'It was very discouraging': Winnipeg skateboard community looking for new indoor park following alleged LGBTQ2S+ discrimination
A member of Winnipeg’s skateboarding community says the policies at Winnipeg’s only indoor skatepark are discriminatory towards members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and says efforts are being made to create a new space.
Maddy Nowosad started going to The Edge skatepark, run by Youth for Christ (YFC), when she was 18, quickly finding a community.
“I remember my first time going to The Edge. I was so nervous, because I didn't feel that I was the most skilled skateboarder,” she said. “But, I went on a Thursday night, which, at the time, was the girls' and women session. And I was welcomed with open arms by all the folks there.”
Geoff Reimer, who worked at The Edge for 13 years, called it his “dream job.”
“It was super important,” he said. “It was my community. It was my people.”
Nowosad, who identifies as queer, also loves photography and started creating a zine - a small amount of self-published works - called The Other Skaters, which focuses on skateboarders who are LGBTQ2S+ and their stories. She says when she wanted to display the zine on skate nights, staff at The Edge said that YFC would not support the zine or any LGBTQ2S+ events going forward.
“It was very discouraging, as I was really just trying to support and amplify the voices of the really amazing skateboarders and folks around me who made me feel so welcome into the skateboard community,” Nowosad said, adding staff and volunteers with The Edge said they supported the zine.
Reimer said he left in 2021 after plans for a queer skate night at The Edge fell through, saying he came up against opposition to the event.
“That was the beginning of the end for me, because I cared more about the rights and the freedom of the queer community in the skateboard scene than my job at that point,” he said.
CTV Winnipeg reached out to YFC, who declined to answer questions, instead pointing to a statement on their website. The statement says the organization is deeply saddened that parts of the skateboarding community have felt excluded or unsafe.
“All young people are welcomed and valued at Youth for Christ|Youth Unlimited (YFC) regardless of religious belief, people group, or sexual orientation,” the statement reads. “We see the hope and potential in every young person and want youth to experience that hope and potential themselves.”
Nowosad said she knows of some staff and volunteers who have left due to feeling restricted by YFC about their support for LGBTQ2S+ individuals. The skatepark has since reduced hours and programming is limited to people 17 and younger.
The YFC said due to the staffing shortages, they have prioritized the weekly evening sessions at the skatepark for people under 18.
“Being a youth organization, we have prioritized our weekly evening sessions to be available for youth,” YFC said in a statement.
Nowosad and other skaters have joined forces to create the Manitoba Skateboarding Coalition, with the goal of finding a space to create an indoor skatepark that is inclusive for everyone. They have started a petition and a GoFundMe to garner support for the project.
“There are so many people reaching out to us wanting to support, so I have no doubt that we will be able to make a space available in hopefully the near future,” Nowosad said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire doubles in size as 3,000-plus ordered to evacuate
The wildfire that sparked Friday and caused evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people in Fort Nelson, B.C., and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has grown to nearly 1,700 hectares in size, according to a Saturday morning update from the BC Wildfire Service.
IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
Haitians demand the resignation and arrest of the country's police chief after a new gang attack
A growing number of civilians and police officers are demanding the dismissal and arrest of Haiti's police chief as heavily armed gangs launched a new attack in the capital of Port-au-Prince, seizing control of yet another police station early Saturday.
Protest encampment cleared by Edmonton police early Saturday morning
A protest encampment set up on the University of Alberta campus was cleared early Saturday morning by Edmonton police.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
'We have no judge for you': Man's assault charges dropped weeks before trial due to lack of judges in Toronto
A man who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman had his charges dropped in April, just weeks before he was set to stand trial in Toronto, due to a lack of judges in the region.