Q: What sparked the creation of the Pride Club?

Pride Club is an effort to fill the community gap that exists for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) students in Oshawa. Unlike major city-based campuses, Ontario Tech lacks many locally organized safe spaces. Students who are looking to meet LGBTQ+ peers and allies can do so at our events. This encourages an atmosphere of personal development, comfort and camaraderie as students are allowed a space to explore and express their unique circumstances, orientations, and identities. The club was started this year by a group of executive members who are passionate about developing the local LGBTQ+ community and encouraging their peers to make connections and grow. 

Q: What kinds of programs does the Pride Club offer students?

Pride Space is our weekly meeting that is held on Thursday nights from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in room ERC 1056 at the north Oshawa location. It is a loosely structured drop-in discussion group where members are encouraged to interact and share. Light snacks and board games are also provided. We will also be having a holiday party and community outreach tabling sessions, where students can donate non-perishable goods and write letters of support for at-risk youth. 

Featured in this image in a snapshot of students painting at the Pride Club's first paint and games mixer that was held for first-year students during the 2019/2020 Ontario Tech U Orientation.

How can students get involved in the Pride Club? 

On you're a student here, come out to our events! Spread the word on social media (Instagram: @ot_pride and Facebook: @otprideclub), and bring your friends and allies. Currently all executive positions are filled, but our events wouldn't be the same without our members. It's our community that makes Pride Space great! 

Where can students find out more information about the Pride Club's events? 

Sign up for our mailing list by sending an email to otprideclub@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook, which are updated regularly with new events and reminders. We also have a Discord Server for members who have attended a meeting so they can stay in touch. 

Is there anything else you would like readers to know about Ontario Tech's Pride Club?

Pride club is open to all LGBT, questioning or allied students. We have a strong transgender and non-binary presence in our community, and we are respectful of all members and their orientations and identities. We understand that some students are not out and wish to be discreet, so we make efforts to ensure events are private. We believe pride club is a great way for students to meet others and form meaningful connections, especially across different faculties. We are experiencing a lot of growth and interest in our first semester, and we're excited to see where pride club goes in the coming years!