Edmonton thrives when everyone feels safe, valued and empowered to live authentically. But for many 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, that sense of belonging isn’t always a reality.
This is more than a plan - it’s a commitment to action.
The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan is an initiative shaped by the voices and experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, aiming to build a safer, more inclusive Edmonton, where every person can live authentically and without fear.
The Action Plan
The City of Edmonton has created Beyond Belonging: The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan to create safer and more inclusive City spaces, services and operations.
View the Action Plan to learn how community input is shaping City programs, spaces and services:
2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan
Community Insights
Jurisdictional Scan
What We Heard Report
Beyond Belonging Grant
The Beyond Belonging grants have been awarded for the first time, marking a new step in how the City supports safety and inclusion for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Community organizations are now delivering projects that make Edmonton more welcoming and accessible.
Visit Beyond Belonging Grant to learn about the funded community projects and grant recipients
Why This Action Plan Matters
For many 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontonians, safety and belonging are not guaranteed. Too many still face barriers to inclusion, from discrimination in public spaces to challenges in workplaces and services.
- Reports of hate-motivated crimes targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada have nearly doubled between 2020-2022 (Source: Hate crime in Canada - Statistics Canada)
- Nearly 40,000 Edmontonians identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community (Source: 2SLGBTQ+ population - Statistics Canada)
- When communities feel safe, the entire city thrives, fostering stronger relationships, businesses and neighbourhoods
The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan is a City-led initiative to enhance safety, reduce barriers, and foster inclusion for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in Edmonton. The plan is developed in partnership with the community and will help:
- Shape municipal policies
- Improve access to services provided, coordinated, supported and funded by the City of Edmonton
- Strengthen community partnerships to create safer, more inclusive public spaces
The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan outlines 7 core actions:
- Action 1: Design public spaces to enhance safety and inclusion for 2SLGBTQIA+ residents.
- Action 2: Strengthen the City’s response to hate and discrimination affecting 2SLGBTQIA+ residents.
- Action 3: Align visible support with concrete municipal actions.
- Action 4: Maintain an intersectional approach.
- Action 5: Increase education and public understanding related to 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion.
- Action 6: Integrate 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion into municipal communications, services and operations.
- Action 7: Increase representation and participation of 2SLGBTQIA+ residents in City decision-making.
Project Timeline
We are listening, learning and taking action through a phased approach to ensure the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members shape the future of this plan.
| Phase | Timeline | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Listen and Learn | Dec 2024-Feb 2025 | Community workshops to identify priorities and needs. |
| Explore and Engage | Feb-April 2025 | Online surveys, pop-ups, and community conversations to shape the Action Plan. |
| Reveal and Confirm | May-June 2025 | Analyze community feedback, present a "What We Heard" report to the community for validation, and refine key recommendations. |
| Plan Finalization and Next Steps | Jan-June 2026 | Submission to City Council and first steps toward implementation. |
| Implementation and Updates | 2026-2029 | Plan implementation, evaluation, and annual public updates |
Support and Services
Resources available to me as a 2SLGBTQIA+ Person in Edmonton.
Edmonton’s first 24/7 mental health and wellness helpline dedicated to supporting people in Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Call 1-844-702-7483
Available 24/7 for those in crisis or distress or those supporting someone who is.
Call 780-482-4357
A peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning peers.
Call 1-877-330-6366 (11am-7pm Mountain Time)
If you are looking for additional support, you can visit The Rainbow Pages, an Edmonton-specific 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Resource Guide, and call 211, text INFO to 211, or visit 211 Alberta to be connected to a range of programs and services in Edmonton.
What should I do if I witness or experience discrimination or violence?
If you experience or witness hate speech, discrimination, or violence, you can report incidents to the Edmonton Police Service, seek support from community organizations or reach out to the City for inclusive resources and services.
Supporting Victims of Hate Crimes and Incidents
Produced by StopHateAB and MacEwan University, this guide highlights local resources for people to access if one has experienced hate crimes and incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beyond Belonging: The 2SLGBTQIA+Safe Spaces Action Plan aligns with the Community Safety and Well-Being Framework, focusing on Safe and Inclusive Spaces, Well-Being, and Equitable Policies, Procedures and Standards. It also aligns with the Blueprint for Violence Prevention, which aims to stabilize, reduce and prevent violence across Edmonton.
The City carried out a multi-phase engagement process involving more than 40 community organizations, service providers and more than 900 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontonians. Administration co-designed the engagement approach with service providers and community advocates to ensure safety and accessibility. This was followed by a city-wide survey and 15 targeted conversations specifically designed to reach underrepresented groups, including youth, seniors, newcomers and Indigenous and racialized 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontontonians.
To ensure accountability, the City validated Its What We Heard findings with participants in June 2025. A final round of workshops and community-hosted sessions in late 2025 confirmed and aligned actions with community input.
The City will track progress through community feedback and ongoing engagement, data on safety and inclusion in City spaces, reports on policy and service improvements, and evaluation of partnerships and funding impacts. TheBeyond Belonging: The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan includes an Evaluation Plan to ensure that this work is evidence-based, accountable and transparent.
This plan benefits everyone by making Edmonton a more welcoming, inclusive and safe city. Research shows that cities with strong inclusion policies experience stronger communities, better social cohesion and economic growth. The City is working to ensure an intersectional approach to our community engagements to implement an action plan that recognizes the intersecting experiences of people in Edmonton.
Allies play a crucial role in fostering inclusion. You can educate yourself about 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences, use inclusive language and respect people’s identities, speak out against discrimination, support 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and engage in City programs and initiatives.
The 2SLBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan focuses on City of Edmonton services, programs, spaces and places, as well as services coordinated or funded by the City of Edmonton.