At 125 Durham Street in downtown Sudbury, a cozy basement space has become a vital hub for connection, creativity and care.
It’s home to Sudbury Queers United Around Diversity (SQUAD) a grassroots collective working to support queer people across generations while helping local services better understand and serve the 2SLGBTQ community.
Founded three years ago, SQUAD began with simple social gatherings: potlucks, dances, drag shows and game nights.
Those early events offered something rare in Sudbury, a safe place where queer people could show up, feel seen and find each other.
“There aren't many queer spaces in Sudbury,” said social worker and SQUAD organizer Paul Pasanen. “So we started making them.”
Over time, the group secured a permanent home at the Independent Living Sudbury-Manitoulin building.
Inside, it’s a space designed by and for queer people, decorated with art and warmth that reflect the community it serves.
SQUAD’s programming has continued to grow with the space being open most afternoons and early evenings for drop-ins.
Every second Monday, the group hosts Story Sharing: The Queer History of Sudbury, where older queer community members share their personal stories about life in the city from the 1970s onward.
“We’re literally documenting our history,” said Pasanen. “So much was lost during the AIDS crisis and if we don’t capture these voices now, that history disappears.”
On alternating Wednesdays, SQUAD runs Courageous Conversations, a discussion series inspired by the 2019 Invisible No More study, which explored how systemic barriers affect queer health in Sudbury.
Each session focuses on a different theme from the report and opens space for community dialogue.
“It’s about talking honestly about the realities of being queer here, what impacts our health and what needs to change,” Pasanen explained.
Beyond community events, SQUAD is taking on advocacy and education.
The organization works with local institutions, including healthcare providers, social services and police, to improve understanding of queer realities and reduce systemic barriers.
They’ve facilitated sensitivity training for long-term care facilities and health units and collaborated with police to help both officers and community members better understand how to report and respond to hate incidents.
“The services for queer people don’t just happen spontaneously in a heteronormative world,” Pasanen said. “They have to be built and shaped by queer people who understand what it means to live this experience.”
SQUAD’s focus on visibility, intersectionality and health equity is grounded in the realities queer people face every day.
“We know that queer people experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and suicidality,” said Pasanen. “That chronic stress impacts our health and we live sicker and die younger on average. That’s why this kind of work is essential.”
The organization continues to expand its partnerships, recently connecting with local nursing students and community agencies to strengthen cross-sector education.
It’s all part of creating a network of care that understands and includes queer lives at every level.
SQUAD’s biggest need now is participation and support.
“Come to our events. Check out our website. See how you can be involved,” Pasanen said. “If you’re queer, we want you here. If you’re an ally, we welcome you too. We need volunteers, donors and people with skills in fundraising or grant writing who can help us grow.”
Donations can be made directly through the SQUAD website. Those who can’t give money are encouraged to give time or expertise or simply show up.
“Visibility is power,” said Pasanen. “It’s hard to ask people who’ve been taught to be invisible to step forward, but being seen is how we start to change things.”
Follow Sudbury Queers United Around Diversity on Facebook and Instagram for updates, event listings and ways to get involved.
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