 February 28 It has been a long time since I have seen my GSA kids. We have missed 4 meetings since then. My kiddo had an extra Pride flag and we just dropped it off at one of our GSA kid’s homes. We texted first, they came outside to meet us, and our handoff went off great! The Pride flag has a new home!! 🏳️🌈 I was able to do a check in to make sure everything was okay. School, home, life, etc... yes, yes, yes! So, I bailed to the minivan to let the teens catch up. Here I sit watching in the rear-view mirror, my kiddo and their friend that they haven’t seen since February. They are laughing and catching up. One has bare feet, I’m sure that are freezing, and clutching their Pride flag, the other standing 6-8 feet away in a black hoodie! And I can’t help but watch and laugh with tears streaming down my face. Our kids are going to be okay. We’re going to leave from here and try to go shopping for a birthday present for my kiddos girlfriend that they haven’t seen since the beginning of March. When we drop off the presents, I will probably sit in the van and cry again while my kiddo tries not to even hug their girlfriend. Our kids are amazing and resilient. They are the best of any of us. ❤️🏳️🌈      My GSA kids are constantly on my mind.
What can I do for them over our time away from each other? When can we all get back together again? How will our GSA look when we open again? I know how much I miss everyone! I know when we reopen, no matter what changes we have to make for safety we will make the GSA ours again! I keep looking at these paintings that our kids did together. This tree started out as a simple bare tree. It had nothing on it. Then all it took was one GSA kid to add a fingerprint of colour. Then another, and another. Our tree went to the Alberta GSA conference with us, it went to a Pride Festival with us, even Sophie Labelle a famous comic from Canada who is now clear across in another country has a fingerprint on our painting. We have fingerprints from other cities, provinces, towns, and now counties. We have moments together. Through all of this we are all connected. We are connected by social media, we are connected by phone, and by our shared experiences. I am so proud to know each and every one of you. I can’t wait to see you all again soon! Thank you for adding colour to our world! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
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April 2020 Spruce Grove GSA Update! (Again!!!) The Spruce Grove GSA Society respectfully acknowledges that we are situated in Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis people. After reaching out to everyone and asking about an online GSA, I have started putting together a few resources. Our GSA is unfortunately too small to maintain an online chat group, but there are a few very wonderful folks who have taken on the challenge of organizing and hosting this!! The internet and social media are essential for connecting individuals to information and people. It is extremely important to keep these connections! As with any online group, please be mindful of your safety and your online security with any information you give. All of our information is posted on our Instagram www.instagram.com/sprucegrovegsa/?hl=en and Facebookwww.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ pages. These Chat Groups will be found on our Spruce Grove GSA website under our new section Interactive Links Online sprucegrovegsasociety.org Chat Groups & More! Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (iSMSS) iSMSS is happy to offer free workshops in the form of video conferencing through Google Meet and Zoom. We are able to offer distance learning keeping in line with the healthy practices of social isolation. Our presentations will cover a variety of different and interesting topics focused on 2SLGBTQ+ topics. The workshops are open to everyone who is interested in learning more about 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, education, terminology and more! We also offer professional development for teachers and organizations! For the most updated information check out their Facebook page! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iSMSS/ Pride Centre of Edmonton Queerout: Youth programming has been moved online for weekly meetings on Wednesdays in Discord! Please email to receive details on how to connect to the server link, or add YEG_PCE #1054 on discord to receive the weekly server login information. While the Pride Centre of Edmonton’s building will be closed, they can still be reached by phone, email and social media. website: https://pridecentreofedmonton.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yegpride/ Email: youth@pridecentreofedmonton.ca Stony Plain Youth Centre The Stony Plain Youth Centre has gone VIRTUAL! They have created a virtual space where youth are invited to engage in activities and have fun. A schedule is posted each week featuring a variety of opportunities for youth to get involved. Connect with them for activities, prizes and fun! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spyouthcentre/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/spyouthcentre?igshid=16ivlhwry0oml website: https://www.stonyplain.com/en/live/youth-centre.aspx?_mid_=733 email: spyc@shaw.ca phone: 780 968 3846 Trevor Space Start meeting LGBTQ friends today! TrevorSpace is an affirming international community for LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. Sign up and start a conversation now. Find friends who share your interests - either by joining an existing group or starting your own! Chat about what matters to you. website: https://www.trevorspace.org Our Community – Help our GSA grow together! Please help us continue to grow! Even though we are temporarily closed, we are still paying our insurance. We are still doing research and helping folks online. We are still reaching out to youth and adults in our community. Please help to stay open and continue to grow by saving your bottles or by making a donation online. We will re-open, and we will continue to be a Safe Space where our youth can feel included, respected, and protected. Are you able to help set up a fundraising committee? How can you contribute? Our community is filled with folks with amazing people that care about youth and their surroundings. Our GSA is a Community GSA, help us grow together! Some of the ways you can fabulous: Please Help. Monetary donations, click on the donate button on our website, spend time with us at different events, parades or resource fairs) 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 excursions to special events within the community. They will also support the GSA as a whole by helping us with operational expenses. 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 out with our fundraising goals! Thank you to the folks who are currently donating to our GSA! Important Phone Numbers RCMP 911 780-962-2222 Spruce Grove 24 hours 780-968-7267 Stony Plain 24 hours 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. You can connect by phone or mobile app, or through the website. Translifeline 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://www.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. MyHealth.Alberta.ca https://myhealth.alberta.ca Health Information and Tools Spruce Grove GSA Website sprucegrovegsasociety.org On our website you can find all of our information such as dates of our GSA, tips on Safe Spaces, health, recognizing abuse and Resources. www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ www.instagram.com/sprucegrovegsa/?hl=en  April 2020 Spruce Grove GSA Update!
The Spruce Grove GSA Society respectfully acknowledges that we are situated in Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis people. Hey everyone!! I’m reaching out to share a bunch of stuff and to connect with you again! I know a few of you have connected with me individually since the last GSA, FYI… I LOVE chatting with you and I love getting your messages and texts!!! I MISS YOU ALL!!! I really miss trying to get your attention in the GSA so I can get two words in between your excited talking! A few of you have brought up the idea of an online GSA. Also a couple of you have brought up some safety concerns. Could you all please email and message me with your thoughts on how, and if you would like to proceed. It looks like our IRL hugs at GSA will still be a few months away. (((hugs))) The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed the LGBTQ anthems "True Colours" and "Brave," https://www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv To thank health care workers, first responders, and essential workers on the front lines, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed a collaboration of the LGBTQ anthems "True Colors" and "Brave," from Cyndi Lauper and Sara Bareilles. "Truly Brave" features the 150-member chorus in a virtual performance. Lauper and Bareilles first performed their songs together as “Truly Brave” in 2014 for a fundraiser for pediatric cancer. The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus was founded in 1978 they believe in the transformative power of music to heal, to enlighten and to foster unity. Interactive Links Online https://www.sprucegrovegsasociety.org I mentioned before that I would be throwing together a ton of links for you to check out. Please pop over to our Spruce Grove GSA website! Under the folder Interactive Links Online you will find Live Animal Cams, Disney Cams, Rollercoasters and more (check in travel the world)! Find online games and learn to cook, check out Mars and NASA. There are free yoga and fitness classes, also some very cool paid classes you can sign up for! Check out all the books, science experiments, and the resources! Please email me with suggestions and any local additions you would like added! If you know of any clubs that have taken classes online, please let me know! 13 Queer Musicians on What They’re Listening to in Quarantine https://www.them.us/story/13-queer-musicians-quarantine-music Music! Last time we were together, I asked you all to update our Pride playlist! Here’s a few artists to check out, and you can send some more suggestions my way! Scroll to the bottom of the article for the playlist by the musicians. CMHA Youth Smart – Tips for Helping Children and Youth Cope Through the Covid-19 Pandemic http://www.youthsmart.ca/tips-for-helping-children-and-youth-cope-effectively-through-the-covid-19-pandemic/ As COVID-19 continues to escalate in Canada, children and youth are likely starting to ask some difficult questions. With school closures and major changes in daily routines, parents and guardians are working hard to care for both the physical and mental health of the children they love. Young people often respond to big life changes and world events based on the reactions of the adults around them. As such, it is key for those adults to approach COVID-19 with a reassuring sense of calm. Here are some helpful tips for emotionally supporting children and youth through the ongoing pandemic: Our Community – Help our GSA grow together! Please help us continue to grow! Even though we are temporarily closed, we are still paying our insurance. We are still doing research and helping folks online. We are still reaching out to youth and adults in our community. Please help to stay open and continue to grow by saving your bottles or by making a donation online. We will re-open, and we will continue to be a Safe Space where our youth can feel included, respected, and protected. Are you able to help set up a fundraising committee? How can you contribute? Our community is filled with folks with amazing people that care about youth and their surroundings. Our GSA is a Community GSA, help us grow together! Some of the ways you can fabulous: Please Help. Monetary donations, click on the donate button on our website, spend time with us at different events, parades or resource fairs) 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 excursions to special events within the community. They will also support the GSA as a whole by helping us with operational expenses. 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 out with our fundraising goals! Thank you to the folks who are currently donating to our GSA! Important Phone Numbers RCMP 911 780-962-2222 Spruce Grove 24 hours 780-968-7267 Stony Plain 24 hours 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. You can connect by phone or mobile app, or through the website. Translifeline 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://www.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. MyHealth.Alberta.ca https://myhealth.alberta.ca Health Information and Tools Spruce Grove GSA Website sprucegrovegsasociety.org On our website you can find all of our information such as dates of our GSA, tips on Safe Spaces, health, recognizing abuse and Resources. www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ www.instagram.com/sprucegrovegsa/?hl=en  April 2020 Spruce Grove What’s Happening!
The Spruce Grove GSA Society respectfully acknowledges that we are situated in Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis people. What’s Happening! Currently our GSA is temporarily postponed, due to the outbreak of Corvid 19, and the recommendations of all levels of our governments. We had to make the difficult decision to temporarily postpone our Spruce Grove GSA at St. Andrew’s United Church (1A Fieldstone Drive) for the time being. We do not take the decision to postpone even one meeting of a Safe Space lightly, and we are working hard to try and find safe ways for everyone to connect while maintaining all levels of health and safety standards. I promise we are here for you. We are planning, we are still thinking of events! They might look different, they might be delayed, but they will still be yours, and we will create many more memories together! I can’t wait to hear the hall fill with music and your laughter, and your boots stomping down the stairs!! Use some of the time you have right now to discover something new. About you, about the world, about whatever might interest you. Our world is filled with beautiful amazing and endless things, go forth and discover! Please Be safe, follow proper health and safety standards https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16997.aspx#prev Topics: Explore the world around you! But do it online! I am going to ask for your help. I need ideas, games, links, science experiments, crafts, gyms that are offering online classes… ANYTHING you can send to me that I can share and pass along to our friends, and families! Our kids are connected! Let’s help everyone stay connected but also keep everyone safe at home! Virtual School Activities for all ages! A collection of sites to live webcams, virtual tours/trips, and other miscellaneous fun educational sites. https://virtualschoolactivities.com/?fbclid=IwAR1Lh-3YWrEmCXD34LN62N2HNRvT0Vcef6rj4dIdZNUd6D0br3YWDY3qmyQ This list keeps growing daily! Everything from virtual tours, to live webcams, games at the San Diego Zoo, the Great Wall of China, the NASA Mission Operations Room, Story time from Space, Science Experiments with Bill Nye, the Louvre, and so much more!! Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents https://www.nctsn.org/resources/simple-activities-children-and-adolescents Offers activity ideas to parents and caregivers whose families are sheltering in place, social distancing, and homeschooling due to school closures amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. WILD Outside program - funded by the Government of Canada under the Canada Service Corps program http://wildoutside.ca WILD Outside is a national conservation-based youth leadership program designed for youth ages 15 to 18. By participating in this immersive program, young Canadians will experience opportunities for personal growth while developing and encouraging their own “conservation ethic”. Learning from CWF facilitators alongside their peers, youth who join the WILD Outside program will connect with other participants in their area by exploring the outdoors and planning and carrying out community-based conservation action projects in their own community. Participants in the program are encouraged to commit to 120 hours of service activity and engagement over a calendar year and will be recognized for their dedication. We aim to create a safe and inclusive atmosphere for all youth and hope to welcome young people from all communities, many different walks of life, and varying experiences to this exciting program. While COVID 19 currently prevents participants from gathering together in person, that hasn’t stopped us from adapting our programming to bring people together virtually across the country. We are still encouraging interested youth to continue to register for our WILD Outside program; then join us as we connect online to learn about and plan conservation projects we can deliver once we get the green light to gather our WILD Outside participants together again. Agricultural education Spring has Officially Sprung Let’s plant a garden!! https://www.alberta.ca/agricultural-education-school-gardens.aspx Food is one of life's basic needs. Gardens are being used across Alberta at all grade levels to help people understand and appreciate the industry that grows, processes, and delivers safe, abundant food to Albertans every day. The gardening process also encourages students to make healthy food choices. Bird House Craft Project https://brickbubble.ca/store/bird-house-craft-project-wren/?fbclid=IwAR16fXljXywZHwI8sTdpmnE5BGZl-6A_9mYkDG8eIYuNOg15BKXWkPL7XeQ Looking for a spring project that will keep the birds in your area safe and cozy? Brickbubble designed a beautiful, easy to assemble bird house kit, that is ready to paint! Explore.org Who wants to explore the world with me!!! Check out all of these amazing live animal cameras!! *note some of them are a little creepy at night. I did make that mistake when checking them all out. 😬 Explore.org Free App on Apple Devices – Live cams https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/explore-org/id534289239 Explore.org Free App on Android Devices - Live cams https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actolap.explore&hl=en_US Explore.org Link to the website online - Live Cams on the Internet https://explore.org/livecams/sharks/pacific-aquarium-tropical-reef-camera?fbclid=IwAR3C4IJRiWsiHCI0gCNER0TO3xE6a9paLBvImJqSvfrT8GYTpqI0GfVUq1Y Silent River Kung Fu http://www.silentriverkungfu.ca/2015/1/6/1x8mf19j0wgqihlnhwo3g5g3nbjo3h Silent River Kung Fu has taken their classes online and offer 3 - 4 classes per week. Once a week, a recorded class is available for students to learn and practice. Then twice a week they host a Livestream skills class, and this is followed by the option of a one on one with an instructor. Please submit your requests through the contact us tab on the website for more information. Calgary Gyms and Fitness Studios Offering Online Workouts https://www.avenuecalgary.com/things-to-do/calgary-gyms-and-fitness-studios-with-online-workouts/ With Calgary fitness facilities closed to the public due to Covid-19, some studios have gotten creative with ways to help their members stay active. The following studios have turned their focus to online fitness content to help Calgarians keep fit from home. Just Dance – on YouTube https://youtu.be/cZcet1RXceM Yes, the very first song I loaded was ABBA Dancing Queen!!! Please find some glow in the dark bands and JUST DANCE!!! Video Games to Play and Socialize https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/mar/17/25-best-online-video-games-coronavirus-self-isolating Playing video games with friends online is the perfect solution. You don’t have to be good at them, that’s not the point – online games provide a location to meet up, chat and have experiences together. Free Online Jigsaw Puzzles https://www.jigsawplanet.com Play puzzles on your computer! PhET: Free Online Simulations for Science and Math! https://phet.colorado.edu PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery. Wonderopolis https://wonderopolis.org Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease! TED Ed @home https://ed.ted.com/daily_newsletter To support the millions of students, parents and teachers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, TED-Ed is working with expert educators and TED speakers throughout the world to create and share high-quality, interactive, video-based lessons on a daily basis, for free. 200+ Amazing Online Learning Resources https://www.weareteachers.com/free-online-learning-resources/ Here is a growing list of online learning resources. And to make it better, many companies are choosing to make their products free for schools, teachers, and students during these turbulent times. Events Sorry, no events at this time! Wash your hands! Keep at least a hockey stick length between you and others in ALL public spaces! Stay Safe! Hours for 2020 March 13th & 27th(postponed)August 14th & 28th April 10th & 24th(postponed) September 11th & 25th May 15th & 29th October 9th & 23rd June XX & 26th November 13th & 27th July 10th & 24th December 11th & XX January 8th & January 22nd (2021) Taking Care of You! Practice brief relaxation techniques during the day. Check in with friends, family, and chosen family. Prepare for changes in your life. Increase leisure activities, stress management, and exercise. Pay attention to health and nutrition. Maintain boundaries. Say no, avoid getting overloaded. Practice good sleep routines. (don’t look at your phone at night) Find things that you enjoy or make you laugh. Seek help if extreme stress persists for greater than two to three weeks. Keep a journal to get worries off your mind. Access support from friends by sharing concerns. Stay aware of limitations and needs. Increase activities that are positive. Learn how to “put stress away” Write, draw, paint. Limit caffeine and substance use. Write in a journal. Volunteer for a cause meaningful to you. Make a gratitude list. Take a fresh air break. Meditate or listen to guided visualization. Cuddle with pets. Treat yourself to a nice meal. Take a nap. Listen to music. Practice yoga. Lay in the grass. Photography. Read a good book. Write a blog. Spend time outdoors, if possible. Go for a drive. Exercise. Join an online social club. Nutrition – increase healthy food choices. Turn off electronic devices. Have a movie marathon Play a game. Dance. Wear something that makes you feel confident. Join an online support group. Have a virtual game night with friends. Work in the garden. Drink some hot chocolate (with marshmallows). Get creative: draw, paint, write a song, or cook a new meal. Try a new hobby. Write yourself a letter. Have an adventure day. Creative arts. Spend time with your children – read to them, listen to their laughter, play with them, etc. Create a poster with images of a positive vision. Listen to enjoyable podcasts or videos. *adapted from MHFA Self Care and Resiliency Guide Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/ Many parents are wondering how to bring up the epidemic in a way that will be reassuring and not make kids more worried than they already may be. Here is some advice from the experts at the Child Mind Institute. Our Community – Help our GSA grow together! Please help us continue to grow! Even though we are temporarily closed, we are still paying our insurance. We are still doing research and helping folks online. We are still reaching out to youth and adults in our community. Please help to stay open and continue to grow by saving your bottles or by making a donation online. We will re-open, and we will continue to be a Safe Space where our youth can feel included, respected, and protected. Are you able to help set up a fundraising committee? How can you contribute? Our community is filled with folks with amazing people that care about youth and their surroundings. Our GSA is a Community GSA, help us grow together! Some of the ways you can fabulous: Please Help. Monetary donations, click on the donate button on our website, spend time with us at different events, parades or resource fairs) 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 excursions to special events within the community. They will also support the GSA as a whole by helping us with operational expenses. 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 out with our fundraising goals! Thank you to the folks who are currently donating to our GSA! Important Phone Numbers RCMP 911 780-962-2222 Spruce Grove 24 hours 780-968-7267 Stony Plain 24 hours 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. You can connect by phone or mobile app, or through the website. Translifeline 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 https://www.ab.211.ca 211 (phone) 211(text) Resources for Albertans daily needs. MyHealth.Alberta.ca https://myhealth.alberta.ca Health Information and Tools Spruce Grove GSA Website sprucegrovegsasociety.org On our website you can find all of our information such as dates of our GSA, tips on Safe Spaces, health, recognizing abuse and Resources. www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ www.instagram.com/sprucegrovegsa/?hl=en |