SPECTRUM News

SPECTRUM and KW Counselling Services partner to provide counselling to LGBTQ2+ people.

SPECTRUM and KW Counselling Services partner to provide counselling to LGBTQ2+ people.

June 1, 2020
Waterloo Region, Ontario

SPECTRUM and KW Counselling Services partner to provide counselling to LGBTQ2+ people.

SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space, and KW Counselling Services, have partnered to provide no cost and subsidized counselling to members of the LGBTQ2+ community. SPECTRUM has started the Chrysalis Fund in memory of a member of their Board of Directors who died by suicide. Monies from the Chrysalis Fund will be used to provide counselling services through the OK2BME program at KW Counselling Services.

Since 2005, the OK2BME program at KW Counselling Services has provided counselling services to LGBTQ2+ people, leadership and recreation youth groups, and public education and consultations on LGBTQ2+ issues. “We’re very grateful to SPECTRUM for recognizing the importance of accessible mental health services,” says Rebecca Webb, Executive Director. “LGBTQ2+ people have some unique stressors that can make them especially vulnerable to mental health challenges. We’re proud of the work we do through OK2BME.”

Cait Glasson, President of SPECTRUM notes “The Chrysalis Fund is very important to our board members. Early this year, we lost a member to suicide and we want to ensure that transgender and gender non-binary folks have access to the counselling they need.”

LGBTQ2+ people will be able to refer themselves to the program by calling KW Counselling Services at 519.884.0000. “The service will be offered on a sliding scale,” says Washington Silk, OK2BME Program Coordinator. “Those who are able to pay something will be asked to do so. The Chrysalis Fund will cover the rest of the cost. No one will be turned away based on an inability to pay. The Chrysalis Fund will cover the entire cost where necessary.”

“We were able to start the Chrysalis Fund with a grant from the 100 Men who Give a Damn,” says Glasson. “We’re very grateful for their support and we will be looking to the community to help us continue this work. People can make contributions at ourspectrum.com.”

About SPECTRUM: SPECTRUM is Waterloo Region’s first-ever LGBTQ2+ / Rainbow community space! Since opening our doors in 2012, SPECTRUM has developed into an organization with programming, social groups, special projects, research, events, and resources, plus a space where the community can connect. SPECTRUM is the centre of our rainbow community and continues to grow to support the needs of LGTBQ2+ folk across Waterloo Region.

About KW Counselling Services: KW Counselling Services is celebrating 70 years as a multi-service agency
offering counselling supports to individuals, couples, and families in Waterloo Region. In addition to our
accessible mental health services, we offer parenting education and supports through our Parenting with
Passion and Parenting Now programs; specialized services including counselling, and recreation and leadership
youth groups for LGBTQ2+ youth through our OK2BME program; community development and training
opportunities for members of multicultural communities; as well as training and placement opportunities for
graduate students in social work and related fields.

Media Contacts:
Dani Bazely, SPECTRUM, communications@ourspectrum.com
Scott Williams, KW Counselling Services, swilliams@kwcounselling.com

Read More
SPECTRUM News

SPECTRUM Waterloo Opportunity – Co-Facilitator, Transgender Peer Support Group

SPECTRUM Waterloo Opportunity – Co-Facilitator, Transgender Peer Support Group

Job Posting_ Trans Peer Support Co-Facilitators (Cambridge)

Trans Peer Support Group Facilitator Recruitment Poster

Job Posting

Co-Facilitator, Transgender Peer Support Group (Cambridge) x2

Part-time, Contract

SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space

Posting Date: June 1, 2021

Closing Date: June 20, 2021

Thanks to a grant from the Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Foundation, SPECTRUM is able to fund two co-facilitators to run a Transgender Peer Support Group specifically for Cambridge. This will be a pilot project for one year with the goal of developing this into an ongoing service. These two positions will not be employees but will be paid stipends:

$25/hour, two hours bi-weekly, 26 weeks

Pay will be by cheque, once per month on the 15th

Our new co-facilitators will shadow our existing Transgender Peer Support Group facilitators for two meetings in July before beginning the new group. Our Transgender Services Coordinator will oversee this project. The new Cambridge group will begin in late July.

Reporting to our Acting Executive Director and our Transgender Services Coordinator, the two co-facilitators will work together to facilitate a two-hour group every second week. Initially, this will take place virtually using Zoom. When it is safe to do so, we will move to an in-person location in Cambridge. This group will be a resource for anyone age 18+ that identifies within the transgender variant umbrella, including but not limited to: transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, gender fluid, non-binary, genderless, agender, non-gendered, third gender, two-spirit, bigender, transman, transwoman, neutrois, questioning and beyond.

Qualifications:

  • Must be 25 years of age or older
  • Must be able to commit to working the same evening every two weeks (proposed Tuesdays and Fridays to integrate better with our existing offerings)
  • Must have access to reliable high-speed internet and a private place to work from
  • Must have access to reliable transportation within Cambridge
  • Must identify as transgender or non-binary
  • Preference will be given to applicants who live in Cambridge or North Dumfries
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Experience facilitating groups

To apply:

Submit a resume and cover letter via email by the end of the day, June 20, 2021

info@ourspectrum.com

Read More
SPECTRUM News

Covid-19 Pandemic Closure

Until further notice SPECTRUM facilities will remain closed. All SPECTRUM programs are online with the exception of the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon drop in, the Non-Binary Transgender Meetings and the Sunday Restaurant Outings which are temporarily suspended.

Read More
SPECTRUM News

A place for the maturing rainbow community

A place for the maturing rainbow community

SPECTRUM Prime is a social and discussion group for older LGBTQ-identified adults.

Our Goal is to reduce isolation among older adults in the local LGBTQ community, and to create a supportive community for ourselves as we age.

Our Activities -Twice a month we gather at SPECTRUM for socializing and discussion.  We also go on social outings.  In the future we plan to invite speakers on topics of interest to us, and also arrange inter-generational gatherings where we might tell younger folks our stories and hear theirs as well.

Read More
SPECTRUM News

A Group for Older LGBTQ Adults

We see things differently as we age. Priorities shift. Social circles change.

Please join us for the organizational meeting of a discussion and social group for older adults – July 6, Wednesday at 7 PM at SPECTRUM (283 Duke St W, Unit 210, Kitchener). Our plan is to meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings of the month.

And if you’re concerned about whether the group is a fit for you, then try it out to see. We’re not checking birth certificates at the door. 

Our first order of business will be choosing a suitable name for our group. This may be a bit tricky, because we live in such a youth-obsessed culture that many older adults cannot bear to think of themselves in terms like “old” – “older” – “senior” – “aging” – “grey” – “elder” – “vintage” — many of which are used in program names at other community centres in North America. We need a term that suggests “older” and we may also want a term that suggests LGBTQ. So put on your thinking caps when you join us on July 6.

In addition, we will do some thinking about what kinds of discussions and activities we might like to have.

We hope that this will be a step in the direction of creating a community support for us as we age.

Read More