In the Beginning
PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON was formed in Peterborough, Ontario in 1999, mostly through the work of Peterborough residents John and Katie Syrett. Katie and John's son had come out to them a few years earlier. Katie was speaking with Paul Cummings who was then at PARN (Peterborough Aids Resource Network) and working to provide support for gay and lesbian teens in the area. Katie wanted to do something to help and Paul suggested she start a local PFLAG chapter.
Katie contacted Dianne McKay, who is a retired Registered Nurse, and who has a son who is gay. Dianne in turn contacted Joyce Barrett, a local family physician, who has a daughter who is bisexual. Katie has since moved away from Peterborough, but Dianne and Joyce are both still very involved with PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON. In the beginning, they held once a month drop in meetings in the Unitarian Church and PARN helped with publicity. Very few people showed up at the first meetings, but those who did were determined. Some of them are still involved to this day. The main goal of these meetings was to talk to parents who were having trouble accepting that their children were gay, or who were concerned that their children would have a harder time in life because they were gay. PFLAG helped these parents see that their kids are fine just the way they are.
These early supporters of PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON also worked with a youth group sponsored by PARN to provide education about being gay or lesbian and the problems gay teens and their families can face. They met with guidance counselors and teachers to talk about ways to make school a more accepting environment for gay students.
PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON got off to a good start. Thanks to support from PARN and other groups, the volunteers persevered and the chapter continues today. After about a year, the group stopped having regular monthly meetings. Now, we meet informally at any time with friends or families who contact us and would like to talk.
Today
Dianne McKay, RN., Volunteer Co-ordinator
Dianne is a Registered Nurse, now retired, and for many years has been the primary contact person at PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON. She never misses an event where she can set up a table to distribute information about the diverse sexuality of humans and how to support our children and their families. If you have any questions, need support and direction, Dianne is the one to call.
Mailing Address: PFLAGPeterborough, 361 Aberdeen Avenue, Peterborough ON. K9H 4X5
Phone: 705-749-9723
Email: click here
Dr. Joyce Barrett, Volunteer Co-ordinator
Joyce is a retired doctor who practiced family medicine for many years in Peterborough. Joyce has been involved with PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON since the beginning. She is always available to answer your questions, lend support and give you direction in your pursuit of knowledge and understanding of our diverse human condition.
Mailing Address: PFLAGPeterborough, 1841 Parkwood Circle, Peterborough ON. K9J 8C3
Phone: 705-743-0241
Email: click here
Catherine Ginies, Website and FaceBook Volunteer
Catherine, a website designer and developer, is the most recent volunteer at PFLAG Canada - Peterborough ON. She donated her time to create and continues to maintain our website. She also accompanies Dianne to many diversity events. Catherine believes that we are all equally human and that all of our children must be accepted, loved, and nurtured. There's no other way to do it!
Mailing Address: PFLAGPeterborough, PO Box 115, Warsaw ON. K0L 3A0
Phone: 705-652-0477
Email: click here
