You are Here
Year 3
A Next-Generation Approach to Promoting English-Speaking Québec's Heritage
You are Here successfully completed its third consecutive year thanks to renewed funding from the Secretariat for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers.
This initiative aimed to strengthen the sense of belonging of English-speaking youth through community events and intergenerational conversations that celebrated culture, heritage, and everything in between.
Activities were organised with the help of Youth Cultural Ambassadors (YCAs) from the following regions: North Shore, Eastern Townships, Gaspé-les-Iles, Québec City, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Abitibi-Temiscamingue, and Montréal.
This project is part of the Com-Unity project.
Seven months ago, five aspiring youth organisers came together to create community spaces of kinship and belonging. It’s hard to believe that the third cycle of the Belonging Project is now coming to a close, but it’s also amazing to see what these Youth Cultural Ambassadors have achieved in this time. We have put together this virtual scrapbook to reflect on all the events we have put together, the people we’ve connected with, and all places that we call home. We hope you enjoy these snapshots of our communities, and offer out a special thank you to all those involved in this project!
Learn More about the Project
Why did we showcase this project?
Youth from the linguistic minority of Québec have a lower sense of attachment to the province. You Are Here was a Y4Y project focused on changing that. By liaising with local community organizations, heritage organisations, and education institutions, we aimed to find ways to keep youth and seniors connected to their communities.
Where did this project take place?
From 2020-2022, the You are Here: The Belonging Project worked in the regions of Montréal, Québec City, Gaspé-les-Iles, Lower North Shore, Québec City, and Eastern Townships.
How did you help youth establish a sense of belonging?
Through regional activities and intergenerational conversations, we fostered a sense of belonging, connecting youth to the unique features of their communities and providing an opportunity for participants to discover the richness of the place they all call home.
What were the regional activities?
Regional activities were activities such as trivia night, a baking session, scavenger hunts and more based on the themes of history, culture and community found in each area. These activities were hosted by Youth Cultural Ambassadors, a group of youth based in the regions connected to the project.
What is a Youth Cultural Ambassador?
Youth Cultural ambassadors are youth who host regional activities and work with local community organisations, schools, clubs and more to help bring these activities to your region.
Meet the Team
Project Coordinator
Chloe Rodriguez
(She/Her)
Born in the Philippines, Chloe is a multi-disciplinary artist and community builder who settled in Québec to attend university. While pursuing a major in English: Cultural Studies at McGill University, she became drawn to the dynamic push and pull of community work. In 2019, she helped organize Pinay Power II, a major conference that gathered Filipinx academics, activists, and artists from across the diaspora. Her work with the McGill Institute for Gender, Feminist and Sexuality Studies helped her visualize the creation of intersectional spaces of belonging in academia. After graduating in 2021, Chloe continued working as an Outreach Coordinator with the Max Bell School of Public Policy and the Research Network on Women, Peace and Security. She also continues to pursue her art and enjoys experimenting with new creative projects surrounding shared history and kinship. Based in Montréal, Chloe is excited to lead The Belonging Project, and to enable her fellow youth in fostering sites of exchange and belonging.
Youth Cultural Ambassadors
Alan Sibbald
(He/Him)
Gatineau
Originally from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. I first came to Québec in December 2019 to study Media Management at Algonquin College. Since then I’ve spent my time in the Outaouais region exploring the region and getting to know the community. I find bringing awareness and addressing current day issues affecting the English youth of Quebec is incredibly important and the With You in Mind initiative a great opportunity to tackle it.
Tara Ohri
(They/Them)
Montréal
Tara Ohri is a queer, non-binary Punjabi artist. They are passionate about connecting with others in their community and learning from them. Tara is very excited to be part of the Y4Y project!
Rameen Ali
Anusha Atmakuri
(She/Her)
Québec City
Moving from India to Québec in 2021, Anusha Atmakuri is a doctoral student in Water Sciences at L’Institut national de la recherche scientifique in Québec City. Her prior experience of mentoring students, both inside and outside the university at different levels, inspired her to continue her peer leadership by joining the Belonging Project. Her interests include swimming, reading, traveling, music and photography.
Abbigail Whitcher
(She/Her)
Eastern Townships
Hello there! I’m Abby. I’m thrilled to join the Belonging Project and to be an ambassador for the Eastern Townships because I’ll get to represent my home. I grew up on a farm in the Townships so I’m quite familiar with the country living that most are accustomed to in the region. I was enticed to leave for better job opportunities which is why I made the initial leap to study in Ottawa - I’m a recent graduate from the University of Ottawa. However, I’m back in the Townships, and I plan to stay! The Belonging Project is important to me because, I too, like most English Quebecers, have lacked a feeling of belonging in a province where I’m part of a language minority. I recently joined the Townshippers’ Association which has as it’s mission to support the English-speaking community of both the Estrie and Montérégie-East regions. I’m open to ideas that anyone may have of ways to bring the English community together. If you’d like to contact me, don’t be shy.
Brianna Owens
(She/Her)
West Island, Montréal
Hi! I’m Bri, and I am a recent studio arts and art history graduate from Concordia University. My passions are art and agriculture. I also have an interest in fibre arts such as quilting and embroidery, and I am very inspired by Dutch Golden age artwork. I am currently a farmer and have worked for a few non-profit farms. During the lockdown stage of the pandemic, I began working at a farm and discovered my passion for agriculture and rediscovered my love for caring for farm animals.
Check Out Our Date with the Diaspora Zine!
Our goal with A Date with the Diaspora is to create space for discussions around the themes of community and identity. Food is important in linking individuals and communities from across space and time, to find belonging with one another. Thank you to all our contributors for your offerings of recipes, images, and stories. This zine is a portal into generational knowledge and love.
