Lambda Foundation Canada receives funding from Women and Gender Equality

The Lambda Foundation Canada is thrilled to be the recipient of a capacity grant from the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality. Lambda supports 2SLGBTQI+ and QTBIPOC students and research through scholarships. This funding will allow us to increase the number of Lambda Awards at educational institutions across Canada, strengthen existing awards, and support youth who are conducting research, organizing, and mobilizing to combat systemic oppression and discrimination.

We are absolutely thrilled to have the support of Minister Marci Ien and the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality. On Sunday August 27th 2023, a formal announcement was made at Ottawa Pride to name and congratulate the community organizations being given capacity funding, which includes the Lambda Canada Scholarship Foundation.

The details of this 2.5 year project will be released in September/October. Lambda plans to hire staff to complete this undertaking.

The Lambda Board would like to extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality and Minister Ien for their work funding capacity building for 2SLGBTQI+ organizations across Canada. We plan to use this opportunity to cement the Lambda Legacy and continue on for the next 25 years.

Thank you again to all of our supporters and we look forward to making connections with new donors and educational institutions to continue the strong legacy of the Lambda Canada Scholarship Foundation.

Sincerely,

Cameron Aitken, Board President

Sara Bannerman, Vice President

Tuan Vu, Treasurer

Calla Barnett, Director

Brandi Truvall-Davis, Director

Comments from Lambda President Cameron Aitken on the occasion of the receipt of Women and Gender Equality Capacity Grant

My journey with the Lambda Canada Scholarship Foundation began back in 2017. I was back in Ottawa, on the job market, and looking for opportunities to volunteer. After we were introduced by a friend, Dr. Barbara Freeman invited me out for coffee to discuss joining the Lambda Board of Directors.

The Lambda Foundation is the oldest foundation in Canada with a mandate to support 2SLGBTQ students and research across Canada. It has a rich history; it was established by the Lambda Business and Professional Group, and was well-known for its annual  literary fundraiser Wilde About Sappho, which began in the early 1990s.  Wilde About Sappho expanded over the years to become a multi-city touring literary event.  The Lambda Foundation received status as a charity organization in 2003, led by Gary Sealey. After Gary, Barbara Freeman was Lambda’s long-serving Board President; together they and other Lambda volunteers have created a lasting legacy.

Under the leadership of Dr. Freeman’s successor Dr. Patrazia Gentile, I was fortunate enough to serve as Lambda’s Vice President for two years before becoming the organization’s president. Learning from these mentors, I was able to understand Lambda’s history and its exciting potential for the future.

I would like to take a moment to extend my gratitude to past board members of Lambda, who began in uncertain times and raised huge amounts of money for students across Canada. I’d also like to thank current board member Calla Barnett who worked tirelessly on Lambda’s WAGE grant application, as well as Brandi Trudell-Davis, Tuan Vu, Jefferson Morris IV, Mila Markovic, and Sara Bannerman for their support. As a small volunteer board, we have sometimes wondered how we can extend the Lambda legacy for another 20-25 years.  This WAGE capacity grant will make all the difference.