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The Fyrefly Institute for Gender and Sexual Diversity (Formerly the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services; iSMSS) is a non-profit organization and research institute housed in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.

The Fyrefly Institute provides programs and services to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community and its allies. Our work also involves partnerships with various organizations such the Calgary Centre for Sexuality, Boyle Street Community Services, and the Pride Centre of Edmonton to provide direct services, including crisis intervention, mental health supports, and 2SLGBTQ+ education.

Our programs focus on community outreach, creating affirming spaces, and educational advancement specifically for the 2SLGBTQ+ community through our educational programs, research, advocacy and scholarship opportunities. The Fyrefly Institute works to create a society where all queer and trans people are free of discrimination.

We strive to:

  1. Empower the 2SLGBTQ+ community to thrive.
  2. Build leaders, particularly among youth.
  3. Build public awareness and allyship.
  4. Advance sexual and gender diversity studies to the forefront.
  5. Create hope

We are unique in that we utilize research to inform our services, and our services drive the direction of our research.

We believe:

  1. All queer and trans people deserve to be free of discrimination.
  2. Through nurturance and resiliency practices, all 2SLGBTQ+ people have potential to thrive.
  3. In the continued pursuit of knowledge as a tool to empower and build capacity.
  4. In grounding our practices in evidence-based research.
  5. We cannot achieve our goals alone but through collaboration 

Our reports provide an overview of our yearly activities and any new initiatives and major activities we have added within the specified year.

2014-2015 

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

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Our programs and services would not be possible without your generous support. All donations are eligible for a charitable tax deduction receipt from the University of Alberta. 

Give to Fyrefly Volunteer


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Show your pride and brighten up your wardrobe with the U of A Pride Collection, which supports the Fyrefly Institute for Gender and Sexual Diversity.

UA Pride Collection


Events and Opportunities

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Nov 30 | 5 PM - 8 PM | 7103 ST NW (CHEW Project YEG's NEW space!)

We're having our annual holiday event and we want YOU, our community, to be a part of it!

Nov 29 | 11 AM - 1 PM | Ed 1-22 South 
Fyrefly and the Faculty of Education are hosting this conversational space for UAlberta's 2SLGBTQ+ community. Claire Pearen from Pride Corner on Whyte will guide conversations.
Apply by Nov. 27 at 11:59 PM MDT
If your graduate program or research focuses on the 2SLGBTQ+ community, apply for our scholarships!

Scholarships


Fyrefly in the Media


Our Partners

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Contact Us

We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can email us at fyrefly@ualberta.ca or leave us a message at 780.492.0772.

Connect with Us on Social Media 

Instagram icon @fyrefly.institute

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Twitter icon @fyrefly_ua