Pride Speaker Series 2026: Talks for Change

The Pride Speaker Series 2026 brings together practical conversations led by The 519’s Education and Training team—one of Canada’s largest providers of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion training. The series focuses on clear, accessible learning to help participants better understand and support 2SLGBTQ+ communities, especially as anti‑2SLGBTQIA hate continues to rise.

Each session is designed to spark dialogue, share concrete knowledge, and strengthen everyday allyship, all while supporting The 519’s essential community programs.

Questions? email Training@The519.org and a member of our team will contact you.

Click here to learn more

About Us

The 519 Education and Training team provides organizations with the insights, tools, and understanding to create environments that are 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive, respectful and welcoming.

More than 10,000 people participate in our education and training sessions each year and hundreds of non-profit, public sector and corporate organizations work with us to advance 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive spaces where people can be their authentic selves.

In 2024, the team:

trained 9,436 people
conducted 258 workshops
trained 134 organizations of varying sizes across different sectors

Our Services

We offer consulting, training and custom education services for each organization, providing training that’s relevant to your context and your unique requirements.

Email Us

Our introductory-level training covers:

Common words used to express sexuality and gender diversity here in Ontario;
The difference between sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation as it relates to the Ontario Human Rights Code;
Pronouns and the importance of respecting people’s pronouns at work and in everyday life;
The foundations for understanding affirmation and allyship and their importance as ongoing practices in your life at home and at work.

Housing Sector Inquiries:

Building off years of advocacy and the work of our Education and Training department, The 519 has launched an online learning curriculum which is currently freely accessible to all city funded shelter providers.

For more information, including how to request access, please visit our Sector Capacity Building page.

Workplace Trainings:

Training on sexual and gender diversity in the workplace
Workshops for employers and employees
Training for leadership
Training for front-line staff

HR & Resources

Forms (intake forms, client files, patient charts)
File Management (paper files, digital files, Human Resource Management Systems)
Processes (payroll, pension and benefits administration, leaves of absence, recruitment, selection, interviewing)

Policy Review

Policy development and review
Policy review for inclusion of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
Development and review of accommodation policy, dress code policy, workplace transition guidelines

Special Consultations

Consultation services
Physical environment audit
Talks and Panels
Trainings specifics to your Industry

Meet Our Training Experts

Manager, Education and Training

Mx. Ashley McGhee, B. Ed., M.A., O.C.T.

Pronouns: She/Her

Areas of Expertise:

Supporting employers working with 2SLGBTQ+ people
Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ families

Pronouns: She/Her

Areas of Expertise:

Supporting employers working with 2SLGBTQ+ people
Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ families

Specialist, Education and Training

Jo Jefferson

Pronouns: They/Them

Areas of Expertise:

2SLGBTQ+ Seniors
Families
Schools
Arts-based practices
Trans rights
History

Pronouns: They/Them

Jo is a queer/trans writer, parent, and community worker. Their background is in popular education for personal and community transformation. They believe that we have to dream the world we want, and then work together to build it.

Areas of Expertise:

2SLGBTQ+ seniors
Families
Schools
Arts-based practices
Trans rights
History

Facilitator, Education and Training

Susan Gapka

Pronouns: She/Her

Areas of Expertise:

Housing and homelessness
Mental health, addictions and harm reduction
Trans rights
Community organizing

Pronouns: She/Her

Areas of Expertise:

Housing and homelessness
Mental health, addictions and harm reduction
Trans rights
Community organizing

Specialist, Education and Training

Victor Zhang

Pronouns: He/Him

Areas of Expertise:

Queer youth engagement/activism
2SLGBTQ+ newcomers
Queer and trans feminism
Transnational queer movement/history
Community-based art
Queer Asian advocacy

Pronouns: He/Him

Victor is a queer and feminist activist, educator, and researcher. His scholarship and activism are situated in the fields of queer migration experience as well as transnational feminist work in the Pan-Asia area. To connect knowledge production with community engagement, he is interested in arts- based/arts-informed methodology, particularly in the forms of screening art and theatrical exploration.

Areas of Expertise:

Queer youth engagement/activism
2SLGBTQ+ newcomers
Queer and trans feminism
Transnational queer movement/history
Community-based art
Queer Asian advocacy

What Our Clients Say

“The 519 training was both confirming and eye-opening in many respects with very strong facilitators. We left the workshop with new insight and a desire to share and discuss what we had learned.”

— Suzanne Marion, Toronto Public Library

“Working with The 519 guarantees that workshops will be informative, comprehensive and relevant. The support and resources provided by The 519 has made a world of difference as we continue on this journey; we are better for our partnership with The 519.”

— Jacqueline Silvera, Senior Manager, Diversity and Mediation Services, University Health Network

“We are thankful for the safe and supportive space The 519 created, allowing us to learn and grow. The training resonated personally and professionally with our staff, and we are eager to continue this journey, applying the principles we’ve learned to create a truly inclusive environment for all.”

— Dana Elsaid, Autism Ontario

Connect with us for more information on our training services.

Ash McGhee
Manager, Education and Training
AMcGhee@The519.org

Visit The 519's Glossary of Terms View our Resources

Education and Training

Pride Speaker Series 2026: Talks for Change

About Us