Backgrounder – Essie’s Place

On August 31, 2023, the Government of Canada announced $294,523 in funding to Essie’s Place, which is part of the $12.7 million 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund announced in Budget 2021.

2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund

The Projects Fund supports 2SLGBTQI+ not-for-profit organizations in developing community-informed projects that address systemic barriers faced by 2SLGBTQI+ people. The funding also supports efforts to address intersectional barriers, including those facing Indigenous, Black, racialized, and rural or remote 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Project funding details

Essie’s Place, $294,523

Improving Quality of Life of GBQ+ and Gender-Diverse Men and the Greater Community Through Learning

Through this 15-month project, Essie’s Place – a society for people with diverse genders and sexualities – will develop community-informed solutions to key barriers and gaps facing 2SLGBTQI+ communities. This will be achieved with a focus on combatting discrimination and engaging GBQ+ and gender-diverse men in the region for learning and sharing about safe sexual health practices. Essie’s Place will deliver an 11-month diversity and learning festival to community members and will offer GBQ+ and gender-diverse men opportunities to inform and build an online knowledge centre. By the end of the project, Essie’s Place – a society for people with diverse genders and sexualities – will have developed community-informed solutions to address key barriers and gaps facing 2SLGBTQI+ communities, with a focus on enhanced resources on safe sexual practices and better support for the Shuswap region and surrounding areas on diversity awareness.