For many young people, wellbeing is shaped not only by access to care and support, but by whether they feel safe, accepted, and connected. For 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in Saskatchewan, those conditions are even more essential — and too often inconsistent or inequitable. OUTSaskatoon is working to change that by creating spaces where care, community, and belonging are woven together.
Creating safe and supportive spaces for youth
OUTSaskatoon supports 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their caregivers through free, short-term mental health counselling for those aged 12 to 29. Guided by a mission to create a bolder, braver, and safer future, they work to ensure young people have consistent access to the support they need by providing support services, community programming, youth housing, and education.
More than a service provider, OUTSaskatoon is deeply committed to equity and inclusion. Its model recognizes that systemic barriers like stigma, discrimination, and lack of safe spaces can prevent young people from seeking care in the first place. By intentionally creating welcoming environments that affirm identity and lived experience, OUTSaskatoon helps break down those barriers.
"As a queer person, I have seen first-hand the power of counselling in giving young queer and transgender people the confidence to be themselves,” says Natalia Duguay, co-lead of Medavie’s Rainbow Network Employee Resource Group. “The supportive community being built at OUTSaskatoon will have an impact on the wellbeing of these youth for years to come.”
Building connection through community programs
That sense of connection comes to life through a wide range of group-based mental health supports, including clubs for queer and trans youth, sessions focused on gender affirmation, and creative outlets like queer art therapy. These programs offer participants a chance not only to receive support, but to build relationships, share experiences, and see themselves reflected in others.
“The support from the Medavie Foundation has allowed us to provide low-barrier counselling, which is essential in Saskatchewan,” explains Anna Noura Kuhlmann, a youth counsellor at OUTSaskatoon. “Counselling that’s free, easy-to-access, and safe for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is still scarce, and this support helps ensure young people don’t fall through the cracks.”
For staff and volunteers, the difference their work makes in the community is visible every day.
“Being a youth counsellor, I get to experience moments when a client feels such a strong connection to the organization that they come back just to celebrate their successes with us,” Kuhlmann added. “To me, that’s the difference between a providing a service and building a community.”
Supporting the whole person
Underpinning the partnership between OUTSaskatoon and the Medavie Foundation is a holistic understanding of wellbeing that recognizes mental health, identity, belonging, and social support as deeply interconnected. OUTSaskatoon’s approach reinforces the idea that healing and growth happen most effectively when people feel safe being their full selves.
“The one place I could go where I felt like I could be myself was OUTSaskatoon,” shares one community member. “My counsellor didn’t try to tell me who I should be — she saw me for who I was, and that support has made me a more confident person.”
This partnership also reflects a shared belief in the resilience of young people and the power of affirming, community-based care.
“Support like this gives us the flexibility to serve the community in the ways that make the biggest difference,” says Iris Akbar, OUTSaskatoon’s support services manager. “By investing in spaces where young people feel connected, valued, and supported, we’re helping lay the foundation for healthier adults and stronger communities.”
By fostering connection, safety, and belonging, OUTSaskatoon shows us how community itself can be a powerful force for wellbeing.