Peace Team Training: Nonviolent Skills to Protect Our Communities
In partnership with McKillop United Church, facilitated by Nonviolent Peaceforce
More and more, communities are facing hostility, harassment, and threats to their safety, and a lot of us want to show up for the people and places we love but aren't sure how. The wanting is there. It's the how that's missing. This training is the how.
Over two evening sessions online and an optional full day in Calgary, you'll learn practical skills in nonviolent action, de-escalation, and community-led safety, taught by Nonviolent Peaceforce, who have spent 20+ years keeping people safe in some of the hardest places on earth, from Ukraine to South Sudan. You'll leave with real skills, the confidence to use them, and everything you need to start a peace team of your own, through your church, your organization, or your community.
Who it's for
Allies and community members who want to show up and finally know how. Faith communities ready to protect and care for their people. Organizers across movements, whether for queer and trans rights, immigrant and refugee solidarity, ceasefire and anti-war work, or any frontline community safety. Event hosts, marshals, and the people who end up responsible when a crowd gets tense. And anyone who has felt powerless watching the news and wants something real to do about it. No experience needed, just the willingness to show up.
How it works
The two online sessions are required and open across Canada. The in-person day is optional, builds directly on the online sessions, and is limited to 25 people.
Online (required)
Session 1, Wednesday Sept 9, 6:30 to 8:00 pm MT: An introduction to Nonviolent Peaceforce's approach to community-led safety.
Session 2, Wednesday Sept 16, 6:30 to 8:00 pm MT: The practical toolkit, including situational awareness, reading a room, and de-escalating before things escalate.
In person (optional)
Saturday Oct 3, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Calgary: A full day of hands-on practice, with scenario work, role-plays, and bystander intervention drills. You'll leave equipped to prevent and de-escalate violence and to form a peace team you can take back to your own community.
Registration
Pricing is tiered to keep the training accessible while being transparent about what it actually costs to run. Early bird takes 20 percent off all tickets with code EARLYBIRD. Full pricing and registration are on Eventbrite.
This training and accessible pricing is made possible through support from McKillop United Church and a grant from the Brian and Belva Piercy Endowment Fund at The United Church of Canada Foundation, through the Seeds of Hope program.
Queer & Faithful Friday Night Cinema
Pride Season 2026 Monthly Movies
All events are 6:30-8:30 pm PT / 7:30-9:30 pm MT
Screening of a documentary, followed by a short discussion around Queer Theological principles and ideas, and how these films might illustrate new ideas for Affirming Ministry in our communities.
July 17 - “Wonderfully Made - LGBTQ+R(eligion)” is a combined fine art project and feature-length documentary that together strike at the root of anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes by exploring the challenges and aspirations of LGBTQ+ Catholics. The message, however, applies to any religious tradition that does not fully embrace our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Register here. Content note: This documentary explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ Catholics navigating faith traditions that do not fully affirm them. It includes accounts of religious rejection, internal conflict around identity and faith, and the ongoing harm of institutional exclusion. Relevant to anyone from a non-affirming religious background.
August 7 - “A Queer's Guide to Spiritual Living” - Blending zine-inspired animation, spoken word, and poetry with insightful interview footage, this lo-fi documentary collage follows four queer people from different religious backgrounds as they explore the intersections of faith and queerness. Register here. Content note: This film follows queer people navigating the intersection of faith and identity. While the overall tone is reflective and hopeful, it touches on experiences of religious harm and the complexity of holding queerness and spirituality together. Generally, the gentlest of the three films in the series.
Queer Theology series:
Jaye Brix on Deconstructing Bad Theology
Bad theology hurts. It hurts the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, it hurts our communities of faith, and it hurts folks who feel held down under the thumb of harmful language, tradition, and belief.
This three-week series invited us into a process of deconstructing the theologies that restrict us as we seek to expand our affirming ministry and live out faithful discipleship that celebrates diversity as sacred. We were honoured to have Jaye Brix (they/she) join us live at our third session! Jaye is an ex-pastor who uses their experience, education, and creativity to help folks on their liberation journey, leaving behind ‘church’ that hurts.
Watch all three sessions on our Vimeo channel here.
Hosted by Affirming Connections and Pacific Mountain Region Affirming Ministry.
Share your support for trans youth!
Click here to access free images of love and support for trans youth and their families.
Download one or all and share them wherever you can!
Community Safety Training
Recording available
This practical and relevant workshop (recorded from the live event on June 3, 2025) teaches ways to protect yourself and marginalized communities at protests and events, through effective de-escalation and creative nonviolence. Enhance your safety and self-defense toolbelt.
Led by experienced Community Protection Facilitator, and Head of Security at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Aidan McKendrick!
Queer Interfaith Coalition
The Queer Interfaith Coalition (QIC) and its Affirming allies are reclaiming the religious voice from those who have sought to weaponize faith. We believe that all 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are created in the Divine Image and that advocacy for their human rights is not antithetical to faith, but a central tenet of our religious faiths.
To learn more and sign onto our open letter, visit our page here.
Join our United Against Hate campaign!
Affirming Connections stands in support of drag performers, trans, gender diverse, Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities across Canada.
We have seen an apparent rise in malicious misinformation, conspiracy theories, threats, and violence that target drag performers, and the queer and trans communities. In 2023 alone, hate crimes against the queer community rose by 69%, and this number continues to increase.
Add your name to this letter with 400+ others show your public support for 2SLGBTQ+ people who have been facing the brunt of this targeted discrimination. Your voice on this issue truly matters.
Drag FAQ’s Answered
Affirming Connections started the United Against Hate campaign to address the surge in misinformation, disinformation, and violence targeting drag performers and trans people. We compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we encounter, then asked experts from a variety of fields—including affirming faith leaders, drag performers, educators, academics and researchers—to answer them.
