The Canvas Mission

Based in Toronto, Canvas Programs is a registered charity that provides empathy-based education on consent and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. 

The Canvas Vision

We envision a society in which all people are free to live authentically and have the tools to form safe, caring relationships. We believe that proactive education is key to combatting and ultimately ending transphobia, homophobia and sexual violence.

Our Canvas Values

  • Our programming is enhanced by the diverse lived experiences of our educators.

  • We use creative arts to be engaging and inclusive to all learners

  • We always strive to be intersectional, anti-oppressive and accessible

  • We provide education with empathy and compassion

  • We believe in all people’s capacity for unlearning and positive change.

Our Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan
2024 Annual Report

Our Reach

Our impactful education has reached over 50,000 youth, teacher and youth workers in schools and community spaces across the Greater Toronto Area

The rights of queer and trans youth are at risk in a way we have not seen in recent time, making our 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion programming even more critical.

As the conversation around inclusion becomes more polarized, our work stands our for its ability to create open, non-judgemental spaces where genuine understanding and empathy can thrive.  

Partner With Us

By continuing to expand our educational reach, we are building compassionate futures where every young person can feel valued, supported, and free to be themselves.

“Thank you for coming and talking about this because it needs to be talked about"

- Consent at Camp Participant

“I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community and I find it nice to know that other queer people, other queer adults, exist. It’s nice knowing I'm not alone... I like how everyone is being educated so there isn’t any ignorance and people don’t grow up thinking they’re broken or wrong”

- Consent Youth Participant

Our Board

Chair

Michelle Dowling

She/Her

Board Member at Large

Diane Wise

She/Her

Board Member at Large

Brant Wang

He/They

Secretary

Arielle Lewis

They/Them

Treasurer

Chris Lacher

He/Him

Land Acknowledgement

Canvas Programs honours and expresses gratitude to the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Turtle Island whose sacred lands we live and work upon. Our office, located in Toronto, operates on the traditional territories of the Anishnaabe, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, Wendat, and Mississaugas of the Credit with whom Treaty 13 is signed.

For those of us who are settlers, it is our responsibility to amplify these histories, be aware of the ways in which colonization affects everyone today, and take care of this land we live and meet on.

In particular, when providing 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion education, we honour Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer identities. When providing consent education, we encourage critical reflection about when consent has been absent in settler-Indigenous relations. We strive to move beyond reconciliation and engage in amplifying the voices of Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities and community members.