Committee Role
Informed by their various perspectives and areas of expertise, committee members help to facilitate the study’s successful implementation by providing their feedback to the research team. Also, they help to interpret and disseminate the findings, including informing the development of recommendations to shape policies and programs tailored to the needs of LGBTQ2S+ students.
Advisory Committee Member Organizations
- Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity
- Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario
- Egale Canada Human Rights Trust
- LGBT YouthLine
- Ontario Committee on Student Affairs, Council of Ontario Universities
- Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
- Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, University of Toronto
- Western Student Experience, Western University
Advisory Committee Members
Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity intersectionally promotes diversity in gender identity, gender expression, and romantic and/or sexual orientation in all its forms on a national level through services in the areas of education, health, and advocacy. Our resources and programming can be used to uplift gender and sexual minorities, as well as give the tools to wider populations in building allyship.
Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario
Sébastien Lalonde (he/him)
ChairpersonThe Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario is a non-profit organization representing over 350,000 students across the province creating a united voice to advocate for the diverse needs of students.
“As a gay man, I’ve had to navigate harsh realities often shared by 2SLGBTQ+ students and learned the importance of intersectional advocacy. I look forward to taking part in this project to improve those realities for students both on and off campuses.”
Egale
Lee Cameron (they/them; she/her)
Research OfficerEgale Canada Human Rights Trust (Egale) is Canada’s only national charity working to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues.
“Queer and trans student organizing changes systems and changes the world! I’m excited for a project dedicated to improving post-secondary experiences for LGBTQI2S students across the intersections so that students and the movements they build can thrive.”
LGBT Youth Line
Hayley Moody (she/her)
Manager, Provincial Engagement and PartnershipsLGBT Youth Line is a 2SLGBTQ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth across Ontario through anonymous peer support and referrals, training and providing resources to youth to make informed decisions.
“I’m looking forward to hear about student experiences, getting more in-depth research related to intersectional identities so we can continue to building more positive environments for 2SLGBTQ youth.”
Ontario Committee on Student Affairs (OCSA)
Nona Robinson (she/her)
Associate Vice President Students, Trent UniversityOCSA consists of the senior administrator at each Ontario university holding responsibility for student issues, the student experience and the majority of services and programs designed to serve and support students at the institution. The OCSA provides a forum for information sharing and discussion of emerging policy and practice on student issues facing Ontario’s universities.
“Supporting LGBTQ students is an important aspect of student affairs work, including ensuring that services are in place, and also working to identify and address any barriers to inclusion. Issues and concerns outside the university (e.g. community homophobia, family dynamics) can also affect LGBTQ students. The survey work will help OCSA members to better understand what is needed to help ensure LGBTQ student success.”
Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
Malika Dhanani (she/her)
Research and Policy AnalystOUSA represents 150,000 undergraduate and professional students from 8 student associations across Ontario. Our advocacy is based on creating substantive, student driven, and evidence-based policy recommendations to the provincial government.
“Between non-affirming healthcare and academic services, a disregard for intersectional identities, inadequate mental health supports, non-inclusive recreational spaces, and gaps in research, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ post-secondary students often fall through various policy gaps and face discrimination. The results of this project will help us to better understand the impacts of these gaps through lived experiences, which will better inform and advance our advocacy goals related to the safety and inclusivity of Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ students.”
University of Guelph
Jarred Sanchez-Cacnio (they/them)
Sexual and Gender Diversity AdvisorJarred’s role at U of G is focused on supporting the success of LGBTQ2IA+ students, and advocating for informed and inclusive policies and practices for queer and trans students at the university.
“I’m looking forward to the critical examination of queer and trans student experiences across Ontario, especially racialized and non-binary students. Particularly exciting about this project is the opportunity to inform the reformation of institutional and systemic practices and dismantling barriers to LGBTQ2S+ student success.”
University of Toronto
David Pereira (he/him)
Sexual and Gender Diversity OfficerDavid is pleased to be joining this project’s advisory committee. Along with his role in the SGDO, David is an instructor in the Sexual Diversity Studies Program at the University of Toronto where he teachers about queer youth in formal, non-formal and informal educational contexts. http://sgdo.utoronto.ca/
“My hope is that this project sheds light on the diverse experiences of queer youth, particularly of those of queer youth of colour and on the margins, to bring greater awareness of the work that remains to be done on campuses throughout Ontario concerning LGBTQ+ inclusivity.”
University of Toronto
Allison Burgess (she/her)
Sexual and Gender Diversity Officer
– Currently on leave –
The U of T Sexual & Gender Diversity Office develops partnerships to build supportive learning and working communities at the University of Toronto by working toward equity and challenging discrimination. The Office provides innovative education, programming, resources and advocacy on sexual and gender diversity for students, staff and faculty across the University’s three campuses.
“This is an important project that thinks deeply about the complexity and intersectionality of LGBTQ+ student wellness across Ontario universities. I am glad to be a part of a project that considers students’ abilities to flourish and succeed while pursuing higher education.”
Western Student Experience
Erin Huner (she/her)
Director of Research, Assessment and PlanningIn my role as part of Western’s Student experience team, I take seriously the idea that data tells stories, and that stories reveal data. My work with students is guided by the belief that the stories of those folks for whom access and equity has been diminished, require collaborative efforts to tell better, more inclusive stories so that these important voices are able to contribute to how we think about, organize, and build our post-secondary institutions. I am grateful to learn from, and work with the amazing team that supports the LGBTQ2+ Thriving on Campus project.