This April, the TDSB hosted its annual EnVision Conference for 2024.
The three-day conference had 577 elementary (Grades 6-8) and 545 secondary (Grades 9-12) TDSB students come together to honour and celebrate 2SLGBTQIAP+ communities; as well as to discuss issues being faced across Ontario in regards to homophobia and transphobia.
This year’s conference theme, Queer Futurisms: Centering Trans Kids and Affirming the Intersecting Identities of Indigenous, Black, Racialized and Marginalized 2SLGBTQIAP+ Communities, was uplifted by phenomenal Keynote Presenters: Shanese Anne Indoowaaboo Steele, Ravyn Ariah Wngz and members of the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance.
Shanese Anne Indoowaaboo Steele is a dedicated advocate and change maker who is unwavering in her support for 2SLGBTQIAP+ individuals. As a person of both Metis, Black Trinidadian and Carriacou heritage, she brings a unique and intersectional perspective to her work in fostering unity in diversity.
Ravyn Ariah Wngz is an Afro-Indigenous, 2Spirit, Queer and Transcendent multidisciplinary art maker and empowerment storyteller. As Co-Founder and Board Director of Black Lives Matter Canada, her work is rooted in abolition and expressed through movement theatre, political education, cultural research, DEI consultancy, and disability justice.
Back by popular demand, the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance (TKBA) was on deck to keep the positivity and affirmation of identities amplified in our opening ceremony. TKBA young performers, who themselves have gained self-confidence through ballroom arts, got on stage to express themselves and inspire audiences
In their own way, each keynote presenter shared coming of age stories, ways to grow self-love in spite of societal harms and spotlighted the importance of having affirming adults in 2SLGBTQIAP+ students’ lives.
Centrally Assigned Vice-Principal, Robert Durocher and Principal Jamea Zuberi opened the conference with a Land Acknowledgement, African Ancestral Acknowledgement and Libations. Conference participants were greeted on behalf of the Board by Vice-Chair Neethan Shan and School Trustees Shelley Laskin and Debbie King, Associate Director Audley Salmon, and Superintendent Karen Murray, System Superintendent of Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression.
All three days featured workshops about varying 2SLGBTQIAP+ topics for students, including affirming intersecting identities, uplifting Indigiqueer perspectives, organizing peer supports, addressing tokenism and encouraging engagement during April’s Latin-America History Month and in the months to follow. Several sessions included fun activities such as visual arts, dance and printmaking.
Feedback from those in attendance revealed that the conference was a tremendous success. Our deepest gratitude is expressed to all the workshop hosts, presenters, and staff involved in planning, organizing, and supporting the incredible students who attended EnVision 2024.