioprideconnection.ca
Website: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Introducing... Queer in the North! 🌈

We are a podcast that amplifies the rich and diverse stories of 2SLGBTQ+ seniors in Northern Ontario. Our goal is to shed a light on the unique experiences and wisdom of individuals whose stories have often been overlooked.

So much of Northern Ontario's queer history hasn't been documented but lives in the stories and memories of 2SLGBTQ+ older adults. Join us as we explore the vibrant tapestry of identities, challenges faced, and triumphs achieved by our extraordinary Queer elders!

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

This podcast is presented by the Northern Ontario Pride Connection with support from Taking IT Global and the Sprout Ideas Fellowship Program. To learn more visit: northernontarioprideconnection.ca

Instagram: @northernontarioprideconnection
Facebook: facebook.com/northernontarioprideconnection
Email: info@northernontarioprideconnection.ca
Website: northernontarioprideconnection.ca