Pride Across Generations - Panel Discussion
Date & Time: Sunday, December 8th
Doors open at: 6 PM
Panel Discussion: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Q&A: 8:00 - 8:30 PM
Presented by: Canmore Pride
Funding/support from: Banff Canmore Foundation, artsPlace
Location: artsPlace (theatre room) 950 8 Ave, Canmore, AB T1W 2T1
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ouS5gu39Zp5XQCzc6
———
What to expect:
Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation exploring the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ people across different generations, featuring voices from Canmore and the surrounding area. This intergenerational panel will bring together individuals from various age groups to share personal stories, insights, and reflections on what Pride has meant to them throughout their lives.
Through this discussion, we’ll delve into how the challenges, triumphs, and expressions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community have evolved over time, with a focus on the unique perspectives shaped by living in rural areas. From the early days of activism to the ongoing fight for inclusion and visibility, this panel celebrates the diverse experiences that make up our Pride community while highlighting the shared threads that connect us all.
Come celebrate the power of stories, the resilience of rural 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and the strength of Pride across generations.
Cost: By donation at door.
———
Meet the Panel:
Facilitator:
Michelle LeBlanc (she/her) has been living in the Bow Valley since December 2023, and prior to that, lived in Squamish, BC for nine years, though she was born on the other side of the country in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Her interest in aging studies began when she worked as a research assistant for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2011. In her interactions with hundreds of study participants throughout this job, she gained a strong sense of curiosity for the perspectives of lived experiences, particularly for marginalized communities. In 2018, she graduated with a Masters degree in Gerontology at SFU, focusing on Healthy Aging, and including aspects of individual resilience, self-determination, and life-course theory. The intersectionality of aging for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has always piqued her interest as she deeply understands the range of contexts which can affect important aspects of life for individuals. She is the Founder of Project Pride: a series of indoor and outdoor rock climbing events in BC and Alberta which aims to create safe spaces, develop climbing skills, and build community.
Panel Members:
Cece Chow (she/her) is an asexual Asian trans lesbian who discovered her identity later in life. A third-culture Chinese Canadian born to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, Cece grew up in a cultural framework that prioritized patriarchy and heterogeneity, which made it difficult to express her true self. It wasn’t until age 42 that she was able to come out and begin her transition, embracing her identity as a trans woman of Asian descent.
As someone who is autistic, ADHD, and living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Cece often faces challenges in accessing queer community spaces due to mobility limitations and sensory overwhelm. Additionally, navigating predominantly white queer spaces as a person of color can be isolating, compounding her sense of being "the only one." Despite these obstacles, Cece is deeply committed to creating positive representation for Asian trans individuals. She aims to show that it’s possible to live and love authentically later in life, offering hope to both the next generation and those who grew up feeling unseen.
—
Venessa Robinson (she/her) is a 67-year-old trans woman who began her transition at the age of 65. Her journey offers a unique perspective on transitioning later in life, from the challenges of dating as an older trans woman to navigating spaces where she’s often the oldest person in the room. Venessa candidly shares how her age impacts decisions about gender-affirming surgeries, particularly the difficulty of long wait times while growing older. Despite these challenges, she celebrates the profound joy of living authentically after decades of hiding her true self.
Through her experiences with HRT, Venessa reflects on what it feels like to go through a second puberty in her 60s and how she is learning to relate to other women as a woman. She also explores her journey into lesbian culture and the exhilaration of milestones she never thought she’d experience, like attending a prom as herself at age 67. Venessa’s story is one of resilience, liberation, and the power of embracing who you are at any stage of life.
—
Noah (he/him) is a white settler trans man who has lived seasonally in the Bow Valley since 2020. Alongside his own lived experiences, he has also worked extensively with mental health, 2SLGBTQIA+ and disability non profits. These experiences and his background in social work have made him deeply knowledgeable and passionate about the intersection of mental health, disability and queerness
—
Julie Soneff (they/she) identifies as a lesbian and grew up in Edmonton before moving to the Bow Valley in 2020. A recent high school graduate currently on a gap year, Julie was recently accepted into the University of Prince Edward Island, where they plan to major in Diversity and Social Justice Studies. They are also looking forward to traveling in the coming months.
Julie began speaking publicly about Pride a year ago, starting with a spoken word poem about their connection to the community. Most recently, they spoke at the Solidarity Walk, emphasizing the importance of safe spaces for individuals to explore and express their identities. Julie believes that having a space to feel accepted is crucial to building the confidence to come out and fully embrace who you are. Finding and helping create these spaces has given Julie the strength to live authentically and inspire others to do the same.
———
Accessibility:
There is a gender-neutral washroom available
The venue is wheelchair accessible including a wheelchair accessible washroom.
The theatre can fit up to 105 people in the audience.
There will be loud noise. Please bring your own ear plugs if needed.
There will be bright lights
The closest bus stop is Canmore 9th Street (Roam Transit) and is 200 metres from the venue.
———
Getting here:
There is a paid parking lot in front of artsPlace including limited accessible parking spots. We also encourage you to walk/bike/bus/roll to the venue if possible.
Traveling from Banff? We have free Roam Bus Passes (Canmore – Banff Regional Route 3) available upon request. Each pass is valid for one way of travel. (Limit of 2 passes per person for this event). Please email Mich at community@canmorepride.ca if you would like to request one.
———
Food/Drinks: Snacks (popcorn, chocolate bars, candy, etc.) and drinks (sodas, beer, wine, etc.) will be available for purchase from the artsPlace concession stand inside of the venue. Cash and card payment will be accepted.
———
Registration: This event is open to the public. We prioritize creating a safe space and any discrimination will not be tolerated. This is a space for learning and growing our understanding of each other.
Donations will be taken at the door (cash or card). The donations will go towards artsPlace and Canmore Pride.
Registration link to come.
———
Contact:
If you have any questions leading up to the event, please contact the Canmore Pride team directly via email at community@canmorepride.ca!
Please note, due to the volume of emails, we suggest that you get in touch with us a minimum of 48 hours prior to the event so we have time to respond to your inquiries.