Purpose

Kind Space is a community centre in Ottawa – unceded Algonquin territory – that offers resources, events, social and educational programming. Our work celebrates, supports, and prioritizes oppressed sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

Vision

Co-creating a world where 2SLGBTQ+ people are supported, connected, and liberated.

Who we are

We give people a physical place where they can just be. That’s all. Just be. No pressure. No expectations. No demands, obligations, responsibilities. Whoever they are – even if they don’t fully understand who they are.

We give people personal and peer support to understand and inhabit their particular identities with confidence and courage, whatever kind of identity it is. We often do so when these people experience emotional crises and are most vulnerable physically and mentally.

We give people a range of information and resources they can use to help themselves or others appreciate and be who they truly are.

We support not only people who are right next to us, but also those who are far away. We bridge this distance digitally, engaging people through social media, comforting and encouraging them through online forums, and empowering them through a web presence that changes to mirror how they identify themselves.

The asterisk

An asterisk is a symbol that writers use after a word or phrase to refer readers to an annotation for additional information. This omitted information—usually found at the bottom of the page in question—gives readers a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the presented matter. At Kind, we think every person’s name should come with an asterisk. After all, each of us is more than appears in a single word. Each of us is more than a name, more than a pronoun, more than a look, more than a person others choose to define us as. Each of us is special in our own unique way.

Our asterisk not only represents but also celebrates those differences, those things that make us unique in our own way-whatever they may be. Our asterisk expresses our belief that each of us is more than what appears in a single word or name or pronoun, more than what is visible in a look, more than meets the eye. For each of us, there is much more to the story.

Sharing Kind Space (guide)

Kind Space is a community centre for 2SLGBTQ+ community members. This space is available to all that need rest, joy, kinship, and care. We are all responsible for ensuring this space remains enjoyable, affirming, and liberating for everyone. Being here means:

  • Cleaning up after yourself. If you eat, drink, play games, make art – ensure what you were using is appropriately cleaned and put away
  • No disrespectful, offensive, violent, or rude words or actions towards others (includes staff, volunteers, participants, and community partners)
  • If you borrow from Kind Space or from someone in the space, return it before you leave
  • No activities or actions that may result in police presence (help keep this a cop-free zone)

Our Values

As part of our commitment to our communities, partners, and ourselves we have been reflecting, discussing, and examining what our values are, and how we live them in our work. 

Values

Meet the Volunteer Team

Paige - Peer Facilitator (They/Them)

Hi folks, my name is Paige and I am a queer, non-binary, poly, indigenous, and disabled person living in Ottawa. I have attended Kind for many years now, facilitating QTY, the 20-Something group, and now the 30-ish group. I love art, flowers, and have an ever-growing collection of tiny things. Looking forward to meeting you!

Tova Larson - Peer Facilitator (She/Her)

Hi! I was a late bloomer to my bisexuality, coming out in my late 20s, but have definitely made up for lost time! I’ve been involved with Kind for more than 10 years, first as a participant and now providing peer support through QueerAmore. By day, I’m a workplace safety professional passionate about building psychologically safe and inclusive workplaces. And by night I am an adventuresome kinkster. When I’m not volunteering at Kind, I’m putting broken people back together with Canadian Ski Patrol. I love making new friends and I’m excited to meet you!

Ben (He/Him)

My name is Ben. I am a racialized queer man of Chinese descent with a non-monogamous love orientation. I am a public servant by profession, an explorer of life’s journey in life. I came out in the year 2000 and after 20 plus years of exploring and expressing my identity, it is time to pay it forward for all the support and guidance that was given to me. It would be an honour to be a pit stop on your journey. Looking forward to meeting you.

Maddie - Peer Facilitator (She/Her)

Hi! My name is Maddie. I am a queer, demisexual, cis woman and an anxious human. Several of my passions are music, singing, nature, reading, and crafting. I have two adorable cats, Lavender and Sunny, who are the loves of my life. 

I’ve been with Kind Space since 2021, previously as a placement student and presently as a peer facilitator. I currently co-facilitate the 20-Something Group, Ace/Aro Space, and Cafe Q. I am incredibly passionate about providing empathetic, adequate, and equitable services, social supports, and resources to 2SLGBTQIA+ people and communities. As someone whose motto is to treat people with kindness, Kind Space is a lovely place to be. 

I studied at Carleton University, majoring in Social Work with a double minor in Sexuality Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. I currently work as the Child/Youth Program Supervisor at Banff Avenue Community House, and as a Lifeguard/Assistant Aquatics Manager at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre. My personal and professional values are informed by structural social work, anti-oppression, intersectionality, queer theory, anti-racism, and feminism. 

I look forward to meeting you!

Riley Baxter - Peer Facilitator (She/Her)

I am an asexual trans woman living in Ottawa. I have lived here and attended Kind Space for 5 years, and have been one of the facilitators for the Ace/Aro Space group since its creation in 2021. I enjoy helping people find a community and a place they feel they belong. Outside of Kind Space, I like playing board games, geocaching, and solving technological problems.

Korey Paul- Peer Facilitator (They/Them & Sie/Hir)

I am an Autistic aro/ace genderqueer bean who brings chaos and laughter wherever I go. I love cats, knitting, and holding space for people to be themselves. Keeping this bio short and sweet, like me!

Sophie Bernier - Peer Facilitator (She / Her)

I’m Sophie, my pronouns are she/her. I’m just your average 20 something transgirl who found themselves in lockdown. My girlfriend and our two bunnies (Dude and Darkness) are my whole world – when I’m not gaming or fussing over embedded computers at my day job. I’m the co-facilitator for genderquest, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any ideas for community events or discussion topics!

Meghan (Meg) Barclay - Peer Facilitator (She/They)

I am a Queer,  Early Childhood Educator who has lived in the Ottawa area my whole life. I have been attending Kind Space for about 7 years (as of 2023) and was facilitating the 20 Something Group for the last 3 years, and now I co-run the 30’s Group.  I strive to give young adults the safe space to be their authentic selves, that we all deserve.

 

Taryn Husband - Creative Arts Facilitator (He/Him)

I am a multiply disabled white settler transmasculine advocate, educator and support giver. I’m originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, but I’ve been living in Ottawa for the most part since 2007. I currently run the GenderQuest support and social group for trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit and questioning adults and co-facilitate the CafeQ youth group. I have been involved with Kind Space for about 8 years as a participant and 4 years as a facilitator as of 2023. I am passionate about giving people spaces to be and explore themselves and connect with others. I also create art initiatives and support arts in programs here at Kind Space.

 

Megan Butcher - Head Librarian (They/Them)

Megan Butcher is a queer white settler of English and Scottish ancestry. While their family roots are mostly in southern Ontario, they have lived for over 20 years on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg. They work in Ottawa as a librarian and live with their partner and a needy wiener dog in a tilty house at the top of a hill.

 

WE DO BETTER WHEN WE’RE TOGETHER. 

CHECK OUT KIND SPACE TODAY.