Our Renison community strives to be a place of inclusion, acceptance, and respect for all students -- this includes members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We hope this page helps you to learn more about the supports, resources, and community in place to help you belong at Renison.
Renison Events
Queer and Cozy
Regularly, our Renison Dons and Peer Leaders host Queer and Cozy, a casual hang-out social time for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to come together. Allies are welcome, too!
The whole idea with Queer & Cozy is to be able to come and be together with other members of the queer community who understand our journey and experiences. During Queer and Cozy, we don't honestly chat much about our identities -- it's just about knowing we have people in our Renison community who understand us, and can embrace our differences.
Be sure to check the Renison Events page to find out when an upcoming Queer and Cozy is happening!
Days of Visibility and Remembrance
Our Renison community comes together on these important days to provide education, community, and respect for our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
- Trans Day of Remembrance: November 20
- International Transgender Day of Visibility: March 31
- International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia: May 17
Pride Month
We are proud to raise the Pride and Trans flags for the month of June in celebration of our community's 2SLGBTQIA+ members.
2SLGBTQIA+ & Ally Renison Employees
Renison's staff and faculty are dedicated in ensuring there is space in our community that openly embraces, celebrates, and provides an open door for students to connect who can understand and empathize with the 2SLGBTQIA+ experience.
Check through some of the profiles of members who proudly share they're supportive allies in our community who are here to help!
Christine Gillies (she/her)
Lecturer, English Language Institute
I am a parent of a 2SLGBTQIA+ identified person and a community advocate, seeking clear messaging, inclusive practices and safer spaces for kids in the local school boards. I'm in REN 1906 and happy to chat anytime.
Jeff Wilson (he/him)
Professor, Religious Studies and East Asian Studies
It is my privilege to be the parent of queer children, partner of a queer person, and son-in-law of queer people. My advocacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ persons started in high school, and informs my current research, teaching, and community work. I conducted research that documented the earliest known same-sex wedding ceremonies, including the first Buddhist same-sex marriage in history; I also stimulated the first Canadian temple to march at Pride. Students are welcome to explore topics at the intersection of religion, spirituality, culture, and 2SLGBTQIA+ issues with me, whether in courses like GSJ/RS 301 Engaged Buddhism, independent study courses, or just informal conversations.
Meg Gibson (she/her)
Associate Professor, Social Development Studies & Social Work
As a member of 2SLGBTQIA+ community, a researcher, and an educator, I am always happy to talk with students as they find their way through university life. I teach a course on Queer and Trans Studies and also integrate discussions of 2SLGBTQIA+ perspectives and critiques throughout my other courses. I do research about two main areas: i) queer and trans parenting, and ii) disability justice and neurodiversity. I also teach social work courses that highlight how people can be responsive to the needs of multiply marginalized communities. I am an editor of the academic journal Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work.
Nancy Schnarr (she/her)
Senior Manager, Central Communications
Nancy is a proud ally to the 2SLGBTQIA community, and has been at Renison since 2019. She attends Tri-Pride whenever she can, and used to frequent Club Renaissance (now closed) with friends. Nancy has engaged in a number of training sessions and workshops focused on creating inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and was previously a volunteer with the Sexual Assault Centre of Waterloo Region, where she provided support to people of all genders and sexual orientations.
Nancy would like students to know: Who you are is enough. You belong here.
Ryan Connell (he/him)
Assistant Director, Student Experience & Housing
Ryan is a queer-identified individual who has been part of our Renison community for close to 10 years. Ryan is a proud graduate of the Social Development Studies program, with a specialization in social work.
He has been an active volunteer in Kitchener-Waterloo for the rainbow community, having served on the Board of Directors for tri-Pride Community Association as well as been an active volunteer for years with the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and Area (ACCKWA). Ryan also used to be a columnist for the now-defunct Proud Magazine that was published in Waterloo Region.
Ryan would like other students to know that university life is an amazing opportunity to be able to come into your own identity and be proud of who you are. He welcomes any students to drop by his office in the Ministry Centre (Room 1108) to connect anytime.
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Renison: A Road Map for Student Belonging
In Winter 2024, Renison embarked on a series of student consultations with equity-deserving student communities at the college, including with members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ student community.
We welcome you to visit our Renison: A Road Map for Student Belonging webpage to learn more about the work that our Student Experience and Housing department will be undertaking to build belonging and community for all 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
Additional Renison Resources
Your Renison Student Leaders
We strive to prepare our student leaders with the tools necessary to be inclusive, welcoming, and accepting stewards of respect in our Renison community.
In the Fall every year, our Renison Residence Dons and Peer Leaders take part in intensive training to their roles as leaders, which includes safeTALK mental health first aid training. In the past, we have also partnered with organizations like SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space, for their rainbow diversity training. It is important that we equip our student leaders with the knowledge and skills to support and build a welcoming community for everyone.
Learn more about your Peer Leaders and Dons and sign up for a one-on-one meet-up for support by visiting our One-on-one Meet-ups webpage.
Student Advocacy and Wellness Committee
Do you see ways that Renison could be more inclusive in its approach to members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities?
In addition to connecting with members of our Student Experience and Housing team, we also invite you to reach out to Renison's Student Advocacy and Wellness Committee. This is a Student Affairs Committee with staff, faculty, and student representatives from across Renison University College who advise and support Renison students outside of their academic study when other resources are spent, unavailable, or unknown to them.
Campus Resources
The University of Waterloo celebrates the diversity of our 2SLGBTQIA+ student communities, as well as the diverse intersectionality of identities that exist in our community. Check out some of these helpful campus resources!
The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Glow is the oldest continually-running university-based 2SLGBTQ+ group in Canada dedicated to promoting healthy attitudes toward all sexual orientations and gender identities on campus at the University of Waterloo. Organized by Coordinators and run by dedicated Executives and Volunteers who provide a wide variety of peer support, social events, advocacy work, and resources.
The Glow Centre is located on the third floor of the Student Life Centre in room 3103. Take the elevator or stairs by Brubakers to the 3rd floor and the centre is the second office on the left (just past the stairs). If you require any further directions, the knowledgeable staff at the Turnkey Desk in the Great Hall is available 24/7.
The Women's Centre
The Women’s Centre aims to provide a supportive environment on campus for all women and trans* folks. However, their services are for everyone! Their volunteers are trained to provide peer support with an intersectional lens and can help connect you with resources about sexual health, healthy relationships, mental health, and more. They’re here to listen, support, and help connect students with other resources within the university and the community. They hold workshops, events, film screenings, and campaigns to educate on various issues through an intersectional feminist lens.
Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism
The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism's mission is to build, incubate and enhance Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R) competency and capacity across campus to identify and interrupt institutional barriers and embed equity within policies, processes, environments and experiences at the University of Waterloo.
The Office of EDI-R offers the Gender & Sexuality Equity Road Map with tools and resources to support the University of Waterloo community.
QT-POC KW
QTPOC KW is a student-run club that provides the space for individuals at the intersection of 2SLGBTQ+ and racialized (Black, Indigenous, POC) identities to play freely and build community. We focus on hosting community socials, panels, and other events that uplift our intersectional identities.