On Thursday, August 17, more than 50 people were at GenNext East Ontario’s Mix & Mingle: Say it Proud to kick off the start of Pride Week in Ottawa with their event partner, Capital Pride.
Attendees enjoyed an evening of music sung by Larissa Desrosiers, creating new connections, and a captivating Q&A around the need to act now and speak out in support of 2SLGBTQ+ rights.
What one person didn’t know was that they would become the next recipient of United Way East Ontario’s Community Builder Award. Capital Pride’s very own Executive Director, Toby Whitfield, helped us surprise our recipient by joining them on stage.
United Way believes that everyone in Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County, and Renfrew County deserves the chance to be heard, included, supported, and celebrated for who they are. We stand with and celebrate diverse 2SLGBTQ+ communities all year round, and we know we’re better off when we come together to affirm everyone’s experiences and identities.
Meet our latest community builder:
Fae Johnstone
Fae Johnstone. Photo provided.
Fae is a trailblazing author and community leader who’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her volunteering and advocacy work. Since she was 16 years old, she’s been a champion of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, both locally and nationally. Her tenacious efforts stem from her passion for advancing systemic change for the queer and trans communities, all guided by her own lived experiences of harassment, oppression, and violence.
Fae’s volunteerism and advocacy go beyond her 9–5 job as Executive Director and co-owner of Wisdom 2 Action and as President of Momentum. She’s served on various boards like LGBT Youth Line, Youth Mental Health, and Kind Space, to name a few. Fae helped these organizations grow their impact and advance their respective missions.
She has seen firsthand how harassment and violence affect the 2SLGBTQ+ communities from working in the youth mental health and sexual and reproductive health and rights sectors. When hate and harassment toward the queer and trans communities started increasing significantly in 2019, Fae organized a 2SLGBTQ+ self-defence course. When issues arise in our region, whether around social and gender justice for the 2SLGBTQ+ communities or the health and safety of all communities, Fae is there, leading the march with her voice.
Fae has been a key leader in creating networks that support queer and trans communities in Ottawa and across Canada. She contributed to the founding of Trans Health Ottawa, a trans-led organization committed to improving trans health programs and care in Ottawa. She was also one of the co-founders of Ottawa Trans Fest. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2SLGBTQ+ communities lost many of their spaces and events, leaving queer and trans people without easy access to support. Many trans folks felt isolated, all while anti-trans hate continued to rise. Fae and her friend decided two weeks before Ottawa’s Pride festivities to organize Trans Fest 2020. Within one week, Fae had fundraised, secured partnerships, and set up a crowdfunding campaign covering the costs of everything. At the end of that week, Fae had coordinated a full-fledged mini-festival with more than a dozen events that reached hundreds of people across our region.
She has been a predominant voice and contributor to political advocacy and discourse on 2SLGBTQ+ rights. Fae has worked to put and keep queer and trans issues on every level of government’s agenda, ensuring the issues are heard and not falling through the cracks. Whether leading protests to address slut-shaming or fighting for transgender rights at Parliament, Fae wears her heart on her sleeve to provide 2SLGBTQ+ people with the support and rights they deserve.
Fae is an extraordinary example of a Community Builder; in a time when hate is escalating, Fae dedicates countless hours to 2SLGBTQ+ people’s wellbeing, to create a safer and brighter Ottawa, Ontario, and Canada for all people.
Do you know a volunteer who has gone above and beyond to support their community? Our Community Builder Awards program accepts nominations year-round! Nominate a Community Builder today.
