Pride Month is a time to honour the histories, resilience and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. It commemorates decades of advocacy and protest for equal rights, including landmark moments in Canadian history such as the 1971 We Demand March, Canada’s first large-scale demonstration for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. These acts of resistance continue to inspire today’s movements for justice and liberation.
At Seneca, inclusion means ongoing reflection and action. We are committed to creating spaces where 2SLGBTQIA+ students, employees and communities feel safe, seen and supported. Whether you are a member of the community or an ally, we invite you to take part in this year’s events, engage with our resources and continue learning.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 9:30 to 10 a.m. Alumni Atrium, Magna Hall, King Campus
Join us for Seneca’s 2025 Pride kick-off event, marking the commencement of Pride Month. The kickoff will feature welcome remarks from President David Agnew and a land acknowledgement from Elder Blu Waters. Students and employees are welcome to help launch Pride Month in a meaningful way.
All are welcome to attend, and registration is not required.
Email the ORI for access needs.
Getting to the EventsSeneca's campus shuttle bus is available to hep you get to Pride Month events at King. The shuttle bus is free for all students, just bring your OneCard and hop on. Check the shuttle schedule to plan your trip!
MH1005, Magna Hall, King Campus
Join Dr. Mark O’Connell, Professor at the School of Fashion, for a 30-minute talk on Lilac Times at the Rodeo: Stories of Identity, AIDS, and Fashion.
Then, dive into a hands-on dyeing workshop led by Julie Sinden of The Love of Colour, using professional fibre-reactive dyes. Celebrate Pride with a palette inspired by Pride flags and learn the stories behind their colours. Create vibrant patterns or rainbows on a provided white handkerchief—or bring your own item to dye!
All materials provided. Spots are limited and registration is required.
His research focuses on globalization and social justice within the history of fashion. His forthcoming Canadian fashion history monograph Canadian Fashion Economies: A Select History of Fashion Culture, Commerce, and Colonialization will be published by Bloomsbury UK in 2025. He is the author of Lilac Time at the Rodeo, Stories of Identity AIDS & Fashion (2021) and Lilac Time at the Rodeo 2, Marie Debris, David Wojnarowicz, Martin Wong (2024). His articles have been published in Fashion Theory; Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture; Fashion, Style & Popular Culture; Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture and Fashion Studies. In addition to his academic work, Mark is also an artist and writer, and prior to teaching worked as a designer both in-house at M.A.C Cosmetics and for his own clothing line Modular Menswear. Current work: markoconnellstudio.com. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1027-9338 mark.oconnell@senecapolytechnic.ca
Monday, June 2 | noon – 1 p.m.Cafeteria, Seneca@York Campus
Tuesday, June 3 | noon – 1 p.m.Northern Hive, King Campus
Thursday, June 5 | noon – 1 p.m.E1404 and E1405, Newnham Campus
Let's come together to celebrate love and equality in the most fabulous way possible! Don't miss out on this unforgettable celebration of diversity and pride!
Monday, June 2 | 1 to 3 p.m.Cafeteria, Seneca@York Campus
Tuesday, June 3 | 1 to 3 p.m.Northern Hive, King Campus
Thursday, June 5 | 1 to 3 p.m.E1404 and E1405, Newnham Campus
Celebrate Pride with Student Services and express your authentic self at our bracelet making drop-in! Whether you’re crafting a rainbow design or a flag that reflects your unique identity, this is your space to create, connect and show your support. All materials are provided.
All are welcome to attend, registration is not required.
Check out the newest initiative from the Reconciliation & Inclusion team. Field Notes offers a collection of resources that the R&I team has personally engaged with, reflected on and found meaningful in their own learning. This edition is specific to Pride Month and aims to deepen awareness and support inclusive practice.
Read Field Notes
Explore the achievements, contributions and past and present experiences of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with this curated selection of ebooks, streaming videos and websites from Seneca Libraries.
Check the Resources
Click a course title to open its outline link or the arrow to expand the description.
Seneca Unmute: The Definition of Gender
Watch an educational conversation between Seneca employees Sam and Karen about the definition of gender and key learning on different kinds of gender identity. This event was recorded on July 26, 2023.
Seneca Unmute: Pronouns
Tune into this episode of Seneca Unmute to learn more about pronouns. Seneca employees Sam and Karen explain the use of they/them, how to be respectful of a person’s gender pronouns and more.
The 12 Apostles by Stephen Andrews (1997)
Stephen Andrews is a Toronto-based multimedia artist. Deeply shaped by his experience as a queer man living with HIV, Andrews’ work explores themes of science, technology, memory and loss. His work has been widely exhibited, including in a major solo show at the Art Gallery of Ontario and across Brazil, Japan, Scotland and more.
In the art piece, The 12 Apostles, Andrews plays with notions of spiritual ecstasy by reassigning the identities of the Bible’s Apostles to men from 1950s homoerotic magazines.
Visit Level 2 near the Library, Building B at Newnham Campus to experience The 12 Apostles up close, or learn more about the piece in the art repository.
Employees: Join the Employee Resource Group
ProudER is a resource group that was established in 2023 for employees who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQQIANB+ communities at Seneca Polytechnic. The group provides an opportunity to connect, engage and champion the voices of employees, by galvanizing opportunities and navigating challenges. ProudER aspires to carve out both tangible and digital spaces for the community, through transformative curricula, proactive programs and robust community outreach.
To join ProudER, please reach out to ri@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Students: Join the Student Support Group
Student Support Groups are designed to create a warm and welcoming environment where equity-deserving students who share similar identities and experiences can connect. Unlike traditional clubs that might require active participation and a substantial time commitment, our groups offer a haven for you to simply show up, be yourself and forge genuine connections. Check out the Rainbow Hangout for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Seneca student community.
To join a Student Support Group, please reach out to matthew.harris@senecapolytechnic.ca.
The Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag will be up at King, Seneca@York and Newnham campuses all month long. Designed by Valentino Vecchietti, this version of the flag adds the intersex yellow and purple circle next to the transgender blue, pink and white colours. Yellow is used to represent those who do not fit the binary, and purple represents the wholeness of the intersex community.
Your session has expired. You are being logged out.