Sheridan Pride Kits are Here

New Sheridan Pride initiative now available across all three campuses

We are excited to announce that our Building Positive Spaces Kits are now available for faculty to display and students to find across all Sheridan College campuses. This initiative began as an opportunity to create ongoing inclusivity, support and solidarity with the 2LGBTQIA+ community and has quickly become a colourful addition to both Sheridan and SSU spaces.

SSU Vice President of Community Development Julia Bertola’s passion for advocacy and student-focused initiatives was the driving force and inspiration behind the kits. Each year, Sheridan College kicks off Pride month with a flag-raising ceremony, and this past year, Julia wanted to create more experiences that directly impact Sheridan students’ lives.

The idea for the kits came to me when we were discussing Sheridan’s Pride flag raising at the beginning of June. Raising the flag is important, but I feel as though it doesn’t engage our student community at Sheridan very much. We also wanted pride to be visible throughout the year, and not just in June. These kits are a step in the right direction when it comes to inclusivity on campus, and while there’s still much work to be done, we wanted students to know that we prioritize their right to feel safe and included on campus.
- Julia Bertola, Sheridan Student Union VP of Community Development

The Building Positive Spaces kits are meant to show that the SSU and the College are committed to building spaces that promote inclusivity, understanding, and acceptance. This has been a collaborative process across the board with student leaders, faculty and staff working together to bring Julia’s vision to life. Not only does the look and feel of the kits reinforce our intention, but the entire process has been a symbol of unity and togetherness. From building the boxes as a team to hand delivering the resources across campuses, this project speaks to the power within our Sheridan community. Just as we hope the resources themselves encourage learning opportunities and celebration, the process of creating the kits also embodied those sentiments too.

Closer Look @ the Building Positive Spaces Kit

The kits include a variety of items that can help us support, inform, and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The exterior is covered with the Pride Progress Flag to raise awareness of the intersectionality, and the items inside offer college departments an opportunity to create a long-lasting impact. Our hope is to equip SSU and Sheridan College faculty and staff with the tools needed to build positive spaces for all. The kits act as a physical reminder to continue to operate our spaces with safety and inclusion in mind. They also help us hold ourselves accountable for the impact we can have on the student experience. Sheridan Student Union’s commitment to enhancing student well-being, supporting diverse college experiences and providing access to quality education is an ongoing process that thrives when we work together.

Inside each box, you will find:

• Inclusive Spaces Promises: Read our postcards for tips on how to create positive spaces and be an ally to 2SLGBTQIA+ folks year ‘round

• Sheridan Pride Stickers: Decorate your notebooks, laptops, or phone cases with our new Pride stickers

• Pronoun Buttons: Pin your pronouns proudly to your shirt or backpack and be mindful when speaking to peers

• Sheridan Pride Bookmarks: Snag a bookmark with local 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health & wellness resources

• Building Positive Spaces Window Decal: Spot the rainbow flag on campus? Take it as a sign of Sheridan’s commitment to building positive spaces for all

Whether you spot the window decal or pick up a pronoun button, we hope you feel empowered and encouraged to find more ways of building positive spaces in your own communities too.

The pronoun buttons are probably my favourite part of the kit! It encourages students and staff to share their pronouns with others, knowing that they will be respected and well-received. It’s important to me that students feel they can be their authentic selves while on campus, and that they can feel safe when engaging with our services.

Even if you don't have a chance to visit Sheridan Student Union while on campus, it’s important to know that your college is committed to the ongoing work required to create positive, inclusive spaces for all. When it was first announced that SSU’s Building Positive Spaces Kits would be available for Sheridan College departments, the initiative was welcomed with overwhelming support. 

It brings me so much joy to see such enthusiasm from College staff and faculties over these kits. After only a few days of being available, we completely sold out. This indicates to us that there is a need for symbols of inclusivity, and we will continue to develop and provide new ways of showing our pride.

Show Your Sheridan Pride Year ‘Round

This project was birthed from a desire for new symbols of Pride that are visible on campus beyond the Pride flags in June. Although the Building Positive Kits are stationed at Sheridan College, there’s something quite beautiful about the fact that students can wear, see and share those items with others throughout their journey in life. We hope to inspire others to build positive spaces no matter where they are and to respect and honour 2SLGBTQIA+ folks’ right to safety, belonging and access to resources worldwide.

In June, Julia attended a deputization meeting where the City of Mississauga passed a City Council Pride motion where PRIDE progress flags will be purchased for every city of Mississauga facility and displayed throughout the month of June. During the meeting, Julia gifted Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie with a Building Positive Spaces Kit and encouraged all community leaders and members to stay connected and collaborate throughout the year.

“I don’t want to underestimate the value of raising the Pride flag, but I want to make it clear that this shouldn’t be the only time of year where we demonstrate pride and work to engage with the community; because while we’ve made many gains, we still face discrimination and bigoted mindsets throughout the year. If we only strive to be inclusive during one month of the year, hateful acts will continue to hurt our community members by making them feel unwelcome in their own homes. We still have a lot of work to do, but I’m not one to come out without ideas.” - Julia Bertola, SSU VP of Community Development

The ultimate goal of these kits is to keep the conversation, support and advocacy efforts top of mind and to inspire all of us to create a welcoming environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks at Sheridan and beyond. As a Student Union, we are proud to support this work and look forward to continuing to work together to show our Sheridan Pride year-round.

Did you know?

Last year, the SSU created downloadable SheridanPride flag phone backgrounds to celebrate and acknowledge the countless identities within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. If you’re looking for more 2SLGBTQIA+ Sheridan news, stop by our Sheridan Pride page for access to a wide range of digital resources, swag, and events any time of the year!

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