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Welcome!  Below you’ll find news and events about the Valley Youth Project, an organization dedicated to connecting LGBTQ youth and our allies across the Annapolis Valley.  If you’re new, you might want to read more about who we are and why we’re here.

May 17: IDAHoT

May 17 has been declared the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, as a day that communities  around the world can draw attention to homophobia and transphobia in ways that are of particular interest  to each community.

The County of Kings, for the first time,  will be having an official rainbow flag raising ceremony at 12:00 noon in front of the Municipal Building on Cornwallis Street in downtown Kentville.

Later in the day, the Town of Wolfville will be hosting a rainbow flag raising ceremony  at 5:00 pm in the Waterfront Park.

These ceremonies are planned to acknowledge and celebrate our presence in our communities. Please join us.

May 15 Drop In: IDAHoT

Our next Drop In is Wednesday May 15.   The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia ( IDAHoT) is May 17.  So at Drop In on May 15,  we are going to  make some swag – buttons and colour-your-own T-shirt – to celebrate IDAHoT. You can create your own colourful slogan or sly icon to wear on May 17. Be proud and loud or quietly subversive to help remind people that homophobia and transphobia are not welcome in our communities.  And if you want to show off your swag you can join the IDAHoT celebration on Wednesday May 17, at 5:00 in the Wolfville Harbourfront Park.

Drop In is the usual time and place:  

Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30-8:30

Room 122, Louis Millet Community Complex, 9489 Commercial St., New Minas

We welcome all GLBTIQ Youth 25 years and younger ( and your friends too.) There is no membership, just walk in and join us.

Drop In will be taking a Summer Break.  The last Drop In of this season will be June 19. But keep following our Blog and Facebook page as we may be offering rides to the Youth Project Dance in Halifax at the end of June and the Halifax Pride Parade on July 27.

May 1 Drop In: Games

We’re back with some easy going game time on Wednesday May 1.  We’ll have a little brain exercise with Round 2 of “Jeapordyke” – testing your knowledge of all things queer – and then some more relaxed brain activity with “Apples to Apples”.  First we’ll catch up with what’s new since we last saw you.  It all starts at 6:30 in room 122 of the Louis Millet Community Complex at 9489 Commercial St., New Minas. In the meantime, mark Friday May 17 on your calendar for a little celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia beginning at 5:00 at the waterfront park in Wolfville.  There will be a festive flag raising and the VYP will get a chance to do some self-promotioin.  In preparation,  we’ll be making up some swag – (buttons and T-shirts) – at the May 15 Drop In, to show off our VYP colours at the flag raising on May 17. If you have not been to our Drop In yet, you’ll find room 122 at the far east end of the Community Complex – that’s to your far right if you’re looking at the street side of the building. The rainbow flag draped over the door will be your beacon. We’re a safe space that respects  your own 25-years-and-younger,TLBQG self.

April 17 Drop In: Queer Chat

“I’m Queer – so now what?”    As you become more open about being any of one or more of  those identities labelled with that mash up of letters – G, L, B, T, Q, - it can be challenging to figure out how to meld that part of who you are with all the other bits  that make you whole.  How do you write the story that will describe your life?

At our next Drop In, we are going to tell some stories.  The volunteer organizers have invited a couple of guests to join us and we are going to talk about how we grew up, went to school, got jobs, nurtured loving relationships and live as queer people in our communities here in the Annapolis Valley.  We invite you to encourage our story telling, by asking your questions and  sharing your thoughts about how you  live your own authentic lives in your communities.

Please join us, Wednesday April 17, from 6:30-8:30, in Room  122 of the Louis Millet Community Complex, 9489 Commercial St. New Minas.  All GLBTQ youth, 25 years and younger, are welcome – (and your friends too.)

If you want to put some questions or thoughts in writing rather that speak them, you can comment on this post. The comments will not be made public, and we will keep them anonymous.  Or you can write them down  and bring them along with you when you come to Queer Chat.

April 3 Drop In: TV Time

At the next scheduled Drop In on Wednesday April 3 we’ll be watching a few LGBT themed television shows.  After our last viewing of some new shows we chatted about what we had just watched and shared our thoughts.  We wondered if TV gets it right in mirroring our lives. Is it more then entertainment?

You can bring along your own list of favourite episodes, shows or movies and tell us what you think is a “must see”  - and what’s a “I’ll never get those wasted minutes back” flop.

We’ll have our usual catch-up of what’s new before we get into the TV Time.  And of course we’ll have  snacks. It all happens at the same bat-time, same bat-channel:

Wednesday April 3,  6:30 – 8:30 pm

Room 122, Louis Millet Community Complex

9489 Commercial St., New Minas

We welcome all LGBTQ youth ( 25 years and younger) and your friends. Feel free to drop in.

Games Night Still On

The main roads are in good shape and the Louis Millet Centre is open, so we’ll be at our usual spot in Room 122 this evening at 6:30.  Hope you’ll join us for games, hot cider, and good company.

Wed 20th: Games Night Returns

At our last games nights, we’ve had short samplers of all kinds: board games, video games, table games.  Now it’s time for a rematch.  The locally-produced and widely loved “Jeopardyke” makes a return — this time with a longer time slot so we can get to see more of the categories.  We’ll also be bringing back Munchkins, the incredibly silly role-playing game with our own creative reinterpretations of gender.

Join us for snacks, good company, and good times — Wed. Mar. 20, 6:30 – 8:30 at the Louis Millet Centre in New Minas.

If you’re joining us for the first time, come in through the side door (to the right of the building) and look for the rainbow flag over the door of room 122.  Remember that GLBTQ folks and allies are welcome — you’re always welcome to bring a friend.