Kyelle Byne
Kyelle is a professional science communicator (M.S.Com) and grant manager at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario. She has been a driving force in Science North’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) Committee, championing diversity and awareness initiatives across the staff compliment of the science centre. Kyelle's advocacy for 2SLGBTQ+ people in our community and initiatives to make science more accessible and engaging have earned her New Leaders Fellowship to the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) from among a large group of nominees across North America, as well as a YWCA-Sudbury Young Woman of Distinction Award.
Celebrating the History of Northern Ontario's 2SLGBTQ+ Community Arts & Culture
"Celebrating the History of Northern Ontario's 2SLGBTQ+ Community" will facilitate conversations between 2SLGBTQ+ youth and older adults in communities across Northern Ontario to share stories about the history of 2SLGBTQ+ people across the region, highlight the incredible strides that have been made in 2SLBTQ+ advocacy and allyship, and discuss the future of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Northern Ontario. Through this podcast series, audiences will be more aware of the rich history of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Northern Ontario and the actions that still need to be taken to create an equitable society.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Dwd3CgFs5GC3717VGHG8x?go=1&sp_cid=3427c2f18ca841fbee442553f07e12f4&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=e64122cc574549c3About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
- At risk youth & children
- Senior citizens
- LGBTQ2+ Community members
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
- SDG 5: Gender equality
- SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
How the project works
We established connections with 2SLGBTQ+ community groups and Pride organizations throughout Northern Ontario, including those serving 2SLGBTQ+ older adults. We conducted interviews with 2SLGBTQ+ older adults from various regions in Northern Ontario, facilitating intergenerational dialogues to document the region's 2SLGBTQ+ history. The recorded interviews were then edited and transformed into podcast episodes
Project Impact
The project had a profoundly positive impact on the individuals being interviewed - they had opportunities to share their personal stories and experiences, validating their lived history and providing a platform for their voices to be heard and appreciated. As more and more episodes of the podcast are released, it will foster a sense of connection and community as their narratives will contribute to the broader understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ history - a history that many of the 2SLBGTQ+ seniors being interviewed indicated had not been recorded or documented anywhere else. Overall, the impact of these interviews extends beyond the recording, positively influencing the emotional well-being and sense of belonging for 2SLGBTQ+ seniors.
Project Mission
"Queer in the North" aims to bridge the gap in documenting Queer History in Northern Ontario. While existing literature focuses on Queer History in Canada, the unique narratives of Northern Ontario's 2SLGBTQ+ community are often passed down orally. Through facilitating intergenerational conversations across Northern Ontario communities, we seek to preserve and share these stories, celebrating the progress and achievements of 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy and allyship. By capturing these discussions through podcasts, our project aims to contribute to social change, fostering inclusivity, and promoting education about 2SLGBTQ+ experiences.
Project Team
Northern Ontario Pride Connection is a non-profit organization incorporated with the Province of Ontario, with a mission is to connect members of the 2S-LGBTQ+ community and allies across Northern Ontario and help bridge the gap between organizations and community leaders while also supporting/producing events and programs that empower the 2S-LGBTQ+ community.
- Katlyn Kotila (she/her)
- Kyelle Byne (she/they)
- Aspen Groom (they/them)
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