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Hello GSA family! Ash and I have to take small pause on GSA. We’ve had quite a few people reach out to us who have tested positive with Covid. We’re taking a small break to re-evaluate our Covid response within the GSA. This might mean a few different ways we do things within the GSA over the next few weeks. We will be back in person very soon!!!   The following are of our current Covid recommendations within our groups.
We feel that with the rise in case numbers, and the rapid spread throughout our communities, we need to increase our proactive approach. With reduced testing for the general public and lack of information on where positivity rates are in our community, strengthening our response in our group is the safest option for our youth, their families, and our widespread support systems. Some of the ideas we’ve had to increase the in-person safety for our meetings, are as follows: •decreased meeting sizes •move meetings back outdoors (last resort). •re-emphasize continually masking (especially once finished with a snack). •snacks at a separate table from GSA group meetings. •breaking the large group into small groups that can distance easier. •maintain the distancing rules that seem to be forgotten when the large group is visiting. •rotate smaller groups between tables, so each group can visit safely •creating an online health check-in. •removing snacks from GSA If you have additional ideas to increase the safety in our GSA, please let us know so we can take this information to our group! Jody Tucker (she/her) Coordinator | President Spruce Grove GSA Society SAFE! (Support & Advocacy for Everyone) sprucegrovegsasociety.org Find us on facebook & instagram We respectfully thank and acknowledge that we are situated on the Indigenous land of Treaty 6 territory. The traditional lands of Cree, Michif Piyii (Métis), ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐊᐢᑭᕀ Nêhiyaw-Askiy (Plains Cree), Denesuliné (Chipewyan), Saulteaux (Ojibwa/Anishinaabe), Nakota Sioux (Stoney/Assiniboine). We also wish to acknowledge all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons that reside away from their traditional communities, but who still live across Alberta.
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 Happy New Year!
Happy 4th GSA Birthday!!! We are celebrating 4 years! Our GSA kids are having an extra-long meeting, a pizza party, and we’re watching the movie Encanto! Kenda will also be joining us to do some glass etching on jars!! (Don’t forget to prebook for each meeting! We have limited space available!) Last year a very special donation of 5 brand new, much needed GC2B binders for our GSA kids, was ordered! The donation of funds for the binders, was made by youth from our community. I’m very excited to announce that the binders arrived on Christmas Eve, and they will be given to our GSA kids at our January 14th meeting! The benefits of binders for both youth and adults are huge. Binding helps decrease dysphoria, feelings of anxiety or suicidality. Binders increase feelings of confidence and self-esteem. I would like to thank each person who donated to our Spruce Grove GSA Society. Whether you donate time, resources, experiences, or funds, your participation in our community GSA with our youth and adults helps us to grow! We will be holding our AGM in the next few months. If you are interested in joining our board and helping us to advocate for our 2SLGBTQ+ communities, please connect with us! We are ENVIROMENTALY FRIENDLY!
Alberta Parenting for the Future Association http://albertaparenting.ca January 7 @ 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Alberta Parenting for the Future Association has partnered with Dochas Psychological to provide a free wellness group for teens aged 14-17. Come join us for open discussion and fun activities based on your personal experiences. Family Connection Centre 5600 50 Street, Stony Plain Community Connectors https://www.westviewpcn.ca/community-connectors
Community Connectors work out of the Youth Mental Health Clinic, schools/outreaches, the Stony Plain Youth Centre, and the Lions Log Cabin Spruce Grove. Please view calendar below. Must be between the ages of 11-25 and must be connected to a Tri-Region Family Physician or living in the Tri-Region area.
Spruce Grove Public Library https://sgpl.ca How to DM - Ages 13+ Want to learn more about Dungeons & Dragons? This is an introductory quick start workshop for aspiring DM's new to Dungeons and Dragons and wanting to learn the first steps of being a Dungeon Master. You will learn the basics of DMing and walk away with some essential tips to begin your next campaign. There's a lot to learn and it can be intimidating. This workshop will help you get started. This program is facilitated by Sylvia "DM Dougie" Douglas of Rolling Tales Saturday 15 January 2:00-3:30pm
Last Saturday of the month January 29th, February 26th, March 26th, April 30th, May 28th
You can even borrow the games you like with your library card and play them at home! The Stony Plain Youth Centre
Trans ID Clinic
Our 2SLGBTQ+ History A gay-straight alliance (GSA) or gender sexuality alliance / queer -straight alliance (QSA), can be defined as a youth-led, school- or community-based group that provides a safe, welcoming, and affirming physical and emotional space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, as well as those who are who are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, children from 2SLGBTQ+ families, and youth who want to be allies of their peers. The first GSA in Alberta started in the late 1990’s at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School in Red Deer. Fun fact! In our Spruce Grove GSA, GSA stands for - Gender Sexuality Awareness. GSAs began as a school led groups. But they have evolved into safe spaces and a means of education for so many others as well. Many sexual and gender diverse youth do well in their school environments and are proud of who they are. They can build positive and productive coping strategies, be role models and sources of support for other 2SLGBTQ+ students. GSAs/QSAs are student groups found in some K–12 schools, Universities, Colleges, and Communities. These groups create supportive and safe environments for sexual and gender minorities and their allies. Schools that choose to start a GSA/QSA: are looking to create a safer space, reduce bullying, support human rights related to sexual orientation and gender diversity, guarantee the right for youth to start the group in their safe space, have meetings, have an adult supervisor. If you want to start a GSA/QSA, take the following steps: find a teacher, staff, or sponsor, meet with administration, find other like-minded folks who may want to help start up the group, pick a meeting space, advertise the group, plan, and hold a first meeting, set up ground rules/group agreements. GSAs/QSAs help 2SLGBTQ+ students overcome feelings of isolation and alienation that are a result of homophobic and transphobic bullying. They empower students as they develop a sense of belonging in their school. GSAs/QSAs also help interested students become allies for their 2SLGBTQ+ peers and provide a safe place to help understand and learn how to offer support. Unfortunately, many 2SLGBTQ+ youth live in fear of being rejected by their family and peers and are afraid of homophobic and transphobic bullying. Many 2SLGBTQ+ youth become isolated and believe that they must hide their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression from the world. Research tells us that 2SLGBTQ+ students are more likely to feel safe and are more comfortable being open about their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression in schools with GSAs/QSAs because they provide a place to create a sense of belonging. There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach for GSAs/QSAs in schools. Each one is different. Almost all GSA/QSA meetings involve discussions about making our schools and ourselves more inclusive and safer for all students. GSAs/QSAs help celebrate the uniqueness and importance of diversity and inclusiveness. They help students learn about different life experiences while working to end homophobia, transphobia and promoting equity and quality for all. All GSAs/QSAs should be safe spaces for students to discuss issues like bullying, coming out and making schools and communities more inclusive. GSAs/QSAs are associated with better mental health outcomes, such as less depression less general psychological distress and higher self-esteem than students without a GSA at their school. https://www.alberta.ca/gay-straight-alliances.aspx#toc-0 https://albertagsanetwork.ca/index.php/what-is-a-gsaqsa/ Please Help our GSA grow together! Some of the ways you can contribute: Monetary donations, donations of non-perishable snacks for our food pantry program, click on the donate button on our website, spend time with us at different events. Contributions of any size will be used to support youth through the purchase of materials that will be used at our meetings, as well as to fund events within the community. We are a 100% volunteer-run organization; all funds will go to ensuring we can continue to offer services to youth. Please Donate your bottles to the Spruce Grove GSA Society! We will gladly arrange to pick up bottles once a month. This will greatly help with our fundraising! Thank you to the folks who are currently donating to our GSA! Non-perishable food donations The past few years we have seen an increase with some youth, either in person or through social media, who might require a few extra snacks through the day or at school. Through a generous donation by the Rotary Club in Spruce Grove, our GSA has expanded to include a snack pantry for youth. If you are a youth looking for extra snacks throughout the week, or if you know of a youth who might need some snacks, please connect with us for a local drop off for snacks. All requests are 100% confidential. Medical supplies & affirming doula services Our board has approved the purchase of medical supplies required to assist our transgender youth ages 18-24. Please reach out to our GSA at sprucegrovegsa@gmail.com Information can be provided on supplies required. We are also excited to have Sara provide affirming doula services with our community! If you, or anyone you know is looking for care, education, or emotional support, please reach out to Sara at sara@risenhealth.ca More information is also available at Risen Health on their website - https://risenhealth.ca Support looks different for everyone and it is the doulas job to find what suits you and your family best. We are also looking for donations of gently used binders!!! Many of our youth are in need, and we would like to help them achieve this goal! Important Phone Numbers BriteLine 1-844-70(BRITE) 1-844-702-7483 https://www.briteline.ca Edmonton's FIRST Mental Health and Wellness Help Line A provincial support line for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Times can be tough and now there is a dedicated line for our community. Reach out when you need help at 1-844-70(BRITE) Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 Text CONNECT 686868 kidshelpphone.ca/what-is-kids-help-phone 24-hour, anonymous phone counseling for children and youth, 100% confidential they do not trace calls, they do not have call display, you do not have to tell them your name. Trans lifeline http://www.translifeline.org The Hotline: US: 1-877-565-8860 Canada: 1-877-330-6366 Need to talk? Call! Our peer support hotline is run by and for trans people. 211 Alberta Canadian Mental Health Association-Edmonton https://ab.211.ca https://edmonton.cmha.ca 211 (phone) 211(text) 24-hour distress line Resources for Albertans daily needs. When you see someone in distress, you can help before police or emergency services are needed by calling 211 and pressing 3 to dispatch the 24/7 Crisis Diversion Team. We respectfully thank, and acknowledge, that we are situated on the Indigenous land of Treaty 6 territory. The traditional lands of Cree, Michif Piyii (Métis), ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐊᐢᑭᕀ Nêhiyaw-Askiy (Plains Cree), Denesuliné (Chipewyan), Saulteaux (Ojibwa/Anishinaabe), Nakota Sioux (Stoney/Assiniboine). We also wish to acknowledge all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons that reside away from their traditional communities, but who still live across Alberta. |