OUR PARTNERS & ALLIES

2SLGBTQIA+ Specific

QMUNITY - BC’s Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Resource Centre- Generation Project for older adults-https://qmunity.ca/get-support/olderadults/ - QMUNITY “Friendly Visitors Program” which connects a senior with a volunteer: https://qmunity.ca/get-support/friendlyvisitors/

Four Feathers Society - www.fourfeathers.net Two Spirit orgnization - Online and in person groups/events. Running Two Spirit Drumming Group Thursday Nights and online Two Spirits Talking Circle From the Fall to Spring. Join the 2-Spirit Facebook Page to advertise our groups and events https://www.facebook.com/groups/2spiritsofbc 

Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) https://www.cbrc.net/ - promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development.

Ribbon Community (previously AIDS Vancouver) https://www.aidsvancouver.org/ - programs and services for HIV+ community members

Health Initiative for Men HIM is a nonprofit society that aims to strengthen the health and well-being in communities of self-identified GBQ men and gender diverse people in BC. We offer a full spectrum of health-based programming and services to meet the sexual, mental, physical and social health needs of communities of self-identified GBQ men and gender diverse people in BC. https://checkhimout.ca/about-him/

Ross Akoi House – First dedicated housing unit for 2S, BIPOC and Non-binary/Trans residents in BC – the house is managed by Atira Housing under contract to the City of Vancouver.

Sher https://www.shervancouver.com/ – Surrey based organization for queer South Asians and allies in Metro Vancouver. Alex Sangha is the Executive Director of Sher and was the founding member of DSS.

Vancouver Outdoor Club for Women (VOCW) https://app.groups.place/group/outdoorwomen The VOCW now have a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vanocw/

McLaren Housing Society (https://mclarenhousing.com/) – although not 2SLGBTQIA+ specific have supported and provided housing for HIV+ people since 1987.

Rainbow Refugees https://www.rainbowrefugee.com/ - supporting LGBTQIA+ refugees.

EGALE https://egale.ca/ - National 2SLGBTQI+ organization aiming to improve the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada and to enhance the global response to 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. Egale achieves this by informing public policy, inspiring cultural change, and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education, awareness and legal advocacy.

seniors & older adult Specific

411 Seniors Society https://www.411seniors.bc.ca/ - DSS have a good working relationship with the staff and board, and trust them to serve our community members looking for generic older adult information and services. Our two organizations signed a working Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in May 2023.

ARRC BC (http://arrcbc.ca/ ) – wrote the report on reform of residential care in BC, which the DSS board endorsed in April 2021 – ARRC invited DSS to submit an addendum to the report outlining the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors in care.

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH) -DSS is building a relationship with VCH. VCH manages most of the residential care facilities we would like to designate 2SLGBTQIA+ appropriate:

Haro Park Center – VCH Seniors Residential care home in Vancouver’s West End – initially the management of the facility sat on the DSS board – 20% of residents identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. In April 2024, DSS and Haro Park signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work collaboratively.

Little Mountain Place - VCH Seniors Residential care home in Vancouver, Main and 36th. DSS is building a relationship with management and is working to support a non-binary senior in residence.

Office of the Seniors’ Advocate BC - DSS aims to work closely with the OSA and presented the results of “Aging with Dignity” in June 2023. In March 2024, the OSA authored a report for DSS on End Of Life legal issues to consider for 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults.

City of Vancouver Advisory Boards – 2SLGBTQIA+ - Seniors and City Seniors Planner

West End Seniors Network (WESN)- DSS connected with the new ED 2022

Save Our Northern Seniors (SONS) - is a dedicated group of people making a difference for seniors in Northern BC. They provide information and raise issues of concern.