An Orientation for Board Members,
Volunteers, Donors & Sponsors
A national human rights organization built by and for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community — driven by compassion, amplified by action.
A national human rights organization built by and for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community — driven by compassion, amplified by action.
Advocacy Canada is a registered charity led by and for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Everything we do flows from these foundational commitments.
Advocacy Canada's mission is to foster unity and amplify the voices of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies, driving transformative change on vital issues with enduring impact. We create and support ways for the community to feel safe and experience belonging.
We acknowledge our presence on the unceded ancestral lands of the syilx people and commit to conducting our work with a focus on decolonization principles.
Advocacy Canada envisions a future where public spaces are truly public — vibrant tapestries woven with the diverse threads of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies, a testament to a society that celebrates inclusivity and belonging for all.
Advocacy Canada is a powerful and respected force for change, working alongside the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to achieve equality.
(1) Educate the public about prejudice and discrimination, including in employment, housing, and healthcare, on the basis of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
(2) Promote understanding and acceptance of sexual and gender diversity within the community, fostering respect for the human rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ minorities in accordance with Canadian human rights legislation.
(3) Provide aid and assistance to 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors of prejudice, discrimination, or human rights abuses, including survivors of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) and gender identity change efforts (GICE).
We believe in the power of individual and collective voices to drive positive change for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
We champion a society where we recognize intersectionality. All gender identities and sexual orientations are welcomed, respected, and valued.
We strive for a just and equitable world where everyone can thrive, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
We treat everyone with dignity and respect, fostering a safe and supportive environment for all.
We believe in representation and the power of collaboration to achieve lasting change. We work alongside individuals, organizations, and allies to build a stronger, more inclusive future.
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in all our actions and decisions.
"Building a more equitable Canada is not just our mandate — it is our moral obligation."
Wilbur Turner is a queer elder, writer, and lifelong community builder rooted in Kelowna, BC. After decades of frontline advocacy — including past leadership with what became Kelowna Pride, and service on the boards of Fierté Canada Pride and the Living Positive Resource Centre — he founded Advocacy Canada in July 2021 with a clear vision: to create a national organization that would amplify 2SLGBTQIA+ voices, drive policy change, and ensure that seniors, youth, and everyone in between could find community and support.
He served as the pivotal force in establishing Kelowna's Etcetera 2SLGBTQ youth group, and has represented the 2SLGBTQIA+ sector on Kelowna's Community Advisory Board on Homelessness. He is a member of the City of Kelowna Cultural Plan Working Group.
Wilbur is President and Executive Director of Advocacy Canada. He writes the weekly column "The Turner Files" for Kelowna Capital News and Black Press Media, and publishes his Substack newsletter, Queerly Beloved. In June 2025, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from UBC Okanagan in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to community and human rights.
From a founding vision to a nationally registered charity — here are the milestones that have shaped Advocacy Canada.
Wilbur Turner founds Advocacy Canada in Kelowna, BC, driven by a vision to create a national organization that amplifies 2SLGBTQIA+ voices, advocates for policy change, and builds genuine community for people of all ages — with a particular focus on seniors who have long lacked dedicated support. The organization is based in Kelowna and operates primarily in the Okanagan, with plans to open chapters across Canada in the future.
Advocacy Canada joined the national push to support Bill C-4, which criminalized conversion therapy in Canada — a landmark moment for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and a cause deeply aligned with our charitable purpose of aiding survivors of sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.
Advocacy Canada launched candidate survey campaigns for provincial and local elections — the Rainbow Vote Kelowna project — reaching out to candidates across the 2024 BC provincial election and local races, inviting them to share their positions on issues affecting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and publishing responses for voters.
Recognizing that 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors are among the most underserved members of our community, Advocacy Canada launched the Kelowna 50+ Pride Network — a vibrant community space for 2SLGBTQIA+ residents aged 50 and over to connect, share, and build lasting friendships in a safe and supportive environment.
In partnership with Kelowna Pride Society, community members, and allies, Advocacy Canada published a statement of solidarity and call to action addressing a deeply concerning rise in anti-trans and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ mobilizations in the Central Okanagan. Advocacy Canada also co-organized a public rally in support of the trans and non-binary community that drew over 700 people to Kelowna — a remarkable turnout for a stand-alone community action, distinct from the annual Kelowna Pride March and Festival which attracts thousands.
Each year, Advocacy Canada hosts the Trans Day of Visibility (March 31) and Trans Day of Remembrance (November 20) — bringing community together for events that honour trans lives, celebrate resilience, and create space for grief, solidarity, and joy. Our Trans Day of Visibility at the Laurel Packinghouse drew an engaged crowd with keynote speakers including Marni Panas and Mardi Pieronek.
The monthly 50+ Pride Breakfast meets at the café inside the Parkinson Senior's Activity Centre — a relaxed, affordable gathering where 2SLGBTQIA+ elders and allies share a meal, connect, and belong. The annual 50+ Pride event celebrates the network with a larger community celebration. Both are cornerstones of Advocacy Canada's commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors.
In 2025, Advocacy Canada received charitable registration from Canada Revenue Agency — a milestone that validates years of disciplined governance and expands our capacity to receive tax-receipted donations, apply for grants, and deepen our impact across Canada.
Advocacy Canada formalizes its seniors programming under the banner of the Okanagan Rainbow Seniors Project, bringing together three community initiatives: the monthly 50+ Pride Breakfasts, the annual 50+ Pride event held each June, and a new grassroots monthly outdoor gathering called Rainbow Grillers. The project deepens Advocacy Canada's commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ elders in the Okanagan.
Advocacy Canada hires its first contractor — a part-time Program and Event Coordinator supporting the Okanagan Rainbow Seniors Project. It is a significant organizational milestone. All other work continues to be carried out by the volunteer board and an active team of community volunteers, reflecting the grassroots spirit at the heart of everything Advocacy Canada does.
From grassroots community gatherings to national policy advocacy, here is where Advocacy Canada's work comes alive.
Launched in 2026, the Okanagan Rainbow Seniors Project is a dedicated program for 2SLGBTQIA+ people aged 50 and over. It encompasses the monthly 50+ Pride Breakfasts at the Parkinson Senior's Activity Centre, the annual 50+ Pride event each June, and Rainbow Grillers — a grassroots monthly outdoor barbecue gathering. A part-time Program and Event Coordinator supports the project, hired in April 2026.
Advocacy Canada surveys election candidates on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues — provincially and locally — and publishes responses to help community members vote with knowledge. We have reached out to candidates in the 2024 BC provincial election and Kelowna municipal races, holding politicians accountable and amplifying what matters to our community.
Every March 31 and November 20, Advocacy Canada gathers community to mark Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Day of Remembrance. These are not just events — they are sacred acts of witness, celebration, and solidarity. Past keynote speakers have included Marni Panas and Mardi Pieronek, and events are designed to be accessible and welcoming to all.
We produce accessible educational resources including guides on SOGI 123 facts versus myths, gender-affirming care in Canada, how to be a trans ally, and how to support gender non-conforming children. Advocacy Canada believes that education is the bedrock of a more equitable world.
A weekly Saturday morning gathering at Perc's for gay, bisexual, queer, and gender-diverse men to connect informally over coffee. No agenda, no speakers — just community. This kind of casual, consistent social infrastructure matters enormously for wellbeing and belonging, particularly for older community members.
The You Belong campaign is one of Advocacy Canada's most visible and beloved initiatives. It grew out of a simple, powerful idea: that every person in the Okanagan — and across Canada — deserves to feel that they belong, that they are seen, and that they are part of something larger than themselves.
The campaign centres on original artwork created by Kelowna artist Sarah Jones, whose design weaves together motifs drawn from the natural beauty of the Okanagan — strawberries, wild roses, butterflies, eagle feathers, maple leaves — into a vibrant visual celebration of diversity.
Crucially, the campaign incorporates a phrase from the Syilx language, provided by the Syilx Language House: kʷu yʕayʕát kʷuʔ čn̓k̓ʷɬn̓xiʔm̓ — meaning "We all join in together" and "We are all a part of it together." This grounds the campaign in the land and its original stewards, and in the spirit of collective belonging.
The community rallied behind the project from the start: over $8,000 was raised in just two weeks to launch the campaign. The artwork was initially displayed on large digital billboards at the north and south entrances to Kelowna, where it was viewed by over 3 million people over 16 weeks — an extraordinary reach for a grassroots community initiative.
The You Belong design has also been used in Advocacy Canada's Pink Shirt Day promotions — connecting the national anti-bullying campaign to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community's experience of exclusion and the affirmative message that everyone belongs here. Merchandise including t-shirts, caps, and hoodies is available at okyoubelong.com.
In 2025, Advocacy Canada achieved registered charitable status with Canada Revenue Agency — a watershed moment in the organization's growth since its founding in July 2021.
Achieving charitable registration was not simply a bureaucratic milestone — it was the culmination of years of disciplined governance, transparent financial management, and an unwavering commitment to our community. Charitable status means we can now receive tax-receipted donations, apply for government and foundation grants, and carry our work forward with even greater reach.
As a registered charity, Advocacy Canada is formally accountable to the public we serve — and that accountability is something we welcome. Today, all work continues to be carried out by the volunteer board and an active team of community volunteers.
Advocacy Canada is powered by people. From the board room to the barbecue, every member and volunteer is part of what makes this organization work.
Advocacy Canada is supported by over 50 members and growing. Membership is one of the most meaningful ways to support the organization — it provides vital funding and gives members a formal voice in how we govern ourselves. Members participate in the Annual General Meeting, where they can vote on key matters, hear directly from the board, and help shape the direction of the organization. If you care about 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and want to be more than a bystander, membership is where that commitment begins.
Advocacy Canada has no paid staff beyond a single part-time contractor. Every event organized, every resource published, every campaign run is the work of a dedicated volunteer board and an active team of community volunteers. Volunteers contribute in all kinds of ways — writing and communications, event support, outreach, social media, research, and more. Whether you can give a few hours a month or a few hours a week, your skills and energy are genuinely needed and deeply valued.
No one is turned away. That commitment is only possible because of the community and business sponsors who make it real.
Every Advocacy Canada event operates on a pay-what-you-can basis — no exceptions, no barriers.
With the generous support of sponsors, every event hosted by Advocacy Canada — from Trans Day of Visibility to the annual 50+ Pride celebration to monthly breakfasts — operates on a pay-what-you-can basis. This is a deliberate and principled commitment: financial barriers should never prevent someone from accessing community, from being seen, or from finding belonging.
Sponsors make this possible. When a business or organization sponsors an Advocacy Canada event, they are not simply putting their name on a banner — they are directly ensuring that the most financially vulnerable members of our community can participate fully. Sponsorship is an act of solidarity as much as it is a business decision.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring an Advocacy Canada event or program, we would love to hear from you. All sponsors are acknowledged with gratitude and recognized in our event materials and communications.
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There are many ways to contribute to Advocacy Canada's work. Every act of participation — large or small — makes a difference.