“Belonging lives in the quiet gestures that hold us together.”

October holds a rhythm of memory and momentum. It asks us to pause with the histories that made us possible, and to lean into the futures we are already shaping together.

Instead of policy headlines alone, belonging is revealed in smaller moments: a neighbour showing up with food, a Two-Spirit elder carrying tradition into ceremony, a youth asking for care that affirms them fully. These gestures may not command attention, yet they sketch the outlines of liberation more honestly than any speech or statute.

And in a month marked by 2SLGBTQI+ History Month and National Coming Out Day, these gestures take on added weight. They remind us that our courage is collective, our stories intertwined, and our presence itself a form of resistance. Belonging is not abstract—it is made real in these daily practices of care and connection.

This month, as history is honoured and truths are spoken aloud, we remember that courage does not always roar—it often arrives quietly, in practices of connection and care. And it is there that we find our blueprint.

With gratitude and resolve,

Tyler Boyce

2S Editorial Piece

On September 29th, we shared a powerful 2S editorial that uplifts the wisdom and leadership of Two-Spirit voices. Their resilience reminds us that liberation is not abstract—it is lived, embodied, and led through cultural knowledge and community care.

📖 Read the full Two-Spirit editorial here — revisiting it this October is especially important as we honour LGBTQI History Month and National Coming Out Day. It reminds us that our histories and our futures are inseparable, and that Two-Spirit leadership continues to guide both.

Policy Spotlight: The Notwithstanding Clause in Alberta

Alberta’s recent discussion of the notwithstanding clause (Section 33 of the Charter) has sparked urgent debate. This clause, rarely used, gives provincial governments the power to suspend Charter protections—rights connected to our freedoms, equality, and dignity.

For 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, this isn’t abstract policy—it’s personal. It signals the possibility that protections we fought to secure could be rolled back at the stroke of a pen. History shows the clause is too often used to silence rather than safeguard. That’s why this moment demands vigilance, courage, and solidarity. Our rights are not bargaining chips, and our communities will not stand by quietly if they’re put on the line.

Want to learn more about the notwithstanding clause and its impact? Read this primer — a plain-language overview of what the clause is, how it works, and why it matters now.

Membership Benefits & Programs

Our members drive our work forward. Joining The Enchanté Network provides:

• Networking Opportunities: Access to regional calls, peer connections, and collaboration spaces.

• Capacity Building: Workshops, mentorship programs, and tailored resources.

• Advocacy Support: A collective voice amplifying member needs at national levels.

• Exclusive Programs: Micro-grants, mentorship opportunities, and shared tools.

  
  

New programs launching this fall will focus on digital transformation, funding access, and sustainable growth for member organizations. And with October as Mentorship Month, we’re doubling down on intergenerational learning and peer-to-peer connections—reminding us that mentorship isn’t just a program, it’s the heart of how our communities thrive.

Discover member resources, capacity-building programs, and opportunities to strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ communities across Canada. Apply for membership today at https://enchantenetwork.ca/en/membership/.

Board Recruitment & Leadership Update

We are seeking visionary leaders to join our Board. This is an opportunity to bring your expertise and lived experience to shaping the Network’s next chapter and helping us strengthen our collective impact nationwide.

We are also thrilled to announce our new Board Chair, @Shelly-Ann Skinner (they/she)! Shelly-Ann is an award‑winning activist, anti‑oppression educator, mentor, and community builder whose leadership is rooted in resilience and lived experience. In 2020, amid a global pandemic, they founded @UPlift Black—the first social service agency in Simcoe County dedicated to advancing visibility and socio‑economic development for local Black communities.

With a fresh perspective on equity, diversity, and inclusion—grounded in a Social Justice Framework—Shelly-Ann is committed to ensuring fair treatment, access, and opportunity for all. We’re proud to have their vision guiding the future of our network, and extend our gratitude to our outgoing Chair for their years of care and dedication.

📲 Follow our social media channels for the full Board Recruitment campaign and to learn how you can apply.

Community Updates

• Campaigns & Advocacy: From September’s wins to upcoming actions, see how members are shaping change.

• Mentorship Month: October is also Mentorship Month! We’re celebrating the power of intergenerational learning and peer support across our Network. This year, our mentorship campaign will unfold alongside LGBTQI+ History Month and National Coming Out Day, letting stories and lived experiences speak for themselves—quietly stitching together past, present, and future. Follow our social media channels to engage with the campaign and share your own mentorship journey.

• New Facebook Page: The Enchanté Network has launched a new official Facebook page—a refreshed space that reflects the strength and diversity of our network. This new page will be the hub for updates on the Together for Change 2025 conference, stories and highlights from 2SLGBTQI+ organizations across Canada, resources and opportunities for members and allies, and community news that inspires our movement. If you followed our previous page, be sure to follow the new one so you don’t miss important updates. 👉 Follow The Enchanté Network here

• Together for Change | Ensemble pour le mieux 2025: Happening now, our premier hybrid conference is bringing together 2SLGBTQI+ leaders, allies, and changemakers from across Canada. Over three days, participants are engaging in immersive sessions on community-building, systemic strategies, and envisioning futures. From workshops like You Belong Here and Speaking in Colour to presentations from Rainbow Railroad, @Future of Good, and @New Power Labs, this conference is designed to inspire, educate, and mobilize. Whether in-person or virtual, Together for Change 2025 is showcasing the strength and creativity of our communities nationwide.

  
  

📌 Special Feature: Mentorship Campaign Throughout October, follow our dedicated social media series uplifting stories of mentorship across generations. These reflections will quietly show how guidance and care move through time—strengthening our movement today while carrying forward the echoes of our histories and the shape of our futures.

In Case You Missed It

In September, we mobilized on key issues:

• Advanced the implementation of our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, moving from vision to practice with member-driven priorities taking shape.

• Lobby Day 2025: This September marked a historic moment for our Network as we brought a national coalition of 2SLGBTQI+ leaders and organizations to Parliament Hill under a collective banner. Over two days, a dozen delegates held more than 35 meetings with MPs and Senators — demonstrating the collective strength of our network of more than 300 organizations. Together with our co‑organizing partner Pride at Work Canada / Fierté au travail Canada, we carried the stories of workers who cannot wait another decade to be recognized in the Employment Equity Act. For 30 years, 2SLGBTQIA+ workers have faced persistent wage gaps, job insecurity, and systemic exclusion. Our message was clear: modernize the Act with intersectionality and accountability, and move #ForwardTogether. We are deeply grateful to our member organizations, partners, and leaders — including @LGBT YouthLine, @CQLGBT, Alter Acadie NB, @2Spirit Consulting, Qmunity, Pride Centre of Edmonton— who stood beside us in this effort. Hill Days 2025 was more than advocacy; it was a declaration that when diverse 2SLGBTQI+ leaders unite, we can shape national policy and build a more equitable future.

• International Solidarity: We also welcomed partners from the Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC) during their short visit to Canada. With the support of Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada and in partnership with Dignity Network Canada, TEN has spent the past year funding and supporting UKPC to strengthen queer movements in Uganda. This solidarity work ensures they have the tools to push back against repression and defend human rights—an effort that continues to teach us about courage and resistance across borders.

  
  

October invites both memory and movement. It is a month when our histories are close at hand, and when acts of visibility and truth-telling ripple through our communities. Whether in the courage of coming out, the lessons carried through mentorship, or the persistence of those who refuse to see rights narrowed, this season reminds us that belonging is woven in the everyday.

Rather than grand gestures, it lives in steady practices—care extended, voices raised, doors opened. These threads, often quiet, hold us together.

As we look toward December, we’ll carry these threads forward: closing the year with reflections on resilience and glimpses of what renewal can look like in the seasons ahead. That issue will also feature a post‑conference recap of Together for Change 2025—sharing lessons, connections, and visions that emerged from three days of collective learning. In doing so, we remain mindful that every act of courage and visibility—past and present—becomes part of the fabric guiding us into the future.

📅 Save the Date: December Issue Preview

Our final newsletter of 2025 will feature highlights from Together for Change, reflections on resilience, and a look ahead at what renewal can mean in the year to come.

🗓️ Don’t miss it—mark your calendars and be part of the conversation that shapes what comes next.

Connect with The Enchanté Network / Le réseau Enchanté

🌈 Who We Are: The Enchanté Network supports over 200 2SLGBTQI+ organizations across Canada. We build capacity, amplify impact, and drive systemic change.

Our work is focused on:

• Empowering members to grow their organizational capacity and deliver community-rooted services

• Breaking down silos by connecting members and fostering collaboration

• Advocating to funders and governments for what our communities truly need

How you can get involved:

📚 Explore Resources: Access toolkits, templates, and best practices for grassroots work

🗓️ Attend Workshops: Register for upcoming sessions and capacity-building events. 💸 Funding Alerts: Stay informed about grants, microfunding, and fellowships 📩 Stay Connected: Sign up to never miss an update.

Why Become a Member?

🤝 Networking: Build meaningful connections with peers and organizations nationwide

📈 Capacity Building: Access programs tailored to grassroots organizations. 📣 Advocacy:Make your needs and priorities part of our national policy work

🎓 Exclusive Programs: Join mentorship streams and apply for microgrants.

Ready to grow with us?

Discover more and become part of a thriving, supportive network at www.enchantenetwork.ca

#EnchantéNetwork #2SLGBTQILeadership #InclusiveCommunities #QueerFuturesNow

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