Join us for a free screening of ‘A Place Where I Belong,’ an award-winning documentary about 2SLGBTQIA+ people with intellectual disabilities fighting for belonging. Director Rheanna Toy and local experts will be present for the talkback. ASL interpretation, closed captions, wheelchair access, and a low-stim area provided. Presented with Communities and Artists Shifting Culture Grant support.
CLICK HERE FOR TRAILER.
6:30pm – Doors open
7:00pm – Short Welcome & Film starts
8:15pm – Drag Performance
8:30pm – 30-min talkback with guests/experts
9:00 – End of Event
Panelists
Rheanna Toy, film director, A Place Where I Belong
Rheanna Toy is a documentary filmmaker and videographer who has spent over a decade making videos in the community living sector. Her previous work led her to CQC: Connecting Queer Communities, a pilot program supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. After hearing from the program’s organizers about barriers faced by queer people with IDD, she asked if she could pursue an independent film on the topic. What began as an exploration became a longer documentary commitment, shaped through months of relationship-building, trust, and on-the-ground filming. She created the film to expand public understanding of disability, queer belonging, and inclusion – and to help ensure these stories are seen, valued, and protected.
Kelsey Savage, Connecting Queer Communities
Kelsey Savage (she/her) has worked in clinical and educational sexual health since 2014. She’s a queer and nonbinary writer, disability advocate, and the Founder and Manager of the Connecting Queer Communities project.
Colin Phillips, First United
Colin Phillips (he/him) is a policy professional and educator who has spent his career finding solutions to the homelessness and housing insecurity that the most marginalized in society experience. He is Principal at Rowan Tree Solutions and works with clients such as the United Property Resource Corporation, producing critical research and analysis of the housing market in Canada. Colin has also been a social work educator for almost a decade, and is currently an Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. Colin holds a MSW from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Policy Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. His dissertation contextualized the Housing First method of addressing homelessness within the era of a shrinking social safety net. Colin’s other passion is harm reduction and drug policy reform.
In 2018, Colin was the first person with visible disabilities to be nominated to serve as Moderator of the United Church of Canada. He was previously a member of the General Council Executive, and Chair of the Church Board at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church. He has also been active in the labour movement and 2SLGBTQ community. Colin lives in Vancouver, is a Registered Social Worker in BC, and is happiest on the seawall or at the gym.
More panelists & bios coming soon !
