Our community programs are running with adaptations to support the health of our community during COVID-19. Contact us to learn about our safety protocols.
Community Workshops
We believe that strong communities are free of homophobia, transphobia, and sexual violence. That’s why we offer affordable workshops and consulting services that promote 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and consent to youth and youth-serving adults. Contact us today to learn about our offerings, which range from spoken word programs to nonprofit leadership coaching.
Ongoing Programs
Back Talk: Voices Against Violence
Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Back Talk: Voices Against Violence program supports women and non-binary femme youth in using poetry and spoken word to discuss experiences with topics including sexual violence, gender equity, and resilience. The Back Talk Collective shares poetry to educate, inspire, and most importantly: Talk Back. The program culminates in the creation of a published chapbook of poems, as well as several performances across the GTA.
The Back Talk program is currently offered to youth experiencing homelessness at Eva's Place, Eva's Hotel, and Covenant House. For more information about participating see the 2021 poster.
If you're interested in supporting Back Talk, buy a chapbook here.
Sculpting Identity
Sculpting Identities is an exciting 7-week sculpture workshop series run hosted at the George Chuvalo Community Centre. Generously funded by the Ontario Arts Council, youth aged 14-18 explore artistic methods, mediums, as well as personal identity through this community oriented, queer-led art program! Each week participants learn how to use sculpture to express meaning, utilizing a range of materials, from found-object to clay work. The program culminates in the creation of a sculpture project showcased at a community gallery series. Contact us to learn how to participate.
Proud To Be Me
Download our new body image program for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Since 2004, the Dove Self-Esteem Project has been working to build body confidence in young people all over the world. CANVAS joined forces with Dove, body image experts, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth to co-design Proud To Be Me. This new evidence-based tool addresses: (1) societal appearance ideals, body diversity, and exploring beauty beyond the binary; (2) accurate, inclusive language, pronouns, and how to avoid misgendering; (3) the spectrums of gender identity, sexual identity, and how to make sure no one is left out, or forced into a category that doesn’t fit who they are; and (4) challenging negative body talk, body activism.
Created for Gay-Straight Alliance programs, 2SLGBTQ+ clubs or youth centres, Proud To Be Me is a two-hour body image program, specifically created for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies aged between 10 and 14. The aim of the program is to promote an open and honest dialogue around body positivity in the 2SLGBTQ+ community – as well as boosting self-esteem, encouraging unique self-expression and exploring the cultural messages and appearance pressures that can discourage being authentic. Download and run the program in your space today or contact us to book expert 2SLGBTQ+ facilitators to run the program with the youth you serve.
Want to bring an ongoing program to your community space?
All of our ongoing community programming is offered free of charge through grant funding. If you are interested in arts-based consent or 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion programming for your community, contact us today. We’re always looking for equity-seeking organizations to partner with us on our mission to prevent homophobia, transphobia, and sexual violence.