1S S18A1LClC LAn

2014-2016
ln18CuuC1lCn

!anuary 2014

lL ls wlLh greaL prlde and pleasure LhaL Lhe 1S 8oard of ulrecLors presenLs you wlLh Lhls sLraLeglc plan.

ln Lhe pasL year, 1S volunLeers, sLaff, Lhe 8oard of ulrecLors, and Lhe LxecuLlve ulrecLor have all worked
dlllgenLly Lo meeL Lhe needs of our communlLy. We proudly look forward Lo our upcomlng 30
Lh

annlversary hlghllghLed by Lhe evoluLlon of programs and culLure of Lhe organlzaLlon.

Whlle 1S has been evolvlng as an agency, so Loo has Lhe Cueer landscape ln CLLawa. 8eflecLlon on our
purpose and values has always framed our sLraLeglc plannlng process and we have conLlnued LhaL
LradlLlon as Lhe lnsplraLlon for Lhls plan.

1hrough a communlLy-wlde consulLaLlon commenclng ln Lhe beglnnlng of March 2013, we engaged wlLh
our prlmary sLakeholder groups. WlLh Lhelr feedback and guldance, we have developed Lhls Lhree-year
sLraLeglc plan, wlLh a focus on capaclLy bulldlng, communlLy engagemenL, and lncreased developmenL of
servlces.

A furLher lnLenLlon of Lhls plannlng process was Lo reflecL upon our exlsLlng mlsslon, vlslon, and values.
WlLh dlrecLlon from sLakeholders, our guldlng prlnclples have been reflned, expanded and lmproved.

As we conLlnue Lo bulld supporL for an ever dlverslfylng communlLy, we recognlze Lhe words we use are
noL always recelved ln Lhe empowerlng and supporLlve way Lhey are lnLended. We wlll Lherefore sLrlve Lo
engage speclflc segmenLs of our communlLy uslng language LhaL ls afflrmaLlve for who Lhey are, Lhelr
experlences and hlsLory whlle uLlllzlng umbrella Lermlnology whenever posslble.

Cur sLraLeglc plannlng process also ldenLlfled many new and exclLlng opporLunlLles for 1S. Many
sLakeholders lndlcaLed a need for 1S Lo focus lLs efforLs on provldlng up-Lo-daLe resources and
communlLy lnformaLlon, provldlng a hlgh quallLy meeLlng space for communlLy groups, and champlonlng
Lhe well-belng of all Cueer people. 1he mosL frequenLly clLed needs emphaslzed supporLlng Lhe Lrans
communlLy, senlors, and Lhe youLh ln our communlLy. CLher areas of focus lncluded lmprovlng servlces Lo
people of colour, rural communlLy members and Cueer parenLs.

1hrough Lhls plan, 1S seeks Lo conLlnue provldlng Lhe essenLlal servlces LhaL our communlLy has come Lo
expecL, and Lo add Lo Lhose, new servlces Lo conLlnue meeLlng communlLy needs and prlorlLles. WlLhln
Lhe nexL Lhree years, we wlll work Loward our vlslon of empowerlng our vlbranL and dlverse communlLy.

Cu8 MlSSlCn

As a cenLre for CLLawa's Cueer communlLy, 1S serves a vlbranL, dlverse and evolvlng populaLlon and
communlLy Lhrough supporL, educaLlon and advocacy servlces. We sLrlve ln our work Lo empower all
Cueer people ln CLLawa and surroundlng areas, and Lo promoLe Lhelr healLh and well-belng





1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -1-
Cu8 vlSlCn

We are a champlon for soclal change and soclal [usLlce, embraclng our communlLy's pasL whlle worklng
Lowards a brlghL fuLure for all. 1hrough our commlLmenL Lo communlLy developmenL and celebraLlng
dlverslLy, 1S provldes meanlngful supporL servlces, acLlvely educaLes ln Lhe greaLer CLLawa area abouL
Cueer lssues, and advocaLes for falr and equal rlghLs for everyone.

1S ln 1P8LL ?LA8S

ln Lhree years 1S wlll conLlnue Lo be a communlLy leader by worklng Lowards Lhe followlng goals:

We wlll expand our volunLeer capaclLy of dedlcaLed persons, acLlve ln 1S and worklng wlLhln Lhe
agency Lo dellver Lhe servlces needed ln our communlLy.
We wlll place a focus on dlverslfylng our revenue sLreams Lo meeL Lhe growlng needs of our
communlLy.
1S needs dedlcaLed, sLeady hands aL Lhe helm, wlLh LhaL ln mlnd, we wlll work Lowards
employlng addlLlonal sLaff Lo address Lhe needs of volunLeer and program managemenL, evenL
and fundralslng coordlnaLlon, and ln-house communlLy counsellng. WlLh addlLlonal sLaff
dedlcaLed Lo dellverlng 1S servlces and admlnlsLerlng agency resources, Llme, and efforL, 1S
wlll be able Lo exLend lLs energy lnLo Lhe communlLy and address Lhe prlorlLles Lhe communlLy
has seL forLh.
LducaLlon ls a vlLal parL of Lhe work 1S does. As such, we wlll solldlfy 1S's repuLaLlon as Lhe
recognlzed cenLre for accesslng Cueer resources and communlLy lnformaLlon, and enhance our
own capaclLles ln belng LhaL cenLre.
Advocacy plays a plvoLal role ln our communlLy's growLh, hlsLory, and developmenL. 1S wlll
esLabllsh lLself as a pre-emlnenL commenLaLor on Cueer lssues ln publlc llfe, Lhe medla, and Lhe
communlLy.

Cu8 vALuLS

We str|ve to create and ma|nta|n a pos|t|ve and empower|ng atmosphere
1he naLure of whaL we do ls lnherenLly supporLlve of people, Lhe space we creaLe as a communlLy aL 1S
ls one where boLh communlcaLlon and acLlon bear ln mlnd Lhe need for a sLrong and cooperaLlve splrlL. 8y
helplng Lo empower people Lhrough Lhelr unlque sLrengLhs and by promoLlng a poslLlve aLLlLude, we hope
Lo help each and every person comlng Lhrough our doors along Lhelr personal [ourney.

We a|m to prov|de serv|ces that are |nc|us|ve, and to be an approachab|e source for support
Cur feellngs abouL servlng cllenLs ls LhaL everyone who comes Lo us for help deserves Lo geL LhaL help.
1hrough our Lralnlng, our open mlnds, and our dlverse group of sLaff and volunLeers, we provlde supporL
Lo all who come Lo us, regardless of who Lhey are or where Lhey're from.

We recogn|ze and support persons str|v|ng to overcome |ntersect|ng oppress|ons
All people are mulLl-faceLed, and many suffer oppresslon from several angles. We aL 1S seek Lo challenge
Lhe causes of oppresslon and helplng people ln Lhelr sLruggles wlLh Lhese dlsparlLles. We rooL our servlces
ln Lhe ldea of sLrengLh Lhrough dlverslLy. WhaLever Lhe lnLersecLlons of oppresslon - Lhe crosslng of
mulLlple facLors causlng people's marglnallzaLlon - we sLrlve Lo remedy Lhe causes and serve Lhe people
affecLed.

We support peop|e's des|res to educate themse|ves and others
knowledge ls power, and we supporL people's deslre Lo empower Lhemselves, as well, we encourage and
supporL Lhem ln sharlng whaL Lhey've learned Lo help oLhers.




1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -2-
We exemp||fy a [udgment-face-free zone at 1S
We acknowledge LhaL personal [udgmenL ls a parL of Lhe human condlLlon, we provlde a communlLy space
where LhaL [udgmenL wlll noL affecL Lhe way people are LreaLed, looked-upon, or served. We supporL
people ln keeplng Lhelr personal [udgmenL personal.

We are sex-pos|t|ve, and support a|| peop|e |n exp|or|ng and express|ng the|r sexua||t|es
SexuallLy ls anoLher parL of Lhe human condlLlon, and we supporL all people who sLrlve Lo flnd healLhy,
pleasurable ouLleLs for Lhelr sexuallLy. We acLlvely promoLe safer sexuallLy and belng lnformed Lo make
cholces, and we encourage any person uncerLaln abouL any faceL of sex and sexuallLy Lo ask quesLlons and
seek answers.

Cu8 C8lClnS

ln !anuary of 1984, Lhe Cays of CLLawa (CC), an organlzaLlon worklng Lowards equal rlghLs and falr
LreaLmenL for CLLawa's gay and lesblan communlLy, had reached a plvoLal polnL. CC's prlmary focus had
become pollLlcal acLlvlsm, advocacy and acLlon, lLs charlLable acLlvlLles, servlng Lhe communlLy lL
represenLed, had Laken a secondary role. 1hus, Lhe dlrecLors of CC esLabllshed an organlzaLlon wlLh
charlLable goals, lnLended Lo serve Lhe communlLy as a servlce provlder: 1S.

1he soclal condlLlons of 1984 ln Lhe greaLer CLLawa area were such LhaL ldenLlfylng as gay or lesblan was a
soclal Laboo-and slgnlflcanLly furLher marglnallzlng Lo ldenLlfy as blsexual, Lranssexual, Lransgender, Lwo-
splrlL or queer. 1here was an evldenL need for a safe space where Lhe communlLy could flnd
opporLunlLles Lo neLwork, access resources and connecL wlLh supporLs.

ln March 1984, 1S was granLed sLaLus as a reglsLered charlLy under Lhe lncome 1ax AcL, Lhe flrsL
organlzaLlon openly servlng gays and lesblans Lo be granLed LhaL sLaLus ln Canada. 1hls allowed 1S Lo
collecL funds as a recognlzed charlLable organlzaLlon, provldlng much-needed resources, supporL llnes and
dlscusslon groups for Lhe gay and lesblan communlLy.

When 1S flrsL began, lL focused malnly on lssues relaLed Lo homosexuallLy, lLs servlces lncluded provldlng
Lhe communlLy wlLh lnformaLlon abouL counsellng as well as sponsorlng and conducLlng research. ln Lhe
Llme slnce, 1S has expanded Lo worklng wlLh people who ldenLlfy anywhere along Lhe specLra of gender
ldenLlLy, gender expresslon or sexual orlenLaLlon, advocaLlng for Lhelr needs and almlng Lo brlng LogeLher
Lhe Cueer communlLy Lo celebraLe lLs own dlverslLy.

As we approach our 30Lh annlversary, we are evolvlng wlLh our communlLy and comlng Lo a new
undersLandlng of ourselves and our growlng dlverslLy. Whlle we embrace our communlLy's hlsLory, we are
movlng forward LogeLher, as a Cueer communlLy, Lo Lransform socleLal bellefs and pracLlces ln order Lo
llberaLe our llves.











1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -3-
SuMMA8? Cl
S18A1LClC 8lC8l1lLS

1
!"#$"%& ()*+ ,-.& $/ 0#&
%&"0,& 1" 200$3$ 4-, 56&&,
,&/-6,%&/7 %-886"109
1"4-,8$01-" $": /6;;-,0<

8ulldlng upon Lhe achlevemenLs of Lhe 2010-2012 plan,
1S wlll conLlnue Lo bulld upon lLs quallLy servlces for Lhe
Cueer communlLy. Cur sLakeholders have shown greaL
lnLeresL ln a communlLy based healLh cllnlc, communlLy
klLchen/food securlLy for queer people, queer lmmlgranL
seLLlemenL servlces and supporL servlces for rural
communlLy members.

ln addlLlon Lo Lhe under-servlced populaLlons prevlously
ldenLlfled (women, Lranssexual, Lransgender and
genderqueer people, youLh), programmlng wlll be creaLed
for: Senlors, Cueer arenLs, Cueer ersons of Colour.

We see all around us whaL happens when youLh and
senlors lose conLacL wlLh each oLher. As queer people, we
are even more vulnerable Lo Lhe negaLlve effecLs of Lhls
separaLlon. As communlLy cannoL be bullL wlLhouL youLh
and senlors LogeLher, 1S wlll develop all-ages/lnLegraLed
programmlng.

We recognlze LhaL Lhe Lerm queer can be barrler for some
senlors and communlLy members. lor LhaL reason, when
communlcaLlng wlLh Lhem dlrecLly, we wlll use alLernaLe
language such as CL811C".


2
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?1/1@1.109 1"101$01?&/7
%-886"109 &">$>&8&"0
$": 1"%,&$/&:
;$,01%1;$01-" 1" %-886"109
&?&"0/<

1S knows Lhe lmporLance of worklng wlLh communlLy
parLners and wlll conLlnue Lo ensure represenLaLlon on
communlLy neLworks, lnfo falrs, and evenLs boLh ln Lhe
Cueer communlLy and ln Lhe larger CLLawa communlLy
where Lhe lnLeresLs of Cueer people need Lo be
represenLed.

We wlll enhance lLs relaLlonshlps wlLh fellow servlce
provlders and wlLh pollLlcal represenLaLlves Lhrough our
educaLlon program by offerlng dlverslLy workshops and
consulLaLlons. Cur educaLlonal servlce has proven Lo be a
greaL Lool for formlng lasLlng relaLlonshlps wlLh oLher
organlzaLlons and lndlvlduals ln Lhe greaLer CLLawa area.

As a new exLenslon Lo our educaLlon programs, 1S wlll
seek Lo esLabllsh an accredlLaLlon program Lo creaLe a
sLandard for culLurally approprlaLe servlces avallable Lo
Cueer people.

uslng LradlLlonal and unorLhodox medlums, we wlll
enhance Lhe vlslblllLy of Lhe agency Lhrough a mlxLure of
new medla (onllne presence), convenLlonal publlclLy
(flags/slgns), and Lrled-and-Lrue grassrooLs lnlLlaLlves.

1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -4-



3
=-"01"6& %$;$%109 @61.:1">
0#,-6># 18;,-?&:
?-.6"0&&, &">$>&8&"07
,&0&"01-" $":
$;;,&%1$01-"<

1S wlll enhance lLs volunLeer core whlle keeplng Lhe
enLlre volunLeer body acLlve and growlng. 8y recognlzlng
Lhe need for engagemenL and appreclaLlon Lo volunLeers,
and commlLLlng Lo an effecLlve and meanlngful volunLeer
appreclaLlon lnlLlaLlve, 1S alms Lo be recognlzed as a
leader ln volunLeer saLlsfacLlon and reLenLlon by bodles
llke volunLeer CLLawa.


4
!"#$"%& 0#& 56$.109 -4
/;$%& $0 ()* 0- /6;;-,0
-6, >,-31"> ;,->,$8/

We consLanLly seek Lo lmprove Lhe level of servlces we
dellver Lo Lhe Cueer communlLy. 1S wlll conLlnue Lo
lmprove Lhe quallLy of meeLlng rooms and casual areas
Lhrough leasehold lmprovemenLs. WlLh Lhe lmprovemenL ln
space wlll come conLlnued enhancemenLs ln compuLer
Lechnology and lnLerneL access, boLh for cllenLs and for
volunLeers.


3
Cont|nue to d|vers|fy
revenue streams earmarked
for genera| (core) funds.


8y revlLallzlng and dlverslfylng our revenue sLraLegles, 1S
wlll offseL Lhe cosL of programmlng and lncrease core
revenue, whlle aL Lhe same Llme lmplemenLlng a value-
added membershlp program Lo encourage greaLer
lnvolvemenL and engagemenL from Lhe communlLy wlLh
1S.

We wlll conLlnue Lo parLner wlLh oLher servlce provlders ln
selecL fundralslng evenLs/campalgns, and lLs resource
dlrecLory wlll conLlnue Lo provlde a servlce for buslnesses
and communlLy groups lnLeresLed ln lncreaslng Lhelr
vlslblllLy.

1S has much experlence fundralslng wlLh and for Cueer
people, buL lL has more Lo learn and experlence Lo share.
1S wlll [oln lmaglne Canada (a naLlonal charlLable
organlzaLlon whose cause ls Canada's charlLles and
nonproflLs") Lo learn and Lo share.



6
Improve the corporate
cu|ture at 1S to create a
more cohes|ve re|at|onsh|p
between our va|ues and
our govern|ng documents

A sLrong organlzaLlon ls one wlLh a coheslve relaLlonshlp
beLween lLs bylaws, mandaLe, values and pollcles. 1S wlll
reflecL on lLs pollcles and culLure and sLrlve Lo balance Lhe
organlzaLlon wlLh our values.

We wlll flnd balance wlLh our values by expandlng upon Lhe
languages we use Lo dellver servlces, by pursulng a legal
name change and updaLe our leLLers paLenL (legal
reglsLraLlon wlLh lndusLry Canada) Lo reflecL our currenL
values, pracLlces and pollLlcs and honour our 30 year
evoluLlon.




1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -3-
S18A1LClC 8lC8l1?#1

!"#$"%& ()*+ ,-.& $/ 0#& %&"0,& 1" 200$3$ 4-, 56&&, ,&/-6,%&/7 %-886"109 1"4-,8$01-" $": /6;;-,0<

AcLlons
CbLaln PealLh Servlce CrganlzaLlon deslgnaLlon Lo furLher our mandaLe ln provldlng
healLh and wellness Lo Lhe Cueer communlLy.
ConnecL wlLh lmmlgranL and newcomer organlzaLlons and communlLy members Lo
gulde Lhe developmenL of lmmlgraLlon/seLLlemenL servlces whlch mlghL lnclude
language Lralnlng servlces.
uevelop creaLlve and cosL-effecLlve programmlng Lo engage wlLh rural communlLy
members
uevelop a Cueer parenLlng/daycare program
lnLroduce a fully funcLlonal klLchen Lo supporL a communlLy-based food securlLy
program.
-lmprove onllne presence by updaLlng our webslLe and maxlmlzlng SLC (search
englne opLlmlzaLlon) Lhrough a scan and updaLe of organlzaLlons/resources llsLlng
1S
-uevelop servlces LhaL are supporLlve and empowerlng Lo Lhe senlor CL811C
communlLy ln CLLawa
-Lnhance Lhe quallLy of our resource dlrecLory and communlLy calendar

S18A1LClC 8lC8l1?#2

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1"%,&$/&: ;$,01%1;$01-" 1" %-886"109 &?&"0/<

AcLlons
-esLabllsh a volunLeer group Lo ensure 1S ls presenL aL communlLy neLwork
meeLlngs, communlLy evenLs/lnfo falrs
-develop an lnLegraLed awareness campalgn uslng LradlLlonal adverLlslng medlums,
vlral markeLlng and grassrooLs lnlLlaLlves (parllamenL klss-ln, flash mob, eLc.)
-esLabllsh sLreeL level vlslblllLy wlLh flags and/or slgns
-malnLaln and lmprove our dlverslLy workshops and consulLaLlon program
-develop an accredlLaLlon program Lo enhance our dlverslLy Lralnlng
-sLraLeglcally represenL 1S aL meeLlngs and evenLs/lnfo falrs for Lhe CLLawa
communlLy aL large

S18A1LClC 8lC8l1?#3

=-"01"6& %$;$%109 @61.:1"> 0#,-6># 18;,-?&: ?-.6"0&&, &">$>&8&"07 ,&0&"01-" $": $;;,&%1$01-"<

1lmellne AcLlons
-enhance Lhe lnfrasLrucLure needed Lo supporL a large volunLeer corps (200-230
acLlve volunLeers)
-lmplemenL a volunLeer appreclaLlon program Lo lnclude regular soclal opporLunlLles
for volunLeer mlngllng, a formal volunLeer appreclaLlon parLy and volunLeer of Lhe
monLh
-lmprove volunLeer Lralnlng on Lhe lnLersecLlng oppresslons and soclal [usLlce
-become recognlzed as a leader ln volunLeer saLlsfacLlon by volunLeer CLLawa and
oLher slmllar bodles

1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -6-
S18A1LClC 8lC8l1?#4

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;,->,$881"> $/ "&&:&:<

AcLlons
-lmprove quallLy of compuLer Lechnology and access Lo lnLerneL for cllenLs and
volunLeers
-lmprove quallLy of meeLlng/lounge space Lhrough leasehold lmprovemenLs

S18A1LClC 8lC8l1?#3

Cont|nue to d|vers|fy revenue streams earmarked for genera| (core) funds.

AcLlons
-pursue corporaLe sponsorshlps
-esLabllsh a corporaLe sponsorshlp package
-lmplemenL a hlghly valued membershlp program
-conLacL communlLy buslnesses for lnvolvemenL ln addlng value Lo 1S membershlp
(l.e., 1S members recelve a dlscounL for producL/servlce purchase)
-develop and parLlclpaLe ln parLnershlp fundralslng evenLs

S18A1LClC 8lC8l1?#6

Improve the corporate cu|ture at 1S to create a more cohes|ve re|at|onsh|p between our va|ues and
our govern|ng documents

AcLlons
-consulL wlLh Lhe CLLawa Cueer communlLy Lo conslder posslble changes Lo Lhe legal
name of Lhe organlzaLlon
-updaLe leLLers paLenL Lo beLLer reflecL Lhe currenL language of Lhe organlzaLlon
-lmplemenL programmlng LhaL lncludes oLher languages

1S SLraLeglc lan - 2014-2016 -7-