Lumsden played host this year, but the vision for the future is to create an overreaching Prairie Valley GSA and have the summit cycle around other communities. “There is a place for everybody, and that’s really what we’re trying to promote.” “It’s a great way to like kick-start, like, here’s what my life is going to be like within the queer community,” said Tuchscherer. Kreller and Tuchscherer are hoping that the summit will help boost interest in GSAs across the division, and encourage more students to get involved. There are a number of GSAs and gender diversity initiatives active in PVSD, said Dvernichuk, but some still have to work quietly in the background of other groups. Student Symantha Myers makes a keychain during one of the crafting sessions at the summit. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“The energy of having a bunch of people in the same room as you that all have something in common with you - words cannot describe how uplifting it is and how energizing it is,” said Kreller. “In flat, old Saskatchewan,” added Tuchscherer. “But to be in a room like this, to see there are people here.” “It’s like, yeah, you see other queer people online and stuff,” said Kreller. Small communities especially can feel isolating, said Kreller, which is why creating places where LGBTQ2S+ youth can gather and be themselves among a group of their peers is so valuable.
Organized by students, it began as a way to connect GSAs together across the division to share ideas but the networking event has quickly evolved to become a universal place where LGBTQ2S+ students gather to be who they are.įor many young LGBTQ2S+ youth, finding safe spaces to fully express themselves can be difficult, even at home or at school. Staff adviser Paula Dvernichuk said the summit has gained real traction since its inception, as students come every year to talk about growing up LGBTQ2S+ in small-town Saskatchewan.Ī volunteer tapes a sign made by students at Lumsden High School, where students from across Prairie Valley School Division gathered for the third annual Gay Straight Alliance Summit. The summit, now in its third year, brought together GSA groups from across the division to talk about creating gender and sexually diverse environments in schools to support LGBTQ+ students. “Pure chaos and excitement,” said Tuchscherer. Cas Kreller, one of the senior students in the organizing Lumsden GSA, said the energy coming in the doors Saturday was through the roof.