October 8, 2019

October 2019 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!
 
On October 11th we will be doing some Nature Taxidermy in preparation for Halloween! Don’t panic! There’s nothing horrifying involved! This week is Mental Health and Wellness week. I want you to go for a walk with your friend’s or your family. Relax in our beautiful changing season’s and take in the colours of autumn. Now for the Taxidermy part! Please bring to the GSA on Friday October 11th things you find on your walk… thin bendy twigs, tiny stones, tiny acorns, different leaves, small feathers, non-poisonous berries. But please take a few minutes to get out in nature, unwind, take a deep breath, feel the sun on your face, hear the birds, feel the wind, and just be you.
 
October 25th is our 2nd Annual Halloween Party!!! Yes, there will be candy!!! Yes, there can be costumes!!! Yes, there will be food!!! Yes, we can stay little later for a Halloween movie!!! Yes, will be a prize’s!!! The button maker will be around to make some Halloween buttons or Pride buttons!!!
 
Topics:

• October 6-12 is Mental Health Awareness week 

We will be discussing mental health awareness for our LGBTQ2 youth and adults. Where and how can you access care in Spruce Grove and around Edmonton? 

• October 16th is International Pronouns Day 

Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.

• Halloween Party!!!

Please volunteer what you can bring for decorations and snacks! This is your GSA!!! Please help make your Halloween party fantastic!!! 
 
 
Events

• Outloud St Albert - Every other Tuesday evening from 7-9 pm. They are an AMAZING group and a great alternative to our group. They are absolutely a Safe Space to go to meet other LGBTQ youth and Allies! outloudstalbert.ca/

Outloud has their Halloween Party on Tuesday October 29that 7 pm!

• Parkland QSA - On the last Wednesday of the month in Stony Plain. The Parkland QSA meets from 6-8 pm in the Stony Plain Public Library! This is great for anyone who can get to the Stony Plain Public Library! instagram.com/parklandqsa
• Halloween Spooktacular Acreage – Witches, monsters, vampires, and other spooky creatures!!! 
•  Free – but please bring a monetary donation or a new, unwrapped toy for the Stony Plain Kinsmen Christmas Hamper program
• The Haunted Pumpkin Festival at Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm

Our LGBTQ2 History
 
Lynn Conway
https://lgbthistorymonth.com/lynn-conway?tab=biography
If you want to change the future, start living as if you’re already there.”
Assigned male at birth in Mt. Vernon, New York, Lynn Conway is a pioneer in microelectronic chip design and a transgender activist. She helped shape the way modern computers are designed and built.
In 1998, as Conway neared retirement, stories of her innovations at IBM began to circulate. Facing her fear of exposure, she came out on the internet. She created a transgender advocacy website to “illuminate and normalize the issues of gender identity and the processes of gender transition.” She has worked for employment protections for transgender people in the tech industry and successfully lobbied for transgender inclusion in the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) code of ethics.
 
Our Community – We NEED fabulous people like YOU!!!
We are actively searching for volunteers within our community!
Are you someone who would like to work with our LGBTQ2 youth once or twice a month? We are looking for folks with different abilities that can help out in the GSA. 
How can you contribute?
Our community is filled with folks with amazing people that care about their youth and their surroundings. Our GSA is a Community GSA help us grow together! 
(we try not to pair parent’s and caregivers on the same evenings their youth attend)
 
Some of the ways you can fabulous:

• Donate food to our youth GSA meetings or grocery store gift cards, craft items, monetary donations, click on the donate buttonon 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 such as liability insurance and equipment. We are a 100% volunteer-run organization; all funds will go to ensuring we can continue to offer services to youth.
 
We have INCREASED our HOURS!!! 
October - 11th & 25th
November - 8th & 22nd
December - 13th & 27th
 
We are ENVIROMENTALY FRIENDLY! 
DON’T forget to bring a re-useable water bottle We still have pop and snacks, but no more plastic water bottles!
 
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.
 
www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/
www.instagram.com/sprucegrovegsa/?hl=en