INSPIRE Awards 13th Anniversary — May 31, 2025
The 13th Annual INSPIRE Awards will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at The Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto. This annual event honors the achievements and contributions of individuals, youth, businesses, and organizations within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.
Special Feature: Canada’s Inspiring Person of the Year
New this year, in partnership with the Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, the “Canada’s Inspiring Person of the Year Award” will be presented. This national recognition will honor five queer individuals from across Canada for their significant contributions to their communities. These individuals will be celebrated during the Toronto ceremony via live video.
On behalf of INSPIRE Awards Board of Directors, Subcommittees, Community Partners, and Sponsors:
Congratulations to all the Recipients and Nominees!
INSPIRE Awards 2024/2025 Recipients & Nominees
Lifetime Achievement
Al Ramsay
As Vice President and Head 2SLGBTQ+ & Black Customer Segments, TD Bank Group, Al and his team act as a key liaison between Retail, Wealth and Business Banking to embed segment support across the enterprise. Designing and executing innovative strategies for both segments, these programs are considered leading edge and unique within the financial industry across North America.
In 2018, Al was awarded the Ted Rogers School of Management’s Trailblazer Alumni Award for his leadership work in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. In 2020, Al was the recipient of the International Day of Pink Executive Pride Award and the National Business Leader of the Year by the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for his outstanding contributions in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. In 2021, Al was recognized by The Black Professional Business Association, Decade Leaders Harry Jerome Award for Professional Excellence, and Start Proud Leaders to be Proud of Award, for Professional Excellence. In 2022, Al was honoured by The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention with the Lifetime Advocacy Award, the recipient of the Black on Bay Ball Trailblazer Award and named one of Canada’s 100 Most Influential Black Canadians. In 2023, Al was inducted into Sheridan College’s Pilon School of Business Hall of Fame. Most recently, Al was honoured with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Alumni Awards of Distinction.
Kristyn Wong-Tam
Kristyn Wong-Tam has an extensive career investing in Toronto’s diverse communities through both the public and private sectors. Their contributions have led to the development and support of improved social planning programs, new affordable housing, innovative economic development programs, community art projects, and investments in diverse, family-friendly neighbourhood planning.
As a tireless community advocate, Kristyn has championed the expansion of green public spaces, farmers’ markets, community gardens, and improvements to parks and ravines. They have led efforts to defend tenants’ rights to affordable and decent rental housing and helped create a neighbourhood association to preserve and protect heritage buildings and historical landscapes in Toronto Centre.
In addition to their city appointments to numerous city boards and agencies, Kristyn has served as:
Chair of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee, which provides advice to City Council on policy initiatives that support the elimination of barriers faced by people with disabilities.
Chair of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community Advisory Committee, which provides advice to City staff and City Council on identified priority issues to support the elimination of barriers and inequities experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ communities in accessing City of Toronto programs and services.
Chair of the Toronto East York Community Council, responsible for making recommendations and decisions on local planning and development, as well as other neighbourhood matters.
Member of the Community Development Recreation Committee, focusing on social cohesion and strengthening services to communities and neighbourhoods.
Member of the Planning and Housing Committee, focusing on urban form and housing development.
Member of the Toronto Preservation Board, providing advice on the designation of heritage properties and conservation districts.
Kristyn has a distinguished track record of human rights advocacy and was a co-founder of Asian Canadians For Equal Marriage and the past president of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter that successfully lobbied the federal government for the head tax apology and redress.
Prior to 2010, Kristyn was an accomplished entrepreneur and supporter of arts and culture. They curated art installations for Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche and were the principal of a Toronto-based contemporary fine art gallery. As a founding member of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Association, their business advocacy and entrepreneurship focusing on urban economic development earned them a seat on Mayor David Miller’s Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee, which produced the Agenda for Prosperity in 2008.
Kristyn has served as:
Vice-President of The 519 Community Centre, dedicated to advocacy for the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
Co-Founder of Asian Canadians For Equal Marriage, which successfully advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada in 2005.
President of the Chinese Canadian National Council, Toronto Chapter, promoting equity, inclusive civic participation, and respect for diversity.
Founding member of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area, promoting strong local businesses and culture in the neighbourhood.
Member of Mayor David Miller’s Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee, which produced the Agenda for Prosperity in 2008.
Olivia Chow (Honourary Lifetime Achievement)
Olivia Chow is the 66th Mayor of Toronto, the first person of Asian descent to serve as Mayor, and the first woman since the six municipalities of Metro Toronto were amalgamated into one in 1998.
Born in Hong Kong in 1957, Mayor Olivia Chow immigrated to Toronto with her parents at the age of 13, where they moved to an apartment in the St. James Town neighbourhood. Her parents faced the challenges of so many immigrants who have come here to build a new life for their children and make an impact on our city. When Olivia’s father failed to find work in his field and suffered a mental breakdown, her mother worked as a hotel maid to support the family. Through turbulent times at home, Olivia studied hard, graduated from Jarvis Collegiate and then studied Religion and Philosophy at the University of Toronto before studying fine art at OCAD and at the University of Guelph where she completed an Honours BA.
After university, Olivia worked as a sculptor, ESL teacher and a counsellor for new immigrants. She was moved by the plight of the Vietnamese “Boat People” – refugees who had fled from their war-torn country in search of a better life in Canada. That was the starting point of a lifetime of activism and community organizing.
Pursuing her newfound passion for public service, Olivia was first elected as a TDSB trustee in 1985, where she served for six years. In 1991, Olivia became the first Asian-born woman elected as a Metro Toronto Councillor, where she created lasting programs that continue to help hundreds of thousands of families in Toronto each year. These include programs such as free dental care for children in poverty and the school breakfast and lunch program that helps kids focus on their teachers, not their hunger. She was re-elected to city council five times, serving with distinction for 14 years. While at City Hall, she served as Chair of the Community Services Committee and Vice Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) as well as served on the budget committee for a decade.
While still a school trustee, Olivia married then City Councillor Jack Layton in 1988, and they forged one of Canada’s most remarkable political partnerships. For over two decades, they worked together to achieve social justice in Toronto and then on the national stage where Jack served in Parliament as an MP, Leader of the NDP and ultimately Leader of the Official Opposition before his untimely death from cancer in 2011.
In 2006, Olivia was elected as the Member of Parliament for Trinity—Spadina and was reelected twice, serving until 2014. While an opposition MP, she introduced an Early Learning and Child Care bill which laid the legislative foundation for a universal, high quality, affordable and non-profit national childcare program. Her bill on a National Public Transit Strategy was widely celebrated by mayors and municipalities from coast to coast.
After leaving federal politics, Olivia wrote “My Journey”, a book of memoirs chronicling her inspiring life story. In 2015, she joined Toronto Metropolitan University as a Distinguished Visiting Professor where her work focused on community engagement and leadership development. In 2016, she founded the Institute for Change Leaders, providing leadership training and community organizing skills that grass roots activists and organizers need to achieve social change, empowering thousands of people.
And then in 2023, Olivia Chow opened a new chapter in her extraordinary life story when she ran for and won election as Mayor of Toronto, pledging to build a more affordable, safe and caring city where everyone belongs.
Throughout her career, Olivia has been driven by the belief that we are always stronger together.
Brian Burke (Honourary Lifetime Achievement)
An accomplished NHL executive whose career has been highlighted by winning a
Stanley Cup and Olympic silver medal, Brian Burke’s (Edina, Minn.) passion and
contributions to the betterment of the game of hockey have touched every level of the
sport.
While his work in the NHL has been at the forefront, Burke has supported U.S. efforts
on the international stage and was a driver in USA Hockey establishing the U.S. Men’s
National Team Advisory Group in 2007 to assist with the selection of players and staff
for top international events. Burke was an original member of the group and served with
other U.S. general managers for nearly a decade. Burke has worked for 6 teams that
include Vancouver Canucks(twice), Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple
Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins & Anaheim Ducks(2007 Stanley Cup).
Having supported women’s hockey for over 3 decades,today, Brian serves as the
first-ever executive director of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players
Association.
A strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, Burke established the You Can Play project that
targets homophobia and promoting safety and inclusion in sports, in honor of his late
son, Brendan. Brian speaks across North America advocating for D.E.I.
International Icon
Simone Denny
Simone Denny is a Canadian music Icon. Her fans have titled her the Queen of Canadian dance & house music and is the voice of a generation. The legendary seven-time nominated / four-time Juno Award-winning, five-time Billboard Dance Chart topping vocalist for acts including the Gold and Platinum selling Love Inc., as well as BKS, and Widelife, Toronto-based Simone Denny’s powerhouse vocals drive a prolific list of songs beloved around the world. Among those late night, international club anthems are: You’re A Superstar, Broken Bones, Astroplane, Who Do You Love, Into The Night, Here Comes The Sunshine, I Don’t Want You, Cliché; and she is also the voice of the original Emmy Winning TV show Queer Eye For The Straight Guy theme All Things (Just Keep Getting Better).
In demand in countries throughout Europe and North America, Simone has performed at the illustrious Kennedy Centre in Washington DC as well as NYC Pride & LA Pride; and occasionally shared the bill with legends such as Patti LaBelle, Martha Wash, Thea Austin, Rob Base, and Venga Boys just to name a few. She remains an enduring favourite dance club vocal queen, and travels frequently to festivals, dance events and nightclubs to reunite, entertain and connect with her loyal, long-term fans and make new ones along the way.
During the pandemic, Simone was asked to close out the nationally broadcast CBC TV ‘Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2021’ television special with an explosive live performance of ‘You’re A Superstar’ with Canadian pop star Tyler Shaw. And most recently, Simone headlined the 2023 Manchester UK New Year’s Eve celebrations at Royal Albert Hall, as she has become a favourite on the UK Clubland scene, where she tours frequently – and where her 2022 collaboration with Irish DJs Belters Only and Micky Modelle had their remake of Superstar hit #1 on the Irish Dance Charts just prior to Christmas!
Beyond music, Simone is now branching out into extended run theatre performances, T.E.D. Talks, body positivity promotions, fashion modelling, and now hosting her own Instagram celebrity chat shows Simone Denny Live, and the multi-media talk show Simone And Shaun (co-hosting alongside SiriusXM’s Shaun Proulx). Her infectious smile, and warm, familiar, friendly, and welcoming personality have made her an in-demand host, brand ambassador, and celebrity guest. And most recently, Simone has signed a song writing co-publishing deal with Canadian publishing powerhouse company Red Brick Songs.
And now in 2024 Simone is already scheduled for multiple international dance music festival performances, song writing sessions with some of the industry’s greatest writers, and recording sessions with some killer producers and artists. There’s a lot more music to come!
Charles Roy Award for Activism in HIV/AIDS
Stephen "Stiva" Sinanan
Stiva uses his personal journey and influential platforms to inspire and uplift others, empowering them to become stronger, more confident versions of themselves. His fitness philosophy is based on the belief that movement should be accessible to all, regardless of background or ability. He is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where individuals of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels feel welcome and supported in their journeys.
Beyond physical fitness, Stiva is deeply passionate about raising awareness for social causes. For many years, he has volunteered with the Friends for Life Bike Rally, helping raise funds for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. As a fitness social justice advocate, he uses his platform to champion critical issues like equality, representation, and community empowerment. Stiva approaches this work with deep honor and pride, always striving to spark awareness and drive meaningful change. His efforts reflect his commitment to using his influence for good, not only to promote personal growth but to foster societal transformation as well.
Innovator of the Year
Samuel Reisler
Sam’s lifelong commitment to 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy began early. In high school, he founded his school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance and championed inclusive programming across Toronto-area schools. While studying at McGill in 2008, Sam established Canada’s first 2SLGBTQ+ fraternity chapter (Delta Lambda Phi) to cultivate community connections and support charitable initiatives among queer students.
Throughout his career in marketing and consulting, currently as a Senior Account Executive, Sam has consistently worked to amplify queer voices, particularly within the tech industry. He has led his company’s Canadian PRIDE employee resource group since 2016 and recently expanded his leadership role to support initiatives across the Americas.
Sam has played a critical role in driving impactful community programs, including strengthening
partnerships like the one with Pride Toronto, delivering digital skills training to The 519 community centre, founding TechProud in 2019 (a cross-company collaboration for 2SLGBTQ+ tech employees), and supporting nonprofits like QueerTech. He remains dedicated to mentoring emerging queer tech leaders and championing progress within the sector.
LUX Award for the Arts
Renzo Garcia
Peruvian-Canadian Renzo García has become one of the most recognized and influential Latin faces and voices in the Spanish-speaking community in Canada. With years of experience, Renzo has established himself as a versatile performer in various artistic fields, contributing to numerous plays, commercials, and television programs in both Canada and Peru. He is known for his involvement in programs like Now What on OMNI and Unidos on TLN and Univision Canada, which highlight the vibrant Spanish-speaking community and its influence in Canadian society.
Renzo’s impact was recognized in 2018 when he received the Latin Award Canada for Best TV Host for his work on Unidos. His career has expanded into acting, with notable roles in My Name is Ripley (TLN Media), Untold Stories of ER (TLC & Health Discovery Channel), Unexplained, and History Erased 2 (History Channel). He also voiced Lucio, “The Potato King,” in the animated series Let’s Go Luna!.
Renzo’s versatility extends to unscripted shows like Unexpected Killer and See No Evil, and dramas such as Hollywood Suites Creepy Bits and St. Bulges Day. He continues to showcase his range in roles like Lorenzo in the short film Gogo. Renzo’s dedication to his craft and representation of Latin culture continues to inspire future generations of artists in Canada.
Lorraine Segato
Lorraine is a versatile social justice activist and artist who is deeply committed to her craft and to advancing arts, culture, and innovative thinking. She also is a respected Leadership Facilitator and coach working with The Great Traits High Performance Program.
Over the past 45 years, she has worked with many diverse grassroots communities in collaborative projects that were created to build bridges, showcase talents, and provide mentorship opportunities. She has been recently awarded the Order of Canada and inducted into 2023’s Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Although Lorraine is best known for her role as a lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the iconic political pop group The Parachute Club, which she co-founded in 1982, she has balanced a career behind and in front of the stage along with her growth in the self-development and leadership areas. Her ability to think creatively and strategically has allowed her to evolve into a career that is rich and rewarding.
Over the years, her work solidifies a solid track record that has enhanced her reputation as an iconic Canadian musician, songwriter, filmmaker, event producer, artistic director, and lecturer — and now Leadership Program Facilitator/Coach. No matter what the medium, she remains consistently topical and relevant.
Her years of experience in front of and behind the creative curtain have culminated in another fruitful career as a Leadership Program leader. Sparked by the opportunity to work with Olivia Chow’s Institute for Change Leadership, which embodied the principles of the Marshall Ganz Leadership Program through Harvard, Lorraine has evolved into a Great Traits program leader and coach. Her passion, empathy, and charisma have served a career — on and off stage — that has educated and inspired Canadians for over four decades.
Community Heart Award
Bobby MacPherson
Bobby is a strategic, values-driven leader with over 15 years of experience transforming organizations through operational excellence, systems thinking, and a deep commitment to equity. Known as a changemaker, he brings lived experience and bold authenticity to every space he enters, consistently centering inclusion, compassion, and innovation.
From 2017 to 2024, he served at Pride Toronto, overseeing operations for eight festivals, including during some of the organization’s most challenging periods. In that role, he led critical organizational turnarounds, implemented a comprehensive financial restructure, introduced tech-forward solutions, and championed green infrastructure and sustainability initiatives—some of the first of their kind in Canada.
Bobby’s broader career spans nonprofit leadership, financial oversight, and large-scale program design, with a strong focus on uplifting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. He has launched community programs that blend advocacy, education, and joy, and continues to mentor emerging leaders both within and beyond the queer community.
He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Tamarack Institute, where he supports national collaborations to end poverty and build community-led change. Bobby leads with a belief that the future is built through collaboration, courage, and care—and he remains deeply committed to leading from that place every step of the way.
Person of the Year
Noel LeBoeuf
Noel Leboeuf is a passionate advocate who has dedicated much of his time to supporting various charitable causes. As the head of a Leather Family, married to a drag performer and a third partner, Noel champions inclusivity and mental health. He serves as the Executive Director of CLAW and has helped raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+, leather, and kink-related charities.
Noel was also the driving force behind the Bell Tower Community Arts and Entertainment Complex, a former church turned vibrant LGBTQ+ hub. Established after a tragic suicide, the complex hosted events like the Mother’s Day Walk for Breast Cancer, Kinks, Drink, and Drag for CMHA, and food drives benefiting C.O.P.E., which have donated over 50,000 lbs of food in five years. It also supported youth arts programs and holiday dinners for those in need. Trinity K. Bonet’s Slay the Stigma Tour even made a stop in 2019.
Noel founded Fort Erie Pride and produced the series “Drag Them Up” with Bell Fibe Media. He made history in 2023 as part of the first throuple to appear on Family Feud Canada, further advocating for diverse relationship structures. Through his work, Noel continues to inspire, creating safer spaces and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to thrive.
Jo Pavlov
By day, Jo is a computer field technician for the Hamilton public school board, but somewhere along the way, realized this was a magical opportunity to fulfill their life’s mission, which is to “inspire people to live bold & authentic lives through their fearless example & writings.” As silly as this seemed at the time of writing, it’s been an amazing mission to laser focus on while working with students & staff in various capacities.
Jo is a frequent guest speaker at the schools on issues of gender & identity, and helped craft the Board’s Policies & Procedures for Gender Equity, Identity and Inclusion for both students & staff. They are one of the few female-bodied people in a mostly-male industry, and take any and all opportunities to thoughtfully educate colleagues, management and passers-by about LGBTQIA+ issues from a first-person perspective.
From one of their first guest speaking gigs where a Grade 12 student took them aside to come out to them, to the time three kindergarteners asked them if they were a boy or a girl, and Jo replied “somewhere in the middle!” Jo never misses an opportunity to show kindness and inclusion to all gender identities. Typically wearing rainbows, you can’t miss them.
Luke Wilson
A SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto Mississauga—formerly the Justice, Equity, and Transformation Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary—Lucas is an award-winning humanist and queer activist. As a survivor of conversion therapy, he is the editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy. He previously served on a Justice Canada-funded conversion-therapy ban advisory committee and is now on the Board of Directors at The ArQuives: Canada’s Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives, where he volunteers on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Along with authoring his first academic monograph and numerous academic articles and book chapters, Lucas has had his public-facing work featured in The Advocate, Queerty, LGBTQ Nation, Religion Dispatches, and Whosoever, among other venues. He has also been interviewed about his advocacy work by a number of media outlets, including the CBC, CP24, the BBC, Rolling Stone, NBC News, Uncloseted Media, and Thomson Reuters. He is currently writing two interrelated monographs about white Christian fundamentalist and evangelical homophobia and transphobia, as well as editing a collection of short stories about queer student experiences at Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries.
Romeo Pierre
Romeo Pierre is a Community Spoken Word Artist/Rapper Romeo has performed with beatz 2 da streetz who empower youth thru urban music and at Toronto Pride events and arts in the park and is currently working for Multicultural pride in Scarborough (MPIS) as a project Mentor. Romeo is also an educator around facilitating educational workshops around Transphobia, Homophobia and sexual Health and HIV/AIDS forum theatre skits in and around the Toronto GTA community. Enjoys making videos/films by expressing himself through mental health and Creativity and Abilities. Enjoys supporting others who face discriminant on Racism, homophobia, and ableism etc. Romeo Pierre works hard as a project mentor with his peers with Multicultural pride in Scarborough supporting youth through struggles and program activities and with the team as a punctual member of our team. Romeo uses Art as a form to connect to himself as a trans Warrior Legend as a member of the pride community Romeo enjoys volunteering and supporting at different pride events and festivities throughout the months and as a community artist living in Scarborough. Romeo loves to put others first with a caring heart to help others in need and makes sure others feel connected to resources.
Robert Chevalier
Robert Chevalier grew up in Windsor, Ontario. While in Windsor he completed his studies in Police Foundations at St. Clair College, and continued his education at the University of Windsor. After his studies he went on to become a Windsor Police Auxiliary Officer.
In 2007 he was hired as a Police Constable with the Toronto Police Service. He worked in various capacities as; a Warrant Officer, Coach Officer, Detective Constable, a Neighbourhood Community Officer, and as the 2SLGBTQ+ Liaison Officer.
Robert was promoted in 2022 to Sergeant, and his current assignment is with the Community Partnerships and Engagement Unit as a Supervisor in the 2SLGBTQ+ Liaison Office.
Robert has been active with the Toronto Police Service’s PRIDE-Internal Support Network since 2014. He has held several positions on the executive and is currently the Co-Chair of the Network. Robert has been a member of Serving with Pride since 2008, and joined the executive in 2022. He currently serves as the Co-Chair of that organization.
Most recently Robert has started a group for marginalized men focusing on asylum seekers, and people with limited social connections. The group’s name is BROS which means many things including; Belonging, Resiliency, Openness, and Support.
Youth of the Year
Ahmad Mohamad Fares Agha
Ahmad is a passionate advocate, educator, and community leader dedicated to fostering safer, more inclusive spaces for youth. As a queer refugee from Syria, their lived experiences navigating systemic barriers have fueled their commitment to empowering 2SLGBTQI+ youth, reducing stigma, and promoting harm reduction strategies. Currently studying Biochemistry at York University, Ahmad is actively involved in public health, sexual health education, and HIV awareness initiatives.
Their leadership journey includes volunteering with the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT), mentoring 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers, and working as a Youth Programme Coordinator at LetsStopAIDS, where they have led over 50 workshops on HIV, STIs, harm reduction, and mental health, educating over 1,000 youth. Additionally, as a Senior Program Coordinator at the Marginalized Majority Organization, they design initiatives that amplify marginalized voices and provide mental health support.
Ahmad has spoken at major advocacy events, including Pride Toronto Youth Conference and the International AIDS 2024 Conference, where they addressed HIV progress, digital safety, and youth leadership. Their work as ambassador for LiveLifeLoving further highlights their dedication to supporting youth newly diagnosed with HIV. With resilience, passion, and an unwavering belief in youth empowerment, Ahmad continues to drive meaningful, lasting change.
Vaughan Murrae
Vaughan Murrae (they/them) had a breakout performance, starring in the lead role of BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND, directed by Trevor Anderson, which turned heads with its script featured on The GLAAD List at Sundance 2020 and its nomination for the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Film—Limited Theatrical Release. Vaughan’s performance won over audiences at the 75th Locarno Film Festival, which awarded Vaughan the Boccalino d’Oro Locarno 22 Audience Choice Award for Best Acting in August 2022. Other recent career highlights include their fan favourite nonbinary role as “Casey Goodwin,” on the popular Hallmark+ series THE WAY HOME. Vaughan is dedicated to queer community storytelling and—if only in moments, stepping into different shoes.
“We have stories. We’re human beings. We all have our own unique experiences, but we also have experiences that everybody else goes through. Having stories show or tell uniquely queer experiences is important, but also equally important are stories where queerness exists as people in the world exist and within relatable human context.”
Victor Paisley
Victor Paisley (he/they) is the Program Coordinator of Rainbow Community Places. He leads Toby’s Place (a program of Rainbow Community Places). Toby’s Place is a drop-in after-school program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-20. Toby’s Place hosts community dinners, workshops, clothing swaps, gender-affirming haircuts, and other 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming programming. Paisley began attending Toby’s Place as a participant at the age of 16, and attended its opening day party. He attended regularly until the pandemic shutdown in 2020, returning as a volunteer in 2022. Paisley joined the staff team later that year, at the age of 21.
Paisley designs and delivers workshop programming, runs the Toby’s Place and Rainbow Community Places social media accounts, built and maintains the Rainbow Community Places website, oversees the volunteer team, applies for grants, does networking and outreach, and more; but Paisley’s favourite part of the job is running the Toby’s Place program in-person on Mondays from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Positive Business of the Year
ArtsFitness
ArtsFitness has been able to reach and serve two communities: older adults & LGBTQ+ folks. Lorenzo works tirelessly throughout the year not only as a contracted Registered Massage Therapist and Personal Trainer, but also providing workshops and outreach services throughout the Church-Wellesley village and GTA. They are a passionate promoter of diversity and inclusion in the fitness industry, leading with their vision of accessible coaching. They actively boost visibility of racialized and gender diverse instructors and healthcare workers.
They delivered a presentation on back and spine integrity while raising funds for the Friends for Life Bike Rally. For Glad Day TV, they hosted HIIT-ASTIC where workouts were offered while interviewing BIPOC coaches, discussing pressing issues around diversity & inclusion. They have spoken at Canfitpro’s Global Conference on making fitness accessible for older adults. Lorenzo has taught group fitness at important institutions such as Baycrest Hospital, The 519, Fitness in Place, and Dixon Hall where an all-levels adaptable fitness class for low-income seniors was delivered. Lorenzo has been making notable strides providing specialized scar tissue release for post-surgery/post-injury patients including many members of the trans community.
ArtsFitness is part of the RISE with Edge program at Sheridan designed for businesses who make a social impact in the world.
Gay AF Comedy
Gay AF Comedy has been the passion of comedian Robert Watson for the past 5 years, with a mission to uplift our community through laughter and nurture Queer performers by creating inclusive spaces to hone their comedic craft. As host and producer Robert has presented hundreds of Queer focused events in partnerships that include Just For Laughs, Pride Toronto and Buddies In Bad Times Theatre. With a commitment to showcasing comedians from the many intersections of our 2SLGBTQ+ community, Gay AF Comedy has become Toronto’s premier place to find Queer stand-up, and every summer tours to local Pride celebrations bringing professional-level comedy to rural towns and smaller centres across Southern Ontario. In April 2024 Robert launched “The Gay AF Comedy Tour” taking his brand of inclusive comedy to Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal. With transgender stand-up phenomenon Ava Val as the tour headliner and showcasing local Queer comedians at every stop, audiences were edified by the Queer joy that is always at the heart of every Gay AF Comedy performance. With plans to visit 8 more cities in April 2025, by the end of the tour Gay AF will have brought quality Queer comedy to 9 provinces across Canada!
Battista Migration Law Group
Battista Migration Law Group is a full-service immigration and refugee law firm committed to
advocating for marginalized communities, with a focus on the unique needs and interests of
2SLGBTQI+ immigrants and refugees. We provide expert and high-quality legal services to a diverse clientele, including refugees, families, workers, and businesses. With strong roots in Toronto’s 2SLGBTQI+ community, we are community leaders devoted to changing Canadian immigration law for the better.
Located in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village, our firm works closely with the 2SLGBTQI+
community, providing legal support to various community-based organizations, including the 519 Community Centre, Vivir, the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, and HQ Toronto. Our office is also proud to be the birthplace of Rainbow Railroad, of which our founding counsel, the Honourable Justice Michael Battista, was an inaugural member.
BMLG’s legal team has appeared at every level of Canadian court and has been actively involved in changing Canadian immigration law, including with respect to the impacts it has on the lives of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. Committed to teaching and learning as central to our advocacy, we are also adjunct faculty members at both the Faculty of Law and Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
Thrive Kids Clinic
Thrive Kids Clinic is a progressive pediatric practice in Toronto dedicated to delivering comprehensive, inclusive care to children and their families. Our services encompass routine newborn and well-child visits, immunizations, developmental assessments, ADHD evaluations, and after-hours urgent care. Recognizing the unique needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, we also provide gender-affirming care, including counseling and support for youth exploring their gender identity.
Founded with the mission of creating “Better Kids. Better Families,” Thrive Kids Clinic emphasizes a patient-first approach, ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, and valued. Our team of dedicated professionals collaborates with families to develop personalized care plans that respect each child’s individuality.
Beyond clinical services, we actively engage in community outreach and education to promote understanding and acceptance of diverse identities. By fostering a safe and supportive environment, Thrive Kids Clinic not only addresses the physical health of our patients but also nurtures their emotional and social well-being.
Our commitment to excellence and inclusivity positions Thrive Kids Clinic as a leader in pediatric healthcare, making us a strong candidate for the LGBTQ+ Business of the Year award.
All Pets
Located at 528 Church St, All Pets is more than just a pet supply store; it’s a haven for pets and pet lovers in Toronto. We are committed to providing high-quality nutrition for pets, by offering a carefully curated selection of premium pet food brands. Our products are sourced with a focus on quality ingredients to meet the unique dietary needs of pets of all shapes, sizes, breeds, & gender. At All Pets, we believe that informed pet ownership fosters healthier, happier animals. Our dedicated team is here to educate pet owners about the critical role nutrition plays in their pets’ well-being. We value education, provide personalized recommendations, and strive to create a community where pet lovers can share their experiences and insights. Our mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their families, ensuring that every visit to All Pets is a step towards a better quality of life for your furry companions. We are honored to be nominated for the Inspire Award and continue to be a leader in the pet nutrition industry.
Inspiring Community Organization of the Year
Senior Pride Network Toronto
The Senior Pride Network (Toronto) asserts and advocates for the human, economic, social and cultural rights of 2 Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, intersex and other (2SLGBTQI+) elders, seniors and older persons. In doing so, we recognize that the life and aging experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ elders, seniors and older persons vary significantly because of their race, gender, sex and other identities. Many 2SLGBTQI+ elders, seniors and older persons, including 2SLGBTQI+ elders, seniors and older persons who identify as Black, indigenous, people of colour, lesbians, transgender and persons with disabilities, or who came to Canada as immigrants or refugees, live at the intersections of two or more of these identities. The Senior Pride Network (Toronto) envisions a series of communities of 2SLGBTQI+ elders, seniors and older persons that are respectful, affirming, supportive, safe and healthy. We seek to eradicate all forms of oppression including homophobia, heterosexism, lesbophobia, transphobia, biphobia, sexism, cissexism, racism, antisemitism, settler colonialism, xenophobia, islamophobia, ableism and ageism. We demand the right of all 2SLGBTQI+ elders, seniors and older persons to live their lives free from discrimination, harassment, reprisal, bullying, intimidation, victimization, stigmatization, silencing, being marginalized or being made invisible.
Friends of Hanlan’s
Friends of Hanlan’s was formed in reaction to the disastrous city master plan to reprogram Toronto Island, of which there had been little public communication. The city had not done adequate community outreach or any historical research on the space, and as a result was unaware of the deeply entrenched vital queer community gathering space at Hanlan’s Point, the historic site of the first queer Pride gathering in Canada.
Amidst a spike in anti-queer hate crimes at Hanlan’s, the city’s plan for a large concert venue would have exacerbated the issue and would have likely been the end of the queer gathering spacer altogether.
FOH led a grassroots movement to mobilize nearly ten thousand queer Canadians to protest the plan and brought the issue to international media attention. FOH leadership interfaced with city representatives through this time, negotiating a new approach to respecting this unique space. Over the course of many months was able to get the city to back away from the plan, apologize, and commit to focusing on Hanlan’s as a queer community space in all future plans.
FOH also conducted in depth historical research and uncovered that Hanlan’s is the oldest surviving queer space in Canada with nearly a century of continuous queer presence, and is also one of the ten oldest surviving queer spaces in the entire world, and worked through many channels for this hidden history to be respected and preserved.
Vivi’r LGBTQ+
As a dedicated supporter of Latinx LGBTQ+ immigrant’s communities and individuals living with HIV, Vivi’r LGBTQ+ exemplifies the spirit of inclusion, advocacy, and support crucial for fostering belonging and empowerment among marginalized groups. Vivi’r is committed to creating safe spaces where individuals can come together, share experiences, and find solidarity. The organization has implemented support services for transgender individuals from Latin America, addressing their unique challenges and advocating for their rights. By organizing educational workshops and community events, Vivi’r fosters dialogue, challenges stereotypes, and promotes understanding within and beyond the Latinx LGBTQ+ community. With a focus on inclusivity and representation, Vivi’r actively engages diverse voices and perspectives, ensuring that everyone feels seen and respected. The organization’s dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to inspire hope and resilience in those they serve.
Overall, Vivi’r LGBTQ+ is more than a community organization; it is a lifeline for individuals seeking acceptance and support. Its unwavering commitment to advocacy and empowerment has transformed countless lives, and I believe it deserves recognition for its invaluable contributions as a community collaborator. believe that it is deserving of recognition for its invaluable contributions as a community collaborator.
PTCS, the Gerstein Crisis Centre (Toronto Community Crisis Centre TCCS)
Founded in Toronto in 1989, Gerstein Crisis Centre has provided community -based crisis support designed to meet the needs and wishes of individuals experiencing mental health crises. With a focus on respect, dignity, and care. Gerstein Crisis Centre ensures that individuals receive the support they need during when and where they need it.
In 2022, Gerstein became a key partner in the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) pilot program. Alongside four other community organizations, Gerstein helped develop and implement a non-police response to mental health crises, offering an innovative and compassionate alternative to police. This initiative offers mobile crisis response by trained Crisis Workers and offers 90 days (about 3 months) of follow-up post crisis.
The success of the TCCS pilot led to the program’s citywide expansion in the summer of 2024. The expansion extends the availability of community-based crisis support across Toronto, ensuring that more people can access the help they need when experiencing a mental health crisis. With this citywide rollout, TCCS continues to transform mental health crisis care in Toronto, prioritizing compassionate, non-police responses and creating a more responsive and supportive mental health care system for community stakeholders.
Queer Collective TO
Queer Collective, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to fostering accurate, positive representation of the entire LGBTQ2S+ community. We fulfill this mission through impactful initiatives like The Queer Collective Podcast, short films, artist grants, mentorship programs, and live events.
Our podcast and films provide a vital platform for addressing underrepresented topics and amplifying marginalized voices, particularly QT-BIPOC individuals. By featuring diverse guest speakers and exploring themes like Black trans experiences, queer refugee narratives, bisexuality, and trans dating, we create space for stories often sidelined in mainstream media. These stories foster connection, validation, and understanding while promoting empathy and allyship.
In addition to digital content, we build community through inclusive, in-person events that uplift local queer artists and foster meaningful connections.
Our artist grant and mentorship programs directly support Canadian LGBTQ2S+ artists by offering funding, mentorship, digital tools, and amplification. In these efforts we empower queer creatives to thrive and utilize their art as a vehicle for social change.
Through our multi-faceted approach, Queer Collective challenges stereotypes, dismantles stigmas, and fosters a more inclusive society. Together, we celebrate and amplify the diverse voices of the LGBTQ2S+ community.