OUR Spaces inches along

“We certainly have not been on hiatus for the last couple of months,” says James Beresford of OUR Spaces, the grassroots group determined to build a new queer community centre in Vancouver.

Since its incorporation in December 2009, OUR Spaces has been focusing on the “very lengthy and involved process” of setting itself up and applying to Canada Revenue Agency for charitable status, Beresford says.

“We need charitable status to be able to host the types of large-scale fundraisers we’d like to see,” he says, noting the application was submitted about six weeks ago and will likely take three to six months to process.

“We do need funds,” Beresford admits, “but we’re a passionate, committed group of people. We’re going to get this built, and we’re going to do what it takes to do it.

“In some cases that means paying out of pocket and making sure that we get what we need at this point in time,” he adds.

Next on the agenda for OUR Spaces is a special general meeting (SGM) to review and update its bylaws, vote on an interim logo, move the adoption of the society’s draft vision and mission statements and present a draft of the organization’s 2010-2013 strategic plan.

Natasha Barsotti is originally from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. She had high aspirations of representing her country in Olympic Games sprint events, but after a while the firing of the starting gun proved too much for her nerves. So she went off to university instead. Her first professional love has always been journalism. After pursuing a Master of Journalism at UBC , she began freelancing at Xtra West — now Xtra Vancouver — in 2006, becoming a full-time reporter there in 2008.

Keep Reading

How ‘North of North’ is introducing Indigenous queer dramedy to a global stage

Actors Anna Lambe and Zorga Qaunaq on learning about forgiveness and queerness through their award-winning show
Barbara Hammer

Barbara Hammer’s endless influence

The lesbian filmmaker made a radical difference by making work that reflected her real life. A new documentary is cementing her legacy
Collage with two hands holding a bat, swinging towards a baseball with a dollar sign on it, against a blue background with a net, baseball player and the Olivia logo on an outfield sign

Why the WPBL partnering with a lesbian travel company matters

Support from lesbian brands and bars harks back to the queer history of women’s sport leagues
Confluence cover

‘Confluence’ brings Vancouver’s queer history to life

The late Alex Turner and his husband, Lucian Childs, have written a unique and rewarding ode to mid-century gay British Columbia
Advertisement