Our Story

Our Connection to PACHRED

The 2S&LGBTQIA+ Working Group operates under the umbrella of PACHRED (President's Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Equity and Decolonization). PACHRED serves as a unifying vehicle for students, staff, and faculty who support Brock University's commitment to human rights, equity, and decolonization.

Working within the framework of the Ontario Human Rights Code and in partnership with the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), PACHRED creates forums for meaningful dialogue and reflection on issues that matter to our diverse campus community. The committee advises the President on matters affecting equity-seeking communities and helps develop policies and programs that build a more inclusive university environment.

While QCommons is community-driven, PACHRED’s role is to hold space, provide support, and help remove barriers so that the platform can thrive and remain accountable to the communities it serves. PACHRED will continue to play a supportive role in the growth and sustainability of QCommons by:

• Ensuring that QCommons remains recognized as part of Brock’s equity landscape and has a place within broader university conversations on human rights, equity, and decolonization.
• Supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ Working Group as the primary space where students, staff, and faculty can guide the direction of QCommons and shape its priorities.
• Offering mentorship, research support, and advocacy connections to help QCommons expand, adapt, and stay rooted in community needs.
• Connecting QCommons to other equity initiatives at Brock, including work on international student equity, anti-racism, and responses to colonial violence.

Timeline

• May 2024 – Early conversations began within PACHRED, the 2SLGBTQ+ Working Group, and the Black Student Success Center (BSSC) about the need for a dedicated space and sustainable funding to support queer and Black students at Brock.

• June–September 2024 – An Environmental Scan led by Allison B. Rolle reviewed how comparable Ontario universities fund and support 2SLGBTQIA+ students.

  • The research, conducted by the PACHRED Research Assistant, examined fees tied to 2SLGBTQIA+ services across departments, centres, and student clubs.

  • Findings showed that, compared to peer institutions, Brock lacks robust, localized services for queer and trans students, highlighting a major opportunity to expand support for their physical, mental, and social well-being.

• November 2024 – A coalition of students and staff (Allison B. Rolle, Sarah Pierson, Monique Beauregard) brought forward a referendum proposal through BUSU to fund BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ student centres. The motion was rejected by the BUSU Board of Directors.

  • Brock Press Coverage

  • Board Meeting Recording

• January 2025 – Queer members of the Brock community met to regroup after the referendum decision. Together, we pivoted toward building a digital hub as an immediate, accessible step while continuing to envision a physical centre.

• March 2025 – Daniel Pike designed the first QCommons logo, giving the platform its visual identity.

• March 2025 onwards – QCommons was created collaboratively by Anmol Rughani, Cathy Van Ingen, Pauli Gardner, and web developer Caitlin.

Why Now? The Political Landscape

QCommons takes place within a broader context of social, political, and institutional shifts that directly shape the experiences of queer and trans students:

• Rising Anti-2SLGBTQ+ Rhetoric and Policy – In Canada and internationally, there has been an increase in policies and campaigns targeting queer and trans people, particularly around gender identity in schools and public life. These developments contribute to a climate of precarity that affects students’ sense of belonging and safety on campus.
  
• Austerity in Post-Secondary Education – Ontario’s post-secondary sector has been marked by chronic underfunding, leading universities to reduce or remove equity-related initiatives. Research shows that Brock provides fewer localized 2SLGBTQIA+ services compared to peer institutions, underscoring a structural gap in institutional support.
  
• Intersectional Vulnerabilities – Students who navigate multiple forms of marginalization (international, racialized, disabled, or low-income) face disproportionate barriers to accessing services. Without targeted and coordinated interventions, inequities across these groups are reproduced and deepened.
  
• The Referendum as Precedent – The rejection of the 2024 referendum for a 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC student centre demonstrated both the urgent demand for such resources and the systemic challenges of securing them through student union processes.
  
  

Within this context, QCommons represents an immediate and practical response. While not a substitute for a physical centre, this platform provides a digital infrastructure for community, resources, and advocacy that help to address pressing gaps while building momentum toward long-term structural change.