Meet the people behind the movement

My name is Kiel-like Kyle just spelt differently. I have lived in the Hamilton area my whole life with significant time spent in Toronto, as I live in a city that still has significant work to do regarding equity-deserving groups. I attended my first FCP conference in 2019 and joined the BPOC Council in 2020, during which we saw the senseless murders of Black folks, the racism towards East Asian & Southeast Asian folks, and the covered up Indigenous genocides happen in real time as well as learned of even more generational trauma. Not long after joining, I became co-Ambassador. Since then, I have shared a lot of my experiences and pushed for more representation within the organization. That has led me to playing a role in many of the committees and initiatives within FCP. As someone who has been excluded, ridiculed, assaulted, abused and other harmful things because of my intersectional identity, the lens that I look through is one that sees the big picture but with all the often forgotten/overlooked details; this led to the push for change from BPOC (Black & People of Colour) to GM (Global Majority) Council. The advocacy that I do is so that my experience is not universal. While it is great to feel connections and be relatable, I would rather that comes in the form of community, support, celebration and representation. I am known to point out the elephant in the room, speak up for those who do not feel comfortable and amplify the voices that need it. There is a divide within this community, moreso when you identify the intersectional identities. The only way for things to be equitable and for this movement to continue moving forward is for us to reclaim spaces, heal our wounds and unite. While we continue to fight for our rights as a community which includes those who are gender-diverse, we have no time to fight amongst ourselves. All of our lived experiences are valid and I believe with the right people in the right places the foundation that has been laid by previous generations can be strengthened and fortified for the next generations. Decolonizing practices and dismantling the systems meant to divide us, is something I firmly believe in and will continue to push this organization in an equitable direction.

Julie (she/her/elle) lives and works on Treaty 9 territory (Timmins, ON) and is an experienced executive director with over 25 years of diverse non-profit management. She currently leads a violence against women agency, overseeing essential programs including a Sexual Assault Centre, Women’s Shelter, Second Stage Housing, and Anti-Human Trafficking initiatives.
Julie’s unwavering dedication to community impact is reflected in every facet of her work and volunteerism. Over the past 30+ years, she has volunteered on numerous boards and committees, contributing her time and expertise to strengthen a wide range of causes. In addition to board service, she actively supports local sports, festivals, fundraisers, and initiatives that uplift women and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
She is the past president and a former ambassador of Fierté Canada Pride, a national organization she has been engaged with since 2016. As the founding member of Fierté Timmins Pride, she has played a central role in leading the local pride movement since 2006, advancing inclusivity and representation in Northern Ontario.
Julie cherishes time with her family—her devoted partner, three children, beloved grandchildren, and fur babies. She has also proudly served as a compassionate foster parent and caregiver to many youths over the years. Guided by kindness, Julie uplifts those around her and believes deeply in the power of community involvement to help build a more compassionate and inclusive world for all.

Chrissy is a white, non-binary, neurodiverse, queer activist who has been living as an uninvited guest on the unceded, ancestral, and stolen lands of the Musqueam, Skwxwú7mesh and Tsiell Wauthuth nations (Vancouver, BC) for the last two decades. Originally from the countryside in the North of Ireland, they grew up at the end of “the troubles”, a 30-year war in their homelands. Their ancestry is Irish, Scottish, English, and Spanish. They first got involved in Pride activism in their early 20s when they did not see their communities represented within Pride. They were on the board of Vancouver Pride Society for 7 years, the board of InterPride for 8 years, an ambassador for the Angry Flamingos at Fierté Canada Pride (FCP) for 6 years and most recently the Interim co-chair for FCP from the fall of 2024-AGM 2025. They have served on various FCP committees over the years including – Finance, Governance, Human Resources, Community Safety Funding, Conference Planning. Chrissy worked for many years in health equity research with sex workers and folks living with HIV, then transitioned to working in gender affirming healthcare at Trans Care BC as a health navigator. They currently work in a health care union doing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work. Their education in counselling coupled with their passion for transformative justice, reconciliation and accessibility has guided their approach within the Pride movement. They believe wholeheartedly in the potential of FCP and Prides across the country to be a cornerstone in transformative change, healing, and leadership in protecting and enhancing the human rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Canada.