5 Things To Do if You’re Heartbroken About the Discovery at the Kamloops Residential School

Last Friday, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced that 215 bodies had been discovered in a mass grave on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia, believed to be the undocumented remains of Indigenous children killed while attending the institution, which was open between 1890 and 1969.

It was a horrifying and painful reminder of a chapter in Canada’s recent history that our national narrative has worked hard to repress — or at the very least, pretend is in the past, and not living on in the way our government continues to treat Indigenous peoples. (See: the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in foster care, or the lack of clean drinking water on many reserves.) For residential school survivors or their descendants, it’s re-triggered trauma. For non-Indigenous Canadians, it has moved many of us: to reflection, to shame, and to a desire to do something with those feelings.

While the work of reconciliation is much more than reading a few books or making a one-off donation, here are five practical suggestions for how to support Indigenous peoples and start our national work of addressing — and healing from — the genocide in Canada’s closet.

Educate yourself

If you’re like many of us, residential schools weren’t on your school curriculum growing up, and you might be embarrassed by how little you know about them now. (Like the fact that the last residential school only closed in 1996? Yeah, that.) Part of allyship is educating yourself, and not relying on your Indigenous friends to do that emotional labour for you, which can be triggering and re-traumatizing. Here are a few resources to get you started.

They Came for the Children

In 2011, Canada concluded a truth and reconciliation commission into residential schools, and you can read the full report into their findings. Based on historical documents and survivor testimonies, it’s a comprehensive (although by no means exhaustive) primer on the commission’s appalling, heartbreaking investigation.

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award, this novel tells the story of five children at a residential school in British Columbia, interweaving the stories of their lives as they attempt to heal from their experiences years later.

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King

Written by one of Canada’s greatest literary talents, this is an unconventional half rumination, half history of Indigenous identity since the first European settlers arrived on the continent. If you’re looking for perceptive context and a sweeping survey of 500 years of history, this is an accessible way to do it.

Did You See Us? Reunion, Remembrance, and Reclamation at an Urban Indian Residential School by survivors of the Assiniboia Residential School

These are the first-person recollections of students who attended this Manitoba residential high school, open between 1958 and 1973. It’s a difficult read, but an important one as we all work to honour (and believe!) the testimonies of the people affected by this heinous system.

Phyllis’ Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad

If you’re looking for ways to talk to kids about residential schools, start with this picture book by a residential school survivor, which begins when she has to give up an orange shirt her grandmother gives her when she arrives at school, a metaphor for the systematic stripping of her Indigenous culture and language conducted there. This story, by the way, inspired Orange Shirt Day, held every September 30 to keep the conversation around residential schools going.

Write to your elected representatives

When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission published its report in 2015, it issued 94 “calls-to-action,” practical ways governments could act to deal with the ongoing legacy of the residential schools. Five years later, according to the Yellowhead Institute, just EIGHT of those have been implemented. Write to all your elected officials — municipal, provincial, federal — and put pressure on them to honour the remaining 86. (You’ll find all their contact information on their individual websites.) When it’s time to vote, make sure you’re casting a ballot for politicians who commit to making reconciliation a priority.

Listen to Indigenous voices

For a very long time, Indigenous people have not been believed when talked about what happened at residential schools. As we learn more and more about things Indigenous communities have known all along, make it a priority to centre their stories and teaching as you educate yourself — not just about residential schools, but so many other facets of Indigenous identity.

Some creators to follow could include:

Patuk Glenn

This Iñupiaq creator’s Instagram and TikTok chronicle life and celebrates her family’s culture in Canada’s Arctic.

Michelle Chubb

Indigenous Baddie on TikTok, this Néhinaw creator has spun up some powerful, punchy videos tackling the specific subject of residential schools.

Scott Wabano

A joyful celebration of his 2spirit, Cree identity, Wabano chronicles life in Tkaoronto, the land settlers subsequently called Toronto, on TikTok.

Donate to organizations supporting survivors

If you can, put your money where your allyship is, and donate to organizations that are actively supporting survivors of the residential school system. Here are two options for how to support Indigenous peoples through direct donations:

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

For over twenty years, this charity has been providing counselling and mental health support, including offering a 24/7 crisis line.

Native Women’s Association of Canada

Modelled after a “grandmother’s lodge,” this Indigenous women-run charity works to enact political change, including creating an action plan to end the ongoing violence against Indigenous women, detailed in the recent inquiry into missing and murdered women and girls.

Understand your own role in all this

If you’re a non-Indigenous Canadian, you are a settler on land that first belonged to Indigenous people. Even if you’re newer to Canada, or your family wasn’t living here when the residential school system was in place, you have a role to play in reconciliation, and making sure that the systemic prejudice the institutions represented isn’t perpetuated in other forms. Keep doing the work, don’t centre your own feelings in this conversation, listen to Indigenous people when they choose to speak — and don’t forget to amplify and celebrate their excellence and success too.

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These Are The June 2021 Beauty Launches We’re Eyeing

Feeling emotionally ready to head back into the world this summer? Same. But perhaps your skin and hair don’t exactly share those sentiments. If you’re looking for quick fixes and touch-ups, have we ever got you covered with the just-launched products that will get you summer-ready in no time. From 10-minute hair colour solutions to lip balms that instantly brighten your mood, and a serum from the future (or so it seems) that can recognize what your skin needs before you even do, these are the June 2021 beauty launches we’re obsessing over — and June’s barely begun.

Browse our list of must-have June 2021 beauty launches and get ready to click “add to cart.”

Biolage ColorBalm

 

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Launching this month in Canada is Biolage’s ColorBalm collection ($33.50 each). Available in six different shades, the range of conditioners can be used to refresh, intensify or totally transform your hair colour — all while seriously conditioning and nourishing your strands, of course. The vegan formula is designed to deposit colour in just five to 10 minutes, depending on your desired effect, making it a great choice for a summer hair refresh — no matter how short on time you might be.

Freck Lip + Cheek Tint

 

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TikTok-famous makeup brand Freck Beauty, which is perhaps best known for its faux freckle products, has just launched three new shades of its beloved Cheekslime Lip + Cheek Tints ($29 each). The new shades, Jam Sesh (a deep berry), Fever Dream (an electric coral) and Orange Wine (a dusty orange) are meant to be used on lips and cheeks to achieve a monochromatic look, but can be used anywhere and everywhere you want to infuse with a dewy glow and subtle hint of colour.

Radford EYE

 

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Meet EYE, the latest launch from Radford Beauty ($45), a multipurpose, super concentrated eye cream formulated to treat signs of aging like loss of firmness and elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, dryness and of course, under-eye circles. In fact, it’s so concentrated that it can be used all over the face and neck. EYE uses micro-emulsion technology, resulting in molecules that are small enough to penetrate the skin and deliver key ingredients, maximizing the product’s efficacy.

CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream

 

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Dermatologist favourite brand CeraVe’s Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream ($28) has just landed in Canada, along with a less-thick lotion version of the formula. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, three ceramides and one perecent pramoxine hydrochloride (a steroid-free ingredient commonly used for itch relief), this will be a godsend if you suffer from itchy skin at any time of the year.

LIXR

 

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During the pandemic, beauty industry pro Susanne Langmuir (best known for founding Bite Beauty, which she sold back in 2014) was inspired to dive head first into her newest project. The time has now come to introduce you to LIXR, a new brand of lip elixirs that feature aromatherapy benefits. “They have therapeutic-grade essential oils and aromatics that have been used for centuries for their mood-altering benefits,” says Langmuir. “After 25 years of traveling around the world sourcing aromatics, I was inspired to create LIXR using these ingredients that I’ve sourced in a sustainable, cruelty-free way. I think this endeavour is really appropriate for what’s been going on and how we’ve all been feeling.” The lip treatments are available in six different scents ($28 each and available in either a tinted or a clear version) and there’s also an overnight lip mask and a lip polish. “Aromatherapy comes with scientific proof,” says Langmuir. “We know [there are scents] that can calm the mind and induce feelings of relaxation. And so, LIXR was born.”

Dermalogica Smart Response Serum

 

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Launching on June 3 at Dermalogica spas, salons and skin centres is the new Smart Response Serum ($189), the brand’s most sophisticated formula yet. It’s formulated to recognize and address micro-changes happening in the skin before they’re visible to the naked eye. Yes, you read that right! The serum can effectively address your skin’s developing needs before you even know that you have those needs. Cool, right? For example, it can sense an inflammatory response in your skin and activate its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties before you even notice any sort of inflammation. The same goes for collagen weakness, the beginning of the development of dark spots, and more. Welcome to the future of skincare.

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Etsy Is Buying Depop, Gen Z’s Beloved Fashion Resale App

Depop, Gen Z’s favourite clothing resale app, is being acquired by e-commerce site Etsy for $1.6 billion USD. The purchase, which was announced on June 2, is indicative of just how much the secondhand fashion industry has boomed in recent years. Here’s what to know about the purchase and what it means for the fashion resale industry.

What is Depop?

Depop is a U.K.-based clothing resale app that allows users to buy and sell pre-loved clothing through its online marketplace. Founded in 2011, the e-commerce site has become a hotspot for mostly Gen Z consumers who want to find special pieces without breaking the bank. Depop — which has about 30 million registered users — allows shoppers to experiment with their personal style while access secondhand designer clothes at often discounted prices. It is a popular alternative to fast-fashion and luxury fashion, and has experienced a surge in usage over the past year, no doubt impacted by COVID-19 and the collective shift to online shopping.

What does this purchase mean for Etsy and Depop going forward?

As e-commerce continues to be favoured during the ongoing pandemic, the companies working together will merge their growth strategies and distinct expertise, said Etsy CEO Josh Silverman in a statement shared by CNBC. Etsy’s users are generally older than Depop’s, so this acquisition will introduce them to a new, younger audience, and grow their presence in the resale market. As a more established marketplace, Etsy’s ownership of Depop means wider expansion and more profit for the U.K.-based brand. With Etsy’s resources as a larger company, Depop’s popularity and usage is likely to keep growing.

Why has secondhand shopping grown into such a huge industry?

During the pandemic, online shopping increased in popularity largely because of necessity as in-store shopping was either limited or halted altogether. Within this e-commerce surge has been a rise in online secondhand shopping. As a younger generation with keen environmental awareness, Gen Z consumers are more likely to turn to resale clothing sites for products that are both cheaper and greener. This rise in secondhand shopping has been happening in tandem with an increase in fast fashion, with many clothing brands overproducing clothing and contributing to landfill pollution more than ever before. Clothing resale sites like Depop offer wide-ranging price points for a variety of brands, and the ethical, arts-loving culture embedded in the brand’s messaging keeps young shoppers coming back.

@anastowellNew pieces up on my Depop at anastowell🧚🏼‍♀️ Link in bio to shop! #depoppartner #depop♬ originalljud – absolutesnacc

Depop shopping has also become a lifestyle. Similar to Instagram’s interface, Depop sellers can gain followers based on the pictures they post of the clothes and accessories they’re selling. Some sellers who have grown their followings have even been able to build careers as legit influencers from their success on the app, and Depop hauls on TikTok garner millions of views. In a world of fast fashion, sites like this encourage users to develop their own individual styles through more intentional clothing choices. With the help of the Gen Z consumer, it seems Depop has turned their once small, resale clothing site into a billion-dollar business.

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Streetwear Designer Melody Ehsani Is Changing the Game at Foot Locker

This past March, Melody Ehsani — the Los Angeles-based entrepreneur and founder of the streetwear brand ME. — was named the first creative director of women’s business at Foot Locker. The announcement not only heralded the inclusion of women’s perspectives in sport and sportswear as an increasingly powerful force; it also highlights crucial mainstream support for Ehsani’s visionary outlook when it comes to intertwining design and activism.

Granted, this notion has become quite buzzy over the last year in particular. But when you consider that Ehsani, who launched her line in the mid-2000s, has embraced this ethos from the very start, you see a greater picture of what she’s accomplished and where she’s heading.

“I grew up always being obsessed with pop culture, and congruently also having a real passion for justice and being able to give a voice to the voiceless and disenfranchised folks,” Ehsani says. “I’m a first-generation child to immigrant parents, so I saw a lot of what they had to deal with firsthand, and that inspired me from a young age.”

Ehsani notes, though, that her entrée into a creative field wasn’t nurtured as early. “Growing up in a traditional Persian family, you kind of only see [a few] options for what you’re going to do professionally — it was like okay, I’m either going to become a doctor or a lawyer or a pharmacist,” she laughs. “[My parents] were both artists but never made any money off their art so I viewed it as something very impractical and secondary. It was always a hobby — it wasn’t really assigned value in terms of making a living.”

Photography courtesy of Foot Locker

And so, Ehsani went to college and studied sociology and philosophy in her undergrad, subsequently enrolling in law school. “My uncle told me to take as many internships as I could,” she recalls. “I did a million law internships and was left completely disenchanted by the field and the process.” Ehsani decided to drop her enrolment. “I couldn’t move forward with law because I felt like I would be miserable, and waking up to something every day that I didn’t love,” she says. “Love was always really important to me.”

After booking an appointment with medical intuitive Julie Burns Walker, Ehsani’s fate essentially became sealed. “It was the first time that somebody had ever seen me for what I was as opposed to what was projected on me of what I should be,” she says of the conversation. “A lot of that was design-oriented. After receiving that mirroring, so to speak, I just followed that path and never looked back.”

Indeed, Ehsani only seems interested in moving forward, and it’s evidenced by each project she embarks on, whether it’s the podcast The Butterfly Forecast — which she launched earlier this year with Burns Walker and examines “how the smallest changes made by an individual can change the outcome for the collective” — or her new role with Foot Locker.

Her first capsule collection for the brand will launch on June 10, and is inspired by another big love in her life, basketball. It features an assortment of shapewear and athletic pieces including an organza tracksuit that was developed with Ehsani’s close friends — Toronto-raised, Bombay-based creatives Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar of the brand NorBlack NorWhite. “Sharing the platform with them was probably my favourite part of this experience,” Ehsani notes. 70 percent of the debut collection is gender-neutral in design, and sizes range from XS to 2X; Canadians can find it online and at the brand’s Toronto and Vancouver stores.

Photography courtesy of Foot Locker

To introduce the line, Ehsani and Foot Locker have crafted a virtual event called The No More Next Festival which will run on Saturday, June 5. The day’s programming includes a Q&A with Ehsani, as well as an affirmation session and a roundtable she will participate in alongside streetwear designer Don C. and Renee Montgomery, owner of the basketball team the Atlanta Dream.

“She’s the first woman to own a WNBA team and the first former player to own a WNBA team,” Ehsani enthuses, adding that it was important for her to include such perspectives as Montgomery’s during the online event in an effort to engage with them outside their typical context of the sports world.

“A lot of events, especially when they’re corporate events, seem to have the same sort of talking heads talking about the same things,” Ehsani says. “I wanted [us] to talk about the world that we’re inspired by and exploring and delving into from a justice standpoint and a fashion standpoint — bringing people into a room that I don’t know if you’d necessarily see talking to one another, and whose opinions you might not know, or even people you might not know of.”

The event’s mandate is unsurprising given Ehsani’s general lens on life. “My mission has always been to elevate consciousness,” she says of her approach to running a business, as well as her personal philosophy. “It’s the pillar that’s always been at the core of my brand [and] it’s what I’m inspired by — when you phrase something differently [about] a particular experience for a group of people. What does it do to you, and how do you feel about it, and how do you get involved. For me it’s never been about a new look in fashion, it’s been about a new voice.”

Photography courtesy of Foot Locker

She goes on to highlight that she thinks it’s “an exciting time because it’s a time of germination. You have people like Kanye [West] — I just went into a deep dive with what he’s doing and it’s really impressive. He’s manufacturing some of his own footwear in the U.S. which is sort of unheard of, and he’s committed to being completely sustainable in the next five years which means dealing with the issue of dyes and the toxicity of them, which is really hard. I see a lot of people that are in my age group are making these huge strides and not being scared of dreaming bigger. I also think there’s going to be a renaissance of young people doing their own thing. Little movements of people taking things into their own hands [and] getting back to innovation and moving away from the materialism and consumerism of it all.”

Ehsani notes, however, that the style world in particular is also at a juncture where “you can’t just make the jump from fashion to activism without having consciousness in the centre of it. It’s become a bit trendy, and people are now being held to account in terms of what their company stands for, where’s the money going, and who’s sitting in the board room.”

For this reason as well, Ehsani’s role at Foot Locker is a momentous one. What would she say to her younger self, all things considered? “I think I had so much doubt along the way about what I was actually capable of,” she says. “I’ve become so much more free, and I’m just finding more and more freedom in terms of being able to question things. Like, why can’t I do something? I feel you like you actually can do whatever it is that you want to do, but there are so many forces in the world that try to make us feel like we can’t, or we’re not good enough or we shouldn’t. Surround yourself with people who see you and make you feel like you can.”

Yet Ehsani recognizes that the evolution from self-doubter to boundary-breaking enlightened being is “a never-ending process.” She credits a “strong spiritual practice,” as well as a self-care routine that includes myriad vitamins and supplements to support her emotional well-being and brain chemistry, with fortifying herself along the way.

“Having a relationship to my creator, and humbling myself every day as to how small I am in the grand scheme of things and that I can only do what I feel like I’m here to do,” she says of what keeps her going. “My spiritual upkeep is really important because it reminds me of my design as a human, and what I’m designed to do here.”

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Kaia Gerber Is Wired on Mushroom Coffee and Ready To Hit the Cottage

19-year-old model Kaia Gerber spent the last year and a half just like the rest of us: baking banana bread, experimenting with DIY specialty coffees (“I’ve gotten very into making my own mushroom coffee so I’m wired all day,” she says) and starting a book club. Unlike the rest of us, her bi-weekly book club is still going strong and features celebrity guest appearances. (In the club’s first meeting, Gerber and Normal People actors Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal discussed the Sally Rooney novel of the same name.)

“I never wanted to overstep in the literary community,” says Gerber, who’s an avid reader. “But I’m grateful to have been accepted into this world that I’ve always wanted to be a part of.” Gerber’s hobby caught the attention of her longtime collaborator, designer Marc Jacobs, who even donated masks to NYU Langone Health Centre in honour of the model’s book club.

 

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Now, the two have paired up again — this time in their usual way, swapping books for bottles as Gerber stars in the latest campaign for the Daisy Marc Jacobs fragrance franchise, which she’s been a face of since 2017.

 

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The newest scent, Daisy Eau So Intense (from $115), is inspired by the warmth of the sun, the beauty of golden hour and — what else — fields of fresh daisies. With notes of strawberry, pear, honey and vanilla, Daisy Eau So Intense is bright and deeply joyful. “It reminds me of watching the sunset with my family,” says Gerber, who’s counting down the days until she can head back to her beloved Muskoka cottage. “By the way, everyone here [in California] calls it a house. I’ll say ‘cottage’ and people are like, ‘Are you from Goldilocks and the Three Bears?’” she laughs.

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Everything You Need To Know About Selfless by Hyram, Straight From the Social Media Star Himself

Skinfluencer Hyram Yarbro is best known for his YouTube and TikTok videos providing honest skincare product reviews for his Gen Z audience (he’s got almost 11.5 million followers across both platforms). He’s built his massive online presence by simplifying the often complex and confusing ingredients found in our (often also complex and confusing) skincare routines. And on any given video, he receives tons of comments from his adoring young fans asking when he’ll be launching a skincare line of his own. Luckily for them, that day is today. Well, okay not today, but Yarbro did just announce his new beauty brand today, and promised more info soon! Colour us intrigued…

Selfless by Hyram was created in collaboration with The Inkey List, the U.K.-based skincare brand founded by Colette Newberry and Mark Curry that’s focused on sharing skincare knowledge and producing affordable products with simple ingredients. Appropriately named Selfless, the brand’s mission is to use gentle skincare as a vehicle for social change. The three founders chatted with FASHION about the creation of the line and its philosophy.

The social impact vision behind Selfless by Hyram

With the vision of merging humanitarianism with skincare, Selfless by Hyram holds itself accountable and contributes to the betterment of the planet. The line will support various organizations across four key areas: the environment, health, education and empowerment. With every purchase, customers contribute to these organizations’ initiatives, like providing a year’s worth of clean drinking water, or protecting tropical forests from deforestation through land purchase. The brand has also established partnerships with organizations addressing the climate and water crisis, such as Rainforest Trust and youth-activated water charity Thirst Project.

Ensuring every ingredient is ethically sourced was no small feat. When developing the formulas, Yarbro came to Newberry and Curry with the ingredients that he wanted to work with. His vision, coupled with the duo’s knowledge and access to innovative ingredients, resulted in unique, custom formulas. Once they were clear on their vision, they made sure every step in producing the product was one that would contribute to their goal of social change. The Inkey List founders sent their manufacturers hundreds of questions about every ingredient’s origin, a gruelling process they say is part of their “Selfless standard,” an ever-evolving set of self-imposed guidelines to hold them accountable to creating the best products possible.

“Having that set of standards from the conception of the brand was amazing, because you’ve got a blank slate, and you can really drive change through the manufacturers and the processes that we’ve used,” says Newberry. “But what’s really important to note is those standards are not going to stand still. That excites us, because we want to disrupt the industry.”

Colette Newberry and Mark Curry, founders of The Inkey List

The power of collaboration

Since the beginning of his channel, Yarbro has been getting questions about if and when he would launch a skincare line. At first, he was hesitant to do so. “I wasn’t necessarily sure what I could introduce to the industry that was new,” says Yarbro. “It wasn’t until I realized that my brand could be a catalyst for social change, where we could combine social good and direct, measurable social impact efforts, with a skincare product purchase that I was like, ‘Okay wait, this could be awesome.’”

Coincidentally, Yarbro had been working on his own skincare line for a few months, and was originally planning on launching independently. But when he connected with Newberry and Curry, he saw how their visions aligned, and their partnership has been cohesive ever since.

So what exactly is in the Selfless by Hyram line?

Details are still under wraps, but what we know is that the line is launching with five products, which will all be ringing in under $30. “We intentionally priced everything to be as affordable as possible while still fairly compensating for the sustainable ingredients, the sustainable packaging and the sourcing standards of quality,” says Yarbro.

Hyram Yarbro

How Selfless by Hyram will translate to Yarbro’s social media channels

Known for his honest skincare reviews, transparency is a crucial part of Yarbro’s online presence. As a founder of Selfless, he wants to be open about his inevitable bias towards his line when doing deep dives into different elements of the brand on his channel. “Obviously I created what I would define as the perfect brand,” he laughs. “I want that bias to be visible.”

With this new endeavour, the social media star says his content may shift. “When I started my channel, it was all about pushing for brands to create formulas that are better for sensitive skin [and] that are accessible to all people. That was the primary mission,” he reflects. Now, he says the skincare community on social media has gotten so huge, and there are so many other creators doing deep dives into brand and product reviews, that he feels he can pass on the torch and focus on Selfless by Hyram. “I feel like my work has been done in that sense. This gives me an opportunity to show a new side of myself and a side of the brand that people wouldn’t otherwise be able to see.”

Yarbro says humanitarian work has always been his primary passion, and he’s excited to have that be the pillar of this brand. “For me, it’s all about what small, daily changes people [can] make to be able to leave a positive impact on the world,” he explains. “More than anything, [I want to explore] how can that leave an impact on the most pressing issues facing the planet.”

Selfless by Hyram products will be rolling out at Sephora soon. Watch this space for more details!

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Your Guide To the Virtual Pride Events Happening in Canada This Summer

COVID-19 has squashed plans for in-person Pride festivals across most of Canada once again, but queer folks are resilient and we won’t let a global pandemic get in the way of a good celebration. From pet clubs to drag shows, dance parties and Two-Spirit sharing circles, queer people across the country are finding new ways to maintain community during Pride Month Canada 2021 despite physical distancing.

Here are some of the most exciting virtual events for Pride Month Canada 2021. And best of all, they’re all free! Keep checking back for more — this list will be updated as new events are announced.

Bitchcraft

The scoop: DJ, producer and poet Sofia Fly has kept in-the-know queers dancing in their homes during quarantine with her superb 2020 album Fly Beats II Virgo Rising and ongoing Twitch dance parties. For Pride, she’s curating a special edition of her party series Bitchcraft featuring The Noise Witch, Nicki Nastasia, Gay Jesus and more.
When: June 18, 1 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

2Spirit Pride

The scoop: This year’s 2Spirit Pride is a special edition of Tygr Willy and Weird Alice Yankadic’s magnificent Indigiqueer and 2-spirit variety show Thirst Nation. The pair of performer-slash-producers are co-hosting the event, which has a stacked lineup including Feather Tahlia and Veronica Johnny.
When: June 18, 2:30 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Pet Club

The scoop: The Queer Yukon Society has a full schedule of ongoing digital programming to keep queers up north connected during the pandemic, including the cutest event on any Pride calendar in the country — an LGBTQIA2S+ pet club. The best part? You don’t even need to be a pet parent to join in and make new furry friends.
When: Ongoing, the first Monday of every month
Find it: Zoom via queeryukon.com

Blockorama 23: Black is love

The scoop: Pride Toronto’s longest-running stage is back once again this year for Blockorama 23 — another triumphant celebration of Black talent and Black love. This year’s Blockorama includes DJ Carma, artist Karim Olen Ash and local drag heroes Jada Hudson and Nicolette Brown.
When: June 27, 6 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Yohomo Dance Party

The scoop: The fun-loving folks at Yohomo are masters of nightlife curation, so the collective’s own mini Pride party is sure to be a rager. The party will include DJ sets from Yohomo’s own Armand Digdoyo and Phil as well as Young Teesh, plus performances from Tygr Willy and Mango. Videographer, DJ and New Ho Queen co-founder Lulu Wei is one of several artists providing visuals.
When: June 26, 9 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Kick Your Boots Off: A Country Drag Show

The scoop: Regina’s Pride festival kicks off early in the month with a yee-haw country-style drag show hosted by Saskatchewan’s 30th Imperial House of Leather and Lace. Cowboy hats, PVC chaps and Orville Peck-style masks presumably encouraged.
When: June 4, 9:30 p.m.
Find it: YouTube 

Eat With Pride Brunch Edition

The scoop: The Tegan and Sara Foundation has funded a five-week virtual cook-along series for Fredericton Pride. The organization is delivering free ingredients to New Brunswick queers who want to participate, starting with pancakes on June 6.
When: June 6 and 20, July 4 and 18, August 1
Find it: Zoom via Fierté Fredericton Pride

Two-Spirit Circle

The scoop: The Pride group QLink in Windsor-Wessex has an ongoing program of digital drop-ins, counselling services and activities like crafting nights. Among the programing is a virtual circle for Two-Spirit folks and their families, friends and allies. The events include traditional teachings, music and games.
When: Biweekly on Mondays, 7 p.m.
Find it: Zoom via QLink Windsor-Essex

New Ho Queen

The scoop: Pre-pandemic, New Ho Queen’s parties were a sensation in Toronto’s queer scene. Throughout COVID-19, the queer Asian collective has rallied against racism via digtial activism and partnered with organizations like the Reel Asian Film Festival on digital events. Back in action for Pride, New Ho Queen’s official Pride Toronto stream is not to be missed.
When: June 19, 9 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Posh Ball

The scoop: Vancouver’s Van Vogue Jam is hosting its summer ball in late July in partnership with the Vancouver Pride Society. This ball will be hosted by Posh Gvasalia of the Kiki House Of Gvasalia and have DJ Blackcat and DJ Softishan on the decks. The group’s past balls have featured international ballroom icons like Leiomy Maldonado and west coast drag stars like Kendall Gender and Rose Butch. And keep an eye on Van Vogue Jam’s socials for info on its upcoming VVJ Ballroom Talk Series with folks like Twysted.
When: July 31, 6 p.m.
Fees: By donation
Find it: vanvoguejam.com

Buddies in Bad Times Tea Dance

The scoop: Buddies in Bad Times is helping close out Pride’s busiest weekend with the long-held gay tradition of the Sunday tea dance. Hosted by the exuberant, charismatic theatre artist Ryan G. Hinds, the Buddies Tea Dance may be your only chance this Pride to hang with queer Toronto’s most beloved bartender, Buddies’ own Patricia Wilson. Plus, performances by boylesque performer Wrong Note Rusty and self-proclaimed human disaster Bombae.
When: June 27, 5 p.m.
Find it: Gather via buddiesinbadtimes.com

‘Out’ in the Country

The scoop: Pride extends well beyond big circuit parties in major cities; small towns all over Canada host festivals and programming that are vital to keeping rural queers safe and connected to their communities. Case in point: Kincardine Pride’s ‘Out’ in the Country Webinar series this June, including an educational event on the importance of Pride in rural Ontario.
When: June 24, 7 p.m.
Find it: Kincardine Pride Facebook

Pride Live

The scoop: Pride is a rare chance to see an excess of top-tier queer musicians all on one stage. This year the stage is digital and the format for Pride Live is music video-style performances. Featuring singer-songwriter, dancer and occasional model Roney X (a must-follow on Insta) and Tafari Anthony, whose single “Centrefold” off his new EP The Way You See Me should already be on your Pride playlist.
When: June 19, 4:30 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Dyke March

The scoop: Too many Pride events centre the queer community’s most profitable consumers: white, cisgender gay dudes. The Dyke March has always created space for those who fall outside that narrow scope and in recent years it has focused on inclusivity even among dykes — all self-identified dykes, including trans dykes and non-binary dykes are welcome. With speeches, spoken word performances and even the live creation of a painting, 2020’s Dyke March was one of the most politically-charged and moving parts of the digital festival and this year’s march is sure to be as well.
When: June 26, 1 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Drag Queen Storytime with Fay & Fluffy

The scoop: There’s plenty of Pride events for families, even in the digital world — and free, open events like the Kitchener Public Library’s drag queen storytime mean that queer families and allies can tune in even if they’re not physically close to a major Pride festival. KPL’s storytime is hosted by Fay & Fluffy, who are widely admired in the drag storytime space. Families on west coast time, meanwhile, can check out Pride Calgary’s Reading With Royalty event.
When:Find it: Zoom via KPL.org

Drag Ball

The scoop: Curated by Yohomo’s Phil Villeneuve (who you may know as Dancing Phil), the 2020 Drag Ball features an eclectic mix of Toronto’s best drag performers, from the queen of the west end, Allysin Chaynes, to drag king sensation Manny Dingo, the queer messiah himself Gay Jesus and high fashion club kid Bombae. Hosted by Canada’s Drag Race’s BOA.
When: June 26, 7 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Speakeasy TV’s Hollywood Squares

The scoop: Toronto’s online drag bar Speakeasy TV is raising money for Rainbow Railroad with the second edition of its absurd send-up of the television classic Hollywood Squares this Pride. The event features Canada’s Drag Race alum Juiceboxx, Halifax drag legend Elle Noir and House of Kings producer ZacKey Lime. (Full disclosure: I’m one of the contestants!)
When: June 5, 8 p.m.
Find it: speakeasy-tv.com

Painting Church Street in Lavender: Zine Launch!

The scoop: Lavender has a reputation for throwing some of the best queer parties in Toronto. The  series, which is for queer women and people of all genders, hosts an official Pride stream on Saturday, June 19 (1 p.m.). Then on June 21, it’s celebrating three years of sweaty, joyful parties with the launch of a zine that documents community memories of Lavender.
When: June 21, 8:30 p.m.
Find it: Zoom via Glad Day TV

Sober Pride

The scoop: Pride events typically revolve around drinking, but there’s been a rise of sober queer folks in recent years and creating spaces for them, even in the digital world, is crucial. That’s exactly the aim behind Pride Toronto’s official Sober Pride event, which will celebrate milestones in sobriety.
When: June 19, 1 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

“I Can’t Breathe”

The scoop: If 2020’s Pride season taught us anything, it’s that Pride is intrinsically linked to Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements that seek social equity, just like Pride. In Ontario this year, film director Steve Haining has partnered with Pride Hamilton for a special, politically-charged stream on Juneteenth titled “I Can’t Breathe” (The title is, of course, a common refrain associated with the Black Lives Matter movement originating from the shooting of Eric Garner.)
When: June 19
Find it: More info to come via Pride Hamilton

Indigenous People’s Day Showcase

The scoop: Pride Toronto is marking Indigenous People’s Day with a circle discussion led by Elder Blu Waters with 2S and Indigiqueer leaders from 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations Leadership Building Initiative — Kiley May, and Shane Lyon. The livestream event will also feature traditional Anishinaabe singing from Kiyana Johnston and Anishinaabe dancing from Nenookaasi.
When: June 21, 6 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

Digital Pride Parade

The scoop: Fresh off releasing a banger music video for her new single “Cake,” Canada’s Drag Race season one winner Priyanka is serving as the host for Pride Toronto’s digital parade. The parade will also feature singer-songwriter iskwē and Canadian indie pop it-girl Allie X. Later in the evening catch the incomparable Tynomi Banks presiding over the closing ceremony.
When: June 27, 2 p.m.
Find it: pridetoronto.com

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Naomi Osaka Withdraws From the French Open To Focus On Her Mental Health

Tennis star Naomi Osaka announced on May 31 that she was withdrawing from the French Open, an annual tennis tournament held over two weeks in Paris, France, to focus on her mental health.

Osaka had announced last week that she would not be participating in any press conferences during the French Open (also called Roland-Garros) for mental health reasons. “I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one,” she wrote in her statement, adding that she hoped any fines she was charged for refuisng to speak with the press would go to a mental health charity.

The 23-year-old athlete was hit with a $15,000 fine by the Grand Slam tournaments, for not speaking to the media after her first-round match on May 30. Osaka then took to Twitter to announce her withdrawal from the tournament altogether, further opening up about her mental health struggles. She wrote that since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018 at the U.S. Open, she’s “suffered long bouts of depression.”

pic.twitter.com/LN2ANnoAYD

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021

“I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media. I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try to engage and give you the best answers I can,” the statement read in part.

The announcement was met with an outpouring of support for Osaka from public figures, including tennis legends Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova.

I am so sad about Naomi Osaka.I truly hope she will be ok. As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental & emotional aspect gets short shrift. This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference. Good luck Naomi- we are all pulling for you!

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 31, 2021

The situation has sparked a larger conversation surrounding the lack of mental health support for high-level athletes, especially those in the public eye. Aside from playing a stressful and competitive sport, players are then expected to give entertaining, quotable answers in news conferences that are replayed in front of the whole world. Osaka highlighted that this is harmful to athletes’ mental health, saying these rules are outdated.

“I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans,” Osaka wrote.

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Do You Need To Be Worried About Benzene in Sunscreen?

After a long, locked-in winter, it’s finally time to shed our sweatsuits, move our plant babies outside and maybe even (safely) leave our homes. That all means stepping up our sunscreen game, too — but a new study is making some think twice before slathering it on. On May 24, a Connecticut-based online pharmacy called Valisure announced that it found the chemical benzene in sunscreen offerings from popular brands (27 percent of the 294 batches of sunscreen and after-sun products it tested, to be exact). The company, which also offers a drug-product certification service to brands, is now calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall 40 of the affected product batches.

Just how dangerous is benzene? Is this reason for panic? Will there be a recall? To get the scoop on the study, we turned to chemist and author Dr. Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, and dermatologist and University of British Columbia clinical instructor Dr. Monica Li.

What is benzene and what’s it used for?

Picture a clear liquid with a sweet, gasoline-like smell. “Benzene is a starting material for many, many chemical processes,” says Schwarcz. “It’s used in the making of plastics and nylon, for example. There’s a myriad of uses for benzene industrially.” In the past, the chemical was used to decaffeinate coffee and to scent aftershave, but you won’t find it on any ingredient lists anymore because it’s now known to be carcinogenic (that means it can cause cancer at certain doses — more on that in a sec!).

You’ll still encounter benzene in day-to-day life, though. It’s derived from petroleum but is also made naturally when organic material burns. Think: volcanoes and forest fires. You’re exposed to benzene every time you hit a gas station or inhale cigarette smoke, too. “It’s not surprising that it shows up in trace amounts in the environment because it’s just produced in such vast amounts,” says Schwarcz.

What exactly did the study find regarding benzene?

The study analyzed 294 batches of sunscreens and after-sun products from 69 different brands. Of that 294, 78 product batches had detectable levels of benzene, and 14 of those had concentrations higher than two parts per million (ppm). “It should be noted that the FDA concentration limit of benzene is two ppm for soft drinks and hand sanitizers,” says Li. (You can download the report with lists of contaminated batches here, and the attachment with all the uncontaminated batches here.)

The max amount that the study found was 6.77 ppm in Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Weightless Sunscreen Spray SPF 100+ (which isn’t sold in Canada, by the way) from lot 04820E04 — and yes, that code matters. The study’s findings are based on the batches from those specific samples, explains Li. “It is the sunscreen products with this exact identifying information that were tested and found to contain benzene contaminants.” So, it doesn’t mean that every bottle of Ultra Sheer Weightless — or any of the other 77 product batches — is affected. And it also doesn’t mean that you need to dodge these brands across the board, either. In fact, many that made the contaminated list also had batches on the uncontaminated list.

Wondering how much a ppm is? “If you had a litre of water, and it had one part per million of something, that means it has one milligram, which is one-thousandth of a gram, in one litre,” says Schwarcz. “It’s an extremely, extremely small amount. If you would look at any food that we eat down to the level of parts per million, you would find thousands of compounds.”

How dangerous is benzene?

“The major health effect associated with benzene exposure — long term — is its impact on the blood,” says Li. In petroleum-industry workers, there’s been a link between chronic benzene exposure and increased risk of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells. That’s why you’ll hear benzene described as a carcinogen, which means that it has the potential to cause cancer. “But it does not mean that everyone exposed to it will get cancer,” says Li.

Schwarcz likes to break it down with an analogy: “To term something a carcinogen, it’s very much like saying something is flammable. It means it has the possibility of burning. It doesn’t mean if you encounter it, it will burst into flames.”

Dose plays a major role here. “If you think of coffee, it contains thousands of compounds, including a number that are carcinogens,” says Schwarcz. “Each of these can be termed carcinogens because if you isolate them and feed them in high enough doses to animals, you can trigger cancer. But of course, we know that coffee doesn’t cause cancer — if it did, we would surely know because there are enough people drinking it.”

Similarly, the type of exposure matters, too. Benzene can penetrate through skin, says Schwarcz, “but the question is, does it amount to significant levels in the blood?” The study only tested the sunscreens themselves, and not the blood of people who’ve used it. Schwarcz notes that benzene is highly volatile, so it’s more likely to evaporate than absorb. “The highest level [Valisure] found in the sunscreens is six ppm — that is a very, very, very small amount,” he adds. “I think the chance that that leads to any significant amount in the blood is infinitesimal.”

Why would there be benzene in sunscreen in the first place?

Even though “benzene” might sound similar to some of the ingredients you see on your sunscreen’s label, like oxybenzone and avobenzone, they’re not the same. “Benzene is not, as we currently understand, a breakdown product of sunscreen ingredients, nor is it a UV filter,” says Li. “It is a contaminant due to the manufacturing process of the product. No reputable company will intentionally put benzene in sunscreens.”

Are the sunscreens with detectable levels of benzene being recalled?

Valisure is petitioning the FDA to recall 40 of the batches, but there’s been no response as of publication time. The news could still come, though. “I think it would be scientifically unjustified, but there are many things that are done for business reasons that are scientifically unjustified,” says Schwarcz. You can bookmark the FDA’s recall list and Health Canada’s if you want to keep tabs.

Should you happen to have a tube from an affected batch (again, the specific lot number needs to match up), don’t panic. “I would keep using whatever sunscreen you’re happy with,” says Schwarz. “If you do have any concern, which I would not have, then the next time you buy one, buy one of the ones listed that hasn’t been found to contain benzene.” If it really freaks you out, you can switch to another sunscreen sooner. “I would suggest keeping the bottle, though, [in case there is] a recall in the future,” says Li.

Should I stop wearing sunscreen?

Definitely not! “We should not assume that all sunscreens are dangerous,” says Li. “In fact, they have been shown time and time again to reduce the risk of skin cancers — don’t forget UV radiation is a known carcinogen, too — and signs of premature aging.”

Stick to a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply often. Don’t let the study deter you, says Schwarz. “Of all of the things we’re exposed to and all the legitimate worries that might be up there, I would rank this extremely low on the worry scale.”

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