Gay Igloo Recipients December 2009 - The Rainbow Chorus of Waterloo / Wellington ...

The membership of this choir have promoted and continue to promote GLBTQ issues and concerns through music and song to the community at large in the Guelph, Cambridge, and Kitchener / Waterloo areas ...

The Rainbow Chorus Mission Statement ...
The Rainbow Chorus is composed of mutually supportive people who have joined together for the purpose of the performance of the choral arts via a diverse repertoire.

The Rainbow Chorus Objectives ...
To promote excellence in the study and practice of the choral arts for all members of the GLBTQ community. To educate and increase the public's awareness and appreciation of music and of the talents of members of our community. To educate and bring appreciation of music to the members of the public who may not have access to music or musical performances. To engage in activities which are ancillary and incidental to the above objectives.

The Rainbow Chorus History ...
Formed by four friends in November 1994
Performance debut at AIDS Walk, Spring 1995
The Rainbow Chorus Community Performances:
Annual Hate Crimes Vigil at University of Guelph
World AIDS Day vigils in Hamilton, Guelph & Kitchener
Services at Guelph & Waterloo Unitarian Fellowships, Harcourt United (Guelph), Parkminster United (Waterloo) and St. James Anglican (Dundas)
Songfests with the Guelph Chamber Choir at the River Run CentrePride concerts in Kitchener, Guelph, Hamilton and London
Two concerts per season on average ...

Proud to have obtained charitable status in 2000 and incorporation in 2005.

Canadian GALA debut, Toronto, June 2002
International GALA debut in Montreal July 2004
Carnegie Hall, New York. February 19, 2006
and currently planning for Canadian Unison, Winnipeg 2010 ...

Thank you from the GLBTQ community at large for the choir's tireless efforts via music and song promoting and supporting the GLBTQ community ...

"Gay Igloo" Recipient - November 2009

John Campey's work on behalf of the queer community of the GTA dates back over twenty-five years. In 1987, he was the first out gay candidate nominated by a major political party in an Ontario provincial election. At the Toronto Board of Education, first as a trustee's assistant (1985 - 1990), and then as a trustee (1991 to 1996), he was instrumental in transforming the Board's attitudes and policies around homophobia and heterosexism.

As trustee, he won approval of the Board's first resource document challenging homophobia ("Sexual Orientation: Homosexuality, Lesbianism, and Homophobia"), and the repeal of policies banning queer speakers in schools. He was a strong supporter of strengthening the Human Sexuality Program (which offers counselling to queer youth and their families).

In 1992, he inaugurated an official Board Consultative Committee on the Education of Gay and Lesbian Students. Building on the results of the committee's work, he facilitated the establishment of the Triangle Program, Canada's only public school program dedicated to meeting the needs of queer youth. Today, the Triangle Program has more than forty students and three full time teachers. John continues to sit on the program's community council.

The strong foundation represented by these programs and policies within the public school system served as a foundation and template for anti-homophobia and anti-racist efforts in schools across Toronto, and have been a model for other school jurisdictions across the country.

Kudos John on winning the 2009 Toronto City Pride award as well. A well deserving and well respected GLBTQ activist for many years!