Volunteer

Camp Fyrefly is Canada's only national leadership retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, questioning, and allied youth. The Camp is designed to help youth develop the leadership skills and personal resiliency necessary for them to become agents for positive change in their schools, families, and communities. The Camp, guided by a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), and created with an arts-based educational philosophy, is jam-packed with dance, drama, music, writing, visual art, empowerment and reflection exercises, anti-oppression work, personal growth opportunities, healthy socialization, and in-depth learning activities about specific youth topics and social issues. Camp Fyrefly programming focuses on four key areas: leadership, individual development, socialization, and resiliency.

Camp Fyrefly Youth Leaders are responsible for enhancing the Camp Fyrefly experience for a group of younger campers (known as a pod) through peer to peer mentorship, education, and support. The Youth Leader role involves many important informal mentoring and leadership opportunities with youth at Camp including leading group activities, facilitating small group discussion and workshop debriefs with their pod, providing constructive feedback to other leaders at Camp, and providing one on one support and referring to other supports as necessary. Youth Leaders are required to attend a two day training to set them up for success at Camp.

Camp fYrefly Youth Leaders average time commitment is 85 hours per year, concentrated over a few weeks in the summer. For more information vist  Camp fYrefly, or email campfyre@ualberta.ca.

Fyrefly in Schools (FiNS) aims to increase awareness of the impact of homophobic/transphobic bullying and to equip students with the tools to challenge prejudice and discrimination and become effective allies for diversity, equity, and human rights within their schools and greater communities. Fyrefly in Schools sessions include awareness activities around inclusive language, homophobia, transphobia, and feature a youth panel. A trained educator facilitates all sessions and moderates the questions and answer period.

Fyrefly in Schools panelists act as ambassadors of Fyrefly when they are visiting schools, their primary role is sharing personal stories around coming out, lived experiences as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and/or being an ally. Panelists must attend training to hone presentation skills and gain familiarity with the program.

fYrefly in Schools panelists average time commitment is 25 hours per year, but can be less or more depending on individual interest. For more information check out fYrefly in Schools program or email fyreflys@ualberta.ca.

The Fyrefly Institute for Gender and Sexual Diversity and the Calgary Sexual Health Centre (CSHC) organize the Alberta GSA Conferences each year. The conference aims to provide students, teachers, school staff, and community groups the opportunity to acquire knowledge and resources to start, strengthen, and sustain GSA clubs. GSA clubs have been shown to contribute to more welcoming, caring, respectful, and safer learning environments for sexual and gender minority and allied students in schools. The conference connects students and teachers from across the province through a series of workshops, resource displays, and keynote address.

GSA Conference Volunteers are responsible for conference workshop support, assisting with nutrition breaks, conference preparation and registration, and helping to promote the conference across the province on social media.

For more information, email ewestfal@ualberta.ca. 

University of Alberta Pride Week consists of educational and social events aimed at engaging our campus communities to come together to collectively build and support safe, caring, and respectful campus environments for 2SLGBTQ+ folks and allied students, staff, and faculty.

UAlberta Pride Week Volunteers are responsible for the planning and implementation of key Pride Week events. This includes advertising ( tabling, posters), preparing venues, collaborating with other University and Community groups, food preparation, and liaising with guest speakers. 

A UAlberta Pride Week Volunteer's average time commitment is 20 hours per year, and can be less or more depending on individual interest. Pride Week takes place mid-March of every year.