A space for the community to grow
Quadrangle co-founder thrilled 2SLGBTQIA+ non-profit organization finally has a physical home
It’s been a long time coming, but there is finally an actual physical space in St. John’s where an 2SLGBTQIA+ nonprofit group can work from and plan programming to help the community it serves, and Ailsa Craig is certainly happy about that.
Although Quadrangle NL was formally incorporated in 2015, the group’s work to create a hub in St. John’s that would be welcoming to all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has been ongoing for more than 10 years.
“It’s a huge difference to be able to have that physical presence and physical space,” said Craig, one of the co-founders of Quadrangle along with the group’s current executive director, Charles Murphy.
“It’s a shared space for involving the community ... We have the programming that we run, and those are different things we do in response to community need or things that people have talked about that they’d like to do. For example, we have the crafting club. They have their regular meetings, so they came and used the space.
“There’s not a lot of public space which is accessible … for the Queer community, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. To be able to offer that space is part of the point. That’s why the name is Quadrangle. Quadrangle is the space created by all the different buildings that are around it architecturally. That’s all the different organizations and facets of the community come together and surround, and through that surrounding create the shared community space.”
On Saturday, July 8, Quadrangle NL officially celebrated its move into St. James United Church.
The organization itself acknowledged the Queer community has, at times, had a difficult relationship with religious groups, but Quadrangle noted in a news release announcing the move that St. James “is an affirming church” and openly welcomed the charity into their building.
With the move, they’ll now be able to host some of their regular events in the space, such as peer support (Wellness Wednesdays) and community networking (Hi-tea).
They’ll also continue to meet with people virtually in light of how well that’s worked out since that option became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Craig, who also co-chairs Quadrangle alongside Laura Riche, noted the group will still need to rent space elsewhere for larger events, like the popular Drag Bingo.
“Where we’re to right now is a great place to build from and to grow from,” said Craig, who added the organization is still working to advocate for the core funding support necessary to one day have a full building it can operate out of.
Quadrangle is presently busy lending support to St. John’s Pride Festivities that are continuing all week long leading up to the Sunday, July 23 downtown Pride Parade.
Professionally, Craig is a Memorial University sociology professor who, in 2022, was appointed special advisor to the president for continuing education.
Craig was an associate dean for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and later served as its interim dean.