We’re thrilled to share the news of an amazing event held on May 18th, 2024! Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region (POWWR), a local organization, hosted a player clinic and tournament in support of Spectrum. It was a fantastic day filled with friendly competition, community spirit, and of course, raising awareness for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
The morning kicked off with a two-hour clinic led by skilled POWWR coaches. A total of 56 participants eagerly learned and honed their skills, creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere.
In the afternoon, things got competitive! POWWR volunteers transformed the space into a tournament zone, with matches happening across 12 gyms. A whopping 63 individuals battled it out on the court, showcasing their athleticism and sportsmanship.
But the true victory lies beyond the scoreboards. The event was a resounding success, raising almost $6,000 in support of Spectrum’s vital work in the Waterloo Region. We are incredibly grateful to POWWR for their dedication and generosity.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the POWWR volunteers who went above and beyond to make this event possible. Their hard work and enthusiasm created a welcoming and fun environment for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to our prize sponsors who helped elevate the experience for our participants:
Dr. Kyle Simpson, BSc, DC
Marlowe Grooming & General
The Underdog Dance Corp.
Kazoku Martial Arts Centre
Carly Pettinger & Kara McLean
HomeFit Exercise Equipment
CrossFit 1827
AOK Craft Beer + Arcade
Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewing
Wages Corp
Together Again Eyewear
POWWR
Bob’s Rackets
City of Waterloo
Black Knight
Canada Wide Sports
We also extend our deepest gratitude to our event sponsors:
This event would not be possible without the incredible support of the Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region (POWWR). Thanks to the generous gift of time from their volunteers, Spectrum benefitted from nearly all the ticket sales. A special shout-out to Fiona, whose vision for the event brought it to life!
We at Spectrum are deeply appreciative of POWWR’s and the City of Waterloo’s incredible support. Together, we can continue fostering a vibrant and inclusive community for everyone in Waterloo Region!
Extra thanks to the following individuals for their event support:
Each of these individuals went above and beyond in some way to support our event. While we tried to list everyone, but there were so many people that helped to bring this event together:
Fiona MacGregor (POWWR)
Troy Dettwiler (Sports Coordinator, Spectrum)
Anette Happel (POWWR)
James MacLeod (City of Waterloo)
Scott Williams (Executive Director, Spectrum)
Mattie James (Facilitator, Spectrum)
Kita Pinheiro (Facilitator, Spectrum)
Jesse Hafermehl (Facilitator, Spectrum)
Alex (Volunteer, Spectrum)
Fabian Fletcher (Volunteer and Operations Manager, Spectrum)
Dorothy McCabe (Mayor, City of Waterloo)
Brian Hill (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
Amy Ross (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
Paulina Rodriguez (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
So again, thank you! Whether you shared the event with a friend, attended, or made a donation, we appreciate the impact you made on our community. If you would like to help out in the future with this event, please reach out to our Sports Coordinator: troy@ourspectrum.com
This page will be updated as details come together! For Pride month, Spectrum is excited to work with many great community partners to present a series of events and activities that both celebrate members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and promote equal rights and visibility. Remember, Pride is not just a party, it’s aprotest.
Here’s a short video featuring local 2SLGBTQIA+ people talking about what Pride means to them.
Our third annual fundraising gala will take place on June 13, 2024! Get your tickets here!
Our headliner is Brandon Ash-Mohammed, a fresh face in comedy. Brandon has been named a JFL Montreal New Face and was the winner of a Canadian Screen Award for his work as Head Writer on Canada’s Drag Race.
Our MC is Robert Watson, an award-winning playwright, performer, fragrance aficionado extraordinaire, and producer and host of Gay AF. The show will also feature high-energy punch-up comedian Mikey Dykeman and Second City-trained, Rush Kazi.
Dinner will be from B Elegant Catering, and the event will take place at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.
This event is presented by Co-operators Insurance, and also sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company of Canada, Liftow, Stantec, Gowling WLG, and the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce. Get your tickets here!
Friday May 31, 2024 – 11am-1pm – City of Waterloo Pride Kick-Off
Join us at Waterloo Public Square when the City of Waterloo will unveil their new rainbow crosswalk. There will be an Indigenous drum circle and remarks from Mayor McCabe, Scott Williams, and other community members.
Saturday June 1, 2024 – 12pm – tri-Pride Festival
Find us at the tri-Pride Festival in Willow River Park (Victoria Park) on June 1st! We’ll have free pronoun pins and other swag to share!
Saturday June 1, 2024 8pm-1am – Purple Prism Pride Dance
We look forward to attending RCWR’s annual Pride Dance at THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener! Doors open at 8pm.
This year’s theme is… Purple Prism! Get ready to dance under the vibrant hues of the rainbow and let your colors shine as you flaunt your favourite shade of purple or any hue of the rainbow! Don’t miss out on the magic as we come together to celebrate community!
Find us at THEMUSEUM’s 3rd annual Family Pride event.
All Day: 2SLGBTQ+ Community resource booths, exhibits, crafts and UGS activity 10:30 a.m.: Anat Hector-Brown 11:30 a.m.: Chris Paul Rainbows 1:30 p.m: Maverick the Dinosaur Celebrates Pride 2:15 p.m: Music Lessons with Melody Bijou
Friday June 7, 2024 – 7-8pm – Together in Pride Ride
Join the City of Kitchener, Spectrum, and OK2BME for a cycling event in Kitchener to help bring visibility to members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities for Pride Month, and attention to cycling in Kitchener for Bike Month. We’ll meet at 44 Gaukel for a 7km fun and casual ride. There will be prizes for the best pride-themed bike decorations or clothing!
Saturday June 8, 2024 10:30am-12:30pm – Families Under the Rainbow: Game On!
Join us at Waterloo Public Library’s Eastside Branch for a morning of giant games and board games in a safe and welcoming space. Kids ages 5 to 10 years with a caregiver. Please register each child attending.
Saturday June 8, 2024 – Grand River PrideStreet Party
Find us at the Grand River Pride Street Party. The day will be packed with activities, market vendors, performers and so much more! Spectrum will be there from 1-8pm.
Saturday June 8, 2024 1-5pm – TWB Pride Patio Party
We’re pleased to collaborate with TWB again. Join us for live music featuring “Ground Cover” a local band from the 2SLGBTQ+ community, fresh beer including TWB’s limited release Pride Beer (A portion of the proceeds from their EQUAL lime pepper saison will be donated to Spectrum), ciders and non-alcoholic drink options available, delicious food, and lots of great people!
Saturday June 15, 2024 1-4pm – Woolwich Pride
Find us at the second annual Woolwich Pride in Gibson Park! This is a a free, family-friendly event that is open to the public. Enjoy food, music, magic, face painting, and so much more!
Sunday June 16, 2024 11am-4pm – Cowboys & Angels Cut-a-Thon
Cowboys and Angels uptown Waterloo is celebrating 25 years in business with an all ages complementary event featuring Tynomi Banks, Carson Kressley, Boa, Miss Drew, Melody Bijou, Sasha Tease, Archer Backmore, Vanity Affairr, Miss Conduct, and Hands on Exotics. There will be readings from Stars and Crown, and tunes by DJliquidg.
Haircuts by appointment only from the talented staff will be taking place inside. There will be a food truck, BBQ, raffle prizes AND MORE!
Pride Walking Tour
Unfortunately, this didn’t quite come together in time for this year but watch for it to happen in the future! Stroll Walking Tours, RCWR, and Spectrum will continue to develop this Pride Walking Tour of Downtown Kitchener. If you have stories or ideas for what should be included please let us know!
Thursday June 20, 2024 6:15pm-7:45pm – Conversations for Community Care – 2SLGBTQIA+ Mental Health
We are pleased to be participating in this panel discussion on 2SLGBTQIA+ Mental Health, organized by Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services.
This is a free event, open to everyone, and attendees will leave with ideas, tools, and resources for supporting their own mental health as well as the mental health of other 2SLGBTQIA+ members of the community.
Saturday July 13, 2024 – Pride Market and Rainbow Elders Panel
Join Schneider Haus and Spectrum on July 13th for our Pride Market and elder talk event! This isn’t just your average market, its a celebration of everything our vibrant community has to offer! Our event will have something for everybody with an amazing line up of vendors, LIVE music performed by Coraline James, a panel discussion with Rainbow Elders and story time and crafts with the Kitchener Public Library. Support our wonderful community and enjoy free PRIDE cookies and glitter tattoos all afternoon long! We can’t wait to celebrate Pride with you!
The market is open on July 13th from 12-4pm at Schneider Haus (466 Queen St S, Kitchener, ON N2G 1W7).
12pm-12:50pm – Performance by Coraline James
1-2pm – Rainbow Elders Panel
2-3pm – Storytime with KPL
3-4pm – crafts
All activities will be taking place outdoors at Schneider Haus.
Thursday June 13, 2024 6-9:30pm – Third Annual Fundraising Gala
Our third annual fundraising gala will take place on June 13, 2024! Get your tickets here!
Our headliner is Brandon Ash-Mohammed, a fresh face in comedy. Brandon has been named a JFL Montreal New Face and was the winner of a Canadian Screen Award for his work as Head Writer on Canada’s Drag Race.
Our MC is Robert Watson, an award-winning playwright, performer, fragrance aficionado extraordinaire, and producer and host of Gay AF. The show will also feature high-energy punch-up comedian Mikey Dykeman and Second City-trained, Rush Kazi.
Spectrum Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space, is proud to announce the first Pride Pickleball Fundraiser Tournament and Player Clinic in Canada, set to take place on May 18, 2024 at RIM Park in Waterloo.
The Pride Pickleball Fundraiser Tournament and Player Clinic aims to raise awareness and funds in support of Spectrum’s vital programming, which serves, affirms, and supports the well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in Waterloo Region.
If you can’t make it, please cancel your ticket so that we can fill your spot from our waitlist. If you need to cancel the day of the tournament, please email troy@ourspectrum.com
Event Sponsors
This event would not be possible without the support of Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region (POWWR). With the gift of time from their volunteers, SPECTRUM is able to benefit from nearly all the ticket sales.
Each Prize Sponsor donated $100 in the form of a donation to Spectrum or through a donation of services/products with a value of $100. Again, with their support we’ve been able to raise more money for the program.
TAKE NOTICE that the Annual and a Special General Meeting of the Members of SPECTRUM Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space (“SPECTRUM”) will be held on October 10, 2023 at 7pm virtually on Zoom for the following purposes:
1. Receiving and approving the Minutes of the 2022 Annual Meeting
2. Receiving the 2022 Annual Statement and Auditors Report
3. Considering and if thought fit, confirming By-law 1 – 2023 passed by the Board of Directors on March 19, 2023 which By-law replaces By-law 2021 as the general by-law relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation.
4. To authorize the Board to file Articles of Amendment to provide that the Corporation may have a minimum and maximum number of directors and to authorize the President to sign the Articles of Amendment.
5. To pass a special resolution of the members to set the number of directors at 10 until otherwise changed.
6. Electing Directors
7. To approve the waiving of the appointment of an auditor by way of extraordinary resolution in accordance with the Act.
Spectrum is grateful to be receiving the proceeds of sales of Kidunified’s Children’s Makers Market Puzzle from May 17, 2023-June 19, 2023!
Kidunified is a local woman-led social enterprise. Their debut puzzle is called Children’s Makers Market and it was created with big hearts, and mindfully for kids — it is diverse, sustainable, bilingual and fun! The goal is for more children to see pieces of themselves and their community while they play.
Ashley Kizis shares, “Kidunified is for every child, including my own. I want my child to continue to learn how good it feels when we include, and treat each other equally. It is important to me that he sees me learning to become a better ally also — to grow myself, alongside him. So much love, research and community input went into the creation of this puzzle, so that more children would hopefully feel represented in the toys they play with.”
This fundraiser is beginning on May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, a day that draws attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people in more than 130 countries around the world.
As Spectrum works towards its vision of an inclusive community where all 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are welcomed, celebrated, and supported as their authentic selves we love discovering other organizations that share our values. We’re excited to bring awareness of this wonderful puzzle to the community and grateful to our friends at Kidunified for generously donating the proceeds from the next month’s sales to us.
The Children’s Makers Market Puzzle is available for purchase here for $34.99 +HST. Puzzles can be picked up at Spectrum on June 19th between 12pm-7pm or, select “delivery” and a volunteer will drop-off your puzzle between the purchase date and June 19th.
Since April 2022, we have been partnering with the Stanley Park Community Centre to offer the 2SLGBTQIA+ Multi-Sport Drop-In on Saturdays. This program has run seasonally with short breaks of a few weeks between sessions. It’s been extremely successful with up to 20 participants attending each week.
As announced earlier this month, we have received a grant from Sport Canada to expand this program and conduct a robust evaluation of it in partnership with the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. We will now be able to offer a second Multi-Sport Drop-In on Saturday afternoons at the Downtown Community Centre in Kitchener. We hope that participants in these sessions will help us by completing evaluation surveys. This grant also includes funds that will allow us to provide Rainbow Diversity Training to as many as 200 City of Kitchener employees who work with the community centres.
In our ongoing efforts to provide more programming in Cambridge, we have partnered with Kinbridge Community Association to run a third Multi-Sport Drop-In on Saturday afternoons in Cambridge!
Spectrum is very grateful to our partners at the City of Kitchener community centres, Kinbridge Community Association, and Wilfrid Laurier University for helping us make this programming possible. We are also grateful to Sport Canada for recognizing the importance of creating opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to participate in sports and recreation.
Please Note: Though these Drop-Ins take place on most Saturdays, they do not take place EVERY Saturday. Please be sure to check our calendar for details.
For Pride month, SPECTRUM is excited to work with many great community partners to present a series of events and activities that both celebrate members of our 2SLGBTQ+ communities and promote equal rights and visibility. Remember, Pride is not just a party, it’s aprotest.
Our second annual fundraising gala will take place on June 29, 2023! Get your tickets here!
If you enjoyed last year’s event, then you’ll love this year! We’ve moved to a larger venue and will be including dinner!
Our headliner is Martha Chaves, a Nicaraguan-Canadian comedian, actress, activist and playwright. She performs standup in English, Spanish, French and Italian. She is a regular in the comedy circuits in Canada, the United States and Latin America, at Just for Laughs and other major festivals, and on CBC Radio.
Our MC is Robert Watson, an award-winning playwright, performer, fragrance aficionado extraordinaire, and producer and host of Gay AF.
The show will also feature trans comedian Al Val(Just For Laughs, CBC, CTV), and Tamara Shevon(SOS Comedy Show. Beijing Improv Comedy Festival, NXNE, JFL42, and the Irritable & Confused Comedy Tour).
Dinner will be from B Elegant Catering, and the event will take place at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.
This event is presented by Co-operators Insurance, and also sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company of Canada, Stantec, and Staebler Insurance. Get your tickets here!
June 1, 2023 – 7:30pm – Over the Rainbow: A Judy Garland Tribute with Ori Dagan
Join us for an intimate concert featuring Ori Dagan‘s jazz quartet. Space in this performance is very limited and it will take place in the unique basement space at 165 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1A7 (the former Budd’s department store).
Help us kick-off Pride month and support Spectrum’s programming for local 2SLGBTQIA+ people. This event is sponsored by Lindy & Chris Brown.
Spectrum has been collecting donations of 2SLGBTQIA+ books for a decade and we have some duplicates that we’d like to make available to the community! Visit us on June 3rd between 12-4pm and pay what you can for the books you’d like!
We’re grateful to be working with TWB Brewing again this year on a new beer called EQUAL. Join us for the launch event which will be a PRIDE PATIO PARTY with DJ Jason Spanks! On-site food will also be available for purchase. Everyone and anyone is welcome to join in on the fun!
Saturday June 3, 2023 – 7-8:30pm – Tri-City Improv event
We’re grateful to be the charitable partners for tonight’s Tri-City Improv event. Join us at Country Hills Community Centre (100 Rittenhouse Rd, Kitchener, ON N2E 2M9). Entry is a minimum $7 donation which will support Spectrum!
Friday June 9, 2023 7-9:30pm – Spinning Down the House
Come ride with pride at SPINCO Waterloo! They’ll be spinning to the beat with DJ M’Damn D of FIERCE! and werking it out with some of the tri-city’s best in drag: Kasha Czech, Tammy THE Brown and Baby Butcher. Stick around after the show to cool down with some drinks and to fuel up on snacks and chats with Bliss Counselling + Psychotherapy‘s sex-perts! This event is pay what you can – all proceeds will be donated to support Spectrum’s programs and services.
The tri-Pride Summer Festival will take place on Saturday June 10th in Willow River Park (Victoria Park) and we will have a table there! Stop by to pick up some free swag including pronoun pins and copies of the Rainbow Pages!
Saturday June 10, 2023 9pm-1am – Queer Night Out Pride Dance
We’re looking forward to the Queer Night Out Pride Dance which will take place at THEMUSEUM.
You’ll be able to check out EQUAL, Spectrum’s collab beer with TWB!
Wednesday June 14, 2023 – 7-8:30pm – A Celebration of 20 Years of Marriage Equality
This event will celebrate 20 years of marriage equality in Ontario. We’ll start with a short summary of the work that led to this momentous legal triumph. Most of the event will be devoted to stories from same-sex couples who took advantage of this opportunity.
Doors open at 6:30 and remarks begin at 7pm.
Thursday June 15, 2023 – 7-9pm – Trivia Night with Waterloo Brewing
We’re grateful to be working with Waterloo Brewing again this year on a new beer. Join us tonight to try it out and play some Pride month trivia with Quizmaster Steve.
Friday June 16, 2023 – Together in Pride Ride
Join us for a cycling event in Kitchener to help bring visibility to members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities for Pride Month, and attention to cycling in Kitchener for Bike Month. We’ll meet at 44 Gaukel for a 7km fun and casual ride. There will be prizes for the best pride-themed bike decorations or clothing!
Saturday June 17, 2023 1-4pm – Woolwich Pride
Spectrum will have a table at the inaugural Woolwich Pride on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Gibson Park (17 First St. W. in Elmira) from 1-4pm. This free, family-friendly event will include food, music, magic, face painting, bubbles, a bouncy castle, photo booth, braid bar, and fun activities coordinated by local sports/fitness organizations the whole family will enjoy. Local vendors and local organizations will also be participating for community access to useful services and products. You won’t want to miss it!
Sunday June 18, 2023 11am-4pm – Cowboys & Angels Cut-a-thon
Cowboys & Angels is doing a cut-a-thon with proceeds benefitting Spectrum and ACCKWA. If you’d like to book a haircut please call 519.579.9880. Walk-ins may be possible on the day depending upon capacity.
There will be drag performances by Melody Bijou, BOA, Vanity affair, Baby butcher, Miss conduct, Darcy Kace, Elixxer, Sasha Tease, and Miss Drew. There will also be Pit Crew members from Canada’s Drag Race, a BBQ, raffles, and more!
June 20, 2023 – 6:45-9pm – Speed Friending
Want to make some friends in a fun, casual outdoor setting? Come on downtown to our Speed Friending event, located on the glorious patio space of Cafe Pyrus!
Just like in speed dating, Speed Friending participants will rotate through multiple one-on-one conversations with each other throughout the evening, and then choose who they do and don’t want to keep in touch with! After the event, mutual matches will be sent each other’s contact information. Unlike speed dating, Speed Friending is about building platonic connections! It’s a great way to make some new friends and enjoy some #DTK vibes!
Saturday June 24, 2023 1-4pm – Robin’s Nest Revisited
The Robin’s Nest was a lesbian bar in Cambridge for 30+ years. Chris Vautour is making a documentary celebrating its history, focusing on the importance of lesbian spaces at a time when there was little visibility or representation in mainstream culture. Join us for an event at the site of The Robin’s Nest (26 Hobson Street) where we’ll ask those who remember the spot to share their stories with younger folks. At 4pm, those who are interested can head over to the Old Galt Bottle Company for an after party. Find all the details here.
Thursday June 29, 2023 6-9:30pm – Second Annual Fundraising Gala
Our second annual fundraising gala will take place on June 29, 2023! Get your tickets here!
Our headliner is Martha Chaves, our MC is Robert Watson, and the show will also feature trans comedian Al Val, and Tamara Shevon.
Dinner will be from B Elegant Catering, and the event will take place at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.
This event is presented by Co-operators Insurance, and also sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company of Canada, Stantec, and Staebler Insurance. Get your tickets here!
You can bid in our online silent auction whether you attend the gala or not! Check it out here.
We grieve with the loved ones of the people who were murdered at Club Q this weekend and wish speedy healing to those who were injured.
These tragic events are just the latest in a long line of examples demonstrating that normalizing hate speech has deadly consequences for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The few spaces that 2SLGBTQIA+ people are able to create for ourselves should be safe places for us celebrate and support one another. This should have been especially true on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to memorialize transgender people whose lives have been lost to violence.
The trauma of every homophobic comment, transphobic attack on the rights of trans and non-binary people, and act of queerphobic violence makes our lives much more difficult but we will not be silenced. Canada – and Waterloo Region – are not immune to this kind of violence. Our governments and leaders must be held accountable for allowing increasing incidents of hate speech and hate crimes to endanger 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
The fight for the rights and safety of 2SLGBTQIA+ people is not over. We have always been here and will continue to fight until we can all live safely as our authentic selves.
SPECTRUM worked with the OK2BME team at KW Counselling Services to create a questionnaire on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues for all of the candidates in the Waterloo Region municipal election. The questionnaire was sent on September 21, 2022 by email to all of the candidates for whom we could find email addresses. A post was made on social media the same day inviting any candidates who had not received the survey to reach out to us for the link. If you are a candidate and did not receive the link but would like to complete the questionnaire please email us at info@ourspectrum.com.
Thank you to the candidates who took the time to complete the questionnaire. Below are the responses we have received to the questionnaire. We will add responses here as we receive them. Before being published, we confirmed with the candidates that the answers accurately reflect what they want shared with the community.
Breweries and Beer aren’t the only things we celebrate in October!! We celebrate our pride this October, and what better way to do so than with night of extraordinary talent and amazing music!!! We’ve pulled out all the stops this fall with some amazing Drag Performers and a DJ of epic proportions!!!
With Headliners:
Icesis Couture, The Winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 2!
Jaida Essence Hall, The Winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 and From All Stars 7!
Jorgeous, From RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14!
With our local performers:
Karma Kameleon, Charlize Angel, Annetique Doll, MissConduct, UltraViolet, Elixxirr, Chimaera, Ella Mint, Kamilla Kameleon, Diana Dolce, Molly Kewl, Brattery Acid, George Swooney, Flex, and Phoenix Black!!!
Get your tickets now before they’re all gone and dance the night away with amazing music and STUNNING DRAG PERFORMERS!!
This is a 19+ event at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, from 8pm-1am. Drag show from 9pm-11pm, dance from 11pm-1am.
Tickets include entry to the festival and a pretzel provided by Harvest Grain.
