2SLGBTQ+ fair showcases resources available to the queer community

Algonquin College alumni Lain Joron and Ren Heffernan returned to the college on Sept. 24 to spread the word about the Ottawa Trans Library.

“We have a special collection of books by trans authors and books for allies,” said Heffernan, now a librarian at the Trans Library.

The Ottawa Trans Library was one of five community resources showcased at the 2SLGBTQ+ Community Resource Fair held in the AC Student Commons. The Algonquin Students’ Association organized the fair to spread awareness about “community groups that provide queer support, mental health services, and social activities.”

The resources highlighted included: the AIDS Committee of Ottawa, the AC Student Health and Wellness Zone, Rideauwood Family and Addiction Services, Planned Parenthood Ottawa and the Ottawa Trans Library.

“We were reached out to by Student Support Services and we said of course we’ll come to the fair,” said Joron, now a librarian at the Trans Library.

Joron and Heffernan said they were happy to advertise their services at Algonquin College, since both of them are AC grads.

“We’re both alumni from the library tech program,” said Joron. “We were in the same class in 2019.”

At their booth, Joron and Heffernan displayed a variety of sample material from the Trans Library, including reprints of old newsletters from the Ottawa trans community.

The AIDS Committee of Ottawa’s booth displayed a huge variety of resources, such as pamphlets, contact information and business cards.

“We give support to people dealing with HIV,” said Joshua Cecil, men’s outreach coordinator of the committee. “We support them in housing, testing and medication. It’s completely free and anonymous. You just have to book an appointment through our number.”

The AC Student Health and Wellness Zone is on the third floor of the Student Commons and joined the fair on the first floor to spread awareness of their services.

“We’re just here sharing the resources we have all year round free of charge,” said Hollie Sabourin, the culturally inclusive sexual health education coordinator. “We have a substance use and mental health coordinator, as well as a general health one. We work around those topics to bring information to students about those things. We facilitate a lot of peer-led groups in our space and we do queer support drop-in groups. We’re a very gender and sex-inclusive space.”

In addition to the five central resources showcased, the fair included a spin-the-wheel draw for prizes such as candy, tote bags and pride stickers.

“They answered a lot of my questions,” said first-year pre-health sciences student Jean Euwamahorou after visiting the fair. “We are all getting some good information here.”

“I wish there were community resource fairs when I was a student,” said Joron. “It’s great that this exists.”