Do You Mind?

YouthCO and the Community- Based Research Centre (CBRC) are teaming up to deliver a new mental health initiative for queer & trans youth living in the Fraser Valley.  

If you are between the ages of 19-24 and are interested in building and refining your leadership in community health, we hope you will join us as we unpack the social and interpersonal challenges that queer & trans youth face together when it comes to our mental health.  

We will gather with other youth leaders in the Fraser Valley for a four-day youth leadership retreat, where we will receive training in mental health, project planning, and community organizing. 

Following the retreat, we will have the opportunity to apply the skills we have learned in piloting a new mental health initiative of our own design in our communities!  

All meals and accommodation for the retreat are included. In addition, youth will receive an honorarium for their time and participation in the retreat weekend and for their work on the community initiative.  

We still have a few spots open! If you are interested in participating in the retreat, please contact Emily directly at [email protected] 

COVID-19 Measures: All participants will have access to accommodation and food that reflects provincial standards for physical distancing. This will include your own private suite, which includes a kitchenette and a private bathroom. Food and beverages will be individually packaged. Our sessions will be held at the hotel in a large conference room with seats placed at least 2 meters apart. Disposable face masks will be available for participants as desired. 

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Meet the Leadership Retreat Facilitators:

Emily Bailey (she/they)

Emily grew up as an uninvited guest on Chewathil territories of Austrian, English, and Anglo-Indian heritage. Emily enjoys talking about feelings and learning community care practices. Emily has a deep affinity for the powerful survival strategies practiced in rural communities and is excited by opportunities to imagine transformative relationships of care.

Ivan Leonce (he/him/his)

Ivan is the Mpowerment Program Manager at YouthCO. He was born and raised in iere, land of the hummingbirds, kalinago territory and moved to Coast Salish Territories in 2012 seeking a change from colonially imposed anti-queer laws in the Caribbean. Ivan is a part-time poet, full-time friend and big believer in the transformative power of relationships.