Inclusive Orillia, along with Georgian College and Lakehead University is proud to present a special screening of Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story in celebration of Pride Month 2025. This event is presented in partnership with Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) and the Edmonton Queer History Project (EQHP) and aims to honour the contributions of our local 2SLGBTQI+ community while fostering meaningful conversations about equity, human rights, and inclusion.

Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story chronicles the landmark legal battle that changed the course of Canadian history. In 1991, Delwin Vriend was fired from his job at a Christian college in Edmonton for being gay. When Alberta’s human rights legislation failed to protect him, Vriend took his case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada — and won. The 1998 decision in Vriend v. Alberta ensured sexual orientation was protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, shaping the future of 2SLGBTQI+ rights in Canada.

Directed by Darrin Hagen and produced by ECF and the EQHP, Pride vs. Prejudice has been celebrated at film festivals around the world, earning multiple Audience Choice Awards and critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling and cultural impact.

“ECF is proud to partner with community foundations across the country to share Pride vs. Prejudice,” says Tina Thomas, CEO of Edmonton Community Foundation. “The Delwin Vriend case is not just Edmonton’s story — it’s Canada’s story. We hope these screenings spark reflection and dialogue, while also celebrating the resilience, advocacy, and joy of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.”

Join us for a tour of the Farm Lab, Wiigwasitig Gitigaan (Birch Tree Garden), and screening of "Eating Our Way to Extinction", introduced by Dr. Gerardo Reyes.  

LivingWorks safeTALK is an in-person workshop where you’ll learn how to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide, how to reach out to them, and how to help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.

safeTALK teaches participants to recognize and engage persons who might be having thoughts of suicide and connect them with community resources trained in suicide intervention. Using a simple yet effective model, Living Works safeTALK empowers everyone to make a difference. With over 120,000 people attending each year, it's the fastest-growing suicide prevention skills training course.

Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety. As a safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, you will be better able to:

• Move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide;
• Identify people who have thoughts of suicide; and
• Apply the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person with suicide thoughts to suicide first aid, intervention caregivers.
   

Who can participate:
safeTALK training is available to the general public. People working with vulnerable populations will benefit from this training.

In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support. Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training, which features:

• Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice
• Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed
• Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training
• A community resource person will be on hand at the workshop to support your safety and comfort.
   

REGISTER HERE