Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Fierté Simcoe Pride includes individuals who are committed to the LGBT+ community of the Simcoe County area. Members are residents or professional workers of Simcoe County. Official elections are held each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Preference is given to individuals who identify as Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD) or allies. Other community members who are interested are able to volunteer or participate through sub-committees.
To learn more about founding members, including the founding chair and past presidents, please visit the Founder's Circle page.
To learn more about founding members, including the founding chair and past presidents, please visit the Founder's Circle page.
Members
The following members were elected at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, December 5, 2019.
Keegan Hobson - President
Keegan (he/him pronouns) is a post-secondary student who is active in his local communities through direct action, volunteer work, community outreach and workshop facilitation. With an emphasis on queer and trans youth and utilizing harm reduction approaches, he is passionate about 2SLGBTQI+ rights, mental health advocacy, sex education and Indigenous movements.
Keegan is currently attending Ryerson University in Toronto for his Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Disability Studies. He is active in local kink communities and is fierce in the pursuit of conversations around consent, healthy negotiations, leather culture and Risk Aware approaches. He has been organizing in community since 2015.
First elected to the Board in 2016, he has served as the Regional Representative for Barrie in 2016, Vice Chair from 2017 to 2019, and Secretary from 2018 to 2020, and became President in 2020.
Keegan is currently attending Ryerson University in Toronto for his Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Disability Studies. He is active in local kink communities and is fierce in the pursuit of conversations around consent, healthy negotiations, leather culture and Risk Aware approaches. He has been organizing in community since 2015.
First elected to the Board in 2016, he has served as the Regional Representative for Barrie in 2016, Vice Chair from 2017 to 2019, and Secretary from 2018 to 2020, and became President in 2020.
Lennox LePage - Treasurer
Lennox LePage (he/him pronouns) is a post-secondary student, parent and local activist. With roughly 6 years experience, Lennox has sat as both a Board member and President of our neighbouring organization, Muskoka Pride.
He is currently a student in Georgian Colleges Honors Bachelor of Business Administration and working full-time with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka. He is passionate about harm reduction, decolonization efforts and facilitating braver spaces.
Lennox joined the Board in February 2019 and became Treasurer in December 2019.
He is currently a student in Georgian Colleges Honors Bachelor of Business Administration and working full-time with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka. He is passionate about harm reduction, decolonization efforts and facilitating braver spaces.
Lennox joined the Board in February 2019 and became Treasurer in December 2019.
Gabriel L. - Secretary
Gabriel (he/him pronouns) is a director of the board who grew up - and lived in Simcoe County for most of his life. He lived in between Ontario and Halifax in his early 20s while obtaining an art degree.
Gabe has roughly 4 years of experience with event organizing and support group facilitating. He began work with Fierté Simcoe Pride early summer of 2019, sitting on the Barrie Sub committee and the Trans Pride sub committee. He is a 2 spirit, trans masculine individual who is dedicated to community.
While working hard and full time in Simcoe County, Gabe is a trauma informed activist in the community striving to keep spaces brave. He is passionate about advocating for queer and trans youth, mental health, harm reduction, restorative justice and decolonization.
Gabe was elected to the Board in December 2019, and became Secretary in 2020.
Gabe has roughly 4 years of experience with event organizing and support group facilitating. He began work with Fierté Simcoe Pride early summer of 2019, sitting on the Barrie Sub committee and the Trans Pride sub committee. He is a 2 spirit, trans masculine individual who is dedicated to community.
While working hard and full time in Simcoe County, Gabe is a trauma informed activist in the community striving to keep spaces brave. He is passionate about advocating for queer and trans youth, mental health, harm reduction, restorative justice and decolonization.
Gabe was elected to the Board in December 2019, and became Secretary in 2020.
Colin Nelthorpe - Chair of the Board
Colin Nelthorpe (he/him pronouns) is a long time resident of Barrie. He is always looking for new ways to get involved in community and engage others. He attended Georgian College for Mechanical Technician Precision Skills and graduated 2018. While attending college he ran successfully to become the Vice Chair of the Change Makers, a group dedicated to using technology to solve environmental and manufacturing issues.
Always needing to be part of something Colin joined the Fierté Simcoe Pride Barrie Subcommittee in 2019 and served as the Vice Chair. He plans to continue supporting harm reduction strategies, mental health support, and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. His interests are in science, politics, handyman skills, environment activism, and progressive social activism. Being a rather talkative person he is always willing to engage in conversation and discuss any topic to the best of his abilities.
Colin was elected to the Board as Vice Chair in December 2019, and appointed as Chair in January 2021.
Always needing to be part of something Colin joined the Fierté Simcoe Pride Barrie Subcommittee in 2019 and served as the Vice Chair. He plans to continue supporting harm reduction strategies, mental health support, and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. His interests are in science, politics, handyman skills, environment activism, and progressive social activism. Being a rather talkative person he is always willing to engage in conversation and discuss any topic to the best of his abilities.
Colin was elected to the Board as Vice Chair in December 2019, and appointed as Chair in January 2021.
Vacant - Vice Chair of the Board
Marie-Josée LeVasseur-Portelance - Social Media Director
MJ (she/her pronouns) is a bubbly, pierced, bilingual, queer-lesbian activist from Barrie, ON.
Already a mental health advocate, graduating as a Social Service Worker in 2020 helped her hone in on her passion for activism in 2SLGBTQIA+, homelessness/poverty, and sex work matters. As a student, working closely with Chris Sheridan of Georgian Pride, she founded and was president of peer-level advocacy group Queerios & Friendos at Georgian College, Orillia, between 2019-2020.
MJ occupies herself with family, concerts, dance, learning a third language, and anything related to music. She intends to further her education to continue her work in 2SLGBTQIA+ education, community development, and front-line mental health services.
MJ joined the FSP team as the Virtual Event Organizer, and is now a proud member of the Board as of September 2020, and was appointed as Social Media Director in January 2021.
Already a mental health advocate, graduating as a Social Service Worker in 2020 helped her hone in on her passion for activism in 2SLGBTQIA+, homelessness/poverty, and sex work matters. As a student, working closely with Chris Sheridan of Georgian Pride, she founded and was president of peer-level advocacy group Queerios & Friendos at Georgian College, Orillia, between 2019-2020.
MJ occupies herself with family, concerts, dance, learning a third language, and anything related to music. She intends to further her education to continue her work in 2SLGBTQIA+ education, community development, and front-line mental health services.
MJ joined the FSP team as the Virtual Event Organizer, and is now a proud member of the Board as of September 2020, and was appointed as Social Media Director in January 2021.
Meg Minnikin - Director
Meg Minnikin (they/he pronouns) is a nursing student, personal support worker and local activist.
They are currently a student at Georgian College in Barrie. Meg is also an alumni of Georgian College in South Georgian Bay. They are dedicated to helping others in their community, in anyway they can.
Meg wants to continue to support the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+, as well as BIPOC communities. Meg's interests include video editing, volunteering and engaging with their community.
Meg joined the Board in June 2020 as a Director.
They are currently a student at Georgian College in Barrie. Meg is also an alumni of Georgian College in South Georgian Bay. They are dedicated to helping others in their community, in anyway they can.
Meg wants to continue to support the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+, as well as BIPOC communities. Meg's interests include video editing, volunteering and engaging with their community.
Meg joined the Board in June 2020 as a Director.