Blog
Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary voters during the federal election: What you need to know
Our trans voting info line is open during voting hours on April 28 to answer your questions. If you have any questions or difficulties voting, call or text 604-200-9080. Voting in this federal elections is a powerful way to have your voice heard. Here is some information about where to vote and what ID to...
Moving to Canada: Immigration Overview for Transgender U.S. Citizens
This article should not be taken as legal advice as individual circumstances may affect eligibility for any particular immigration pathway and admissibility to Canada generally. This is meant as a resource for transgender adults looking to come to Canada, though it applies equally to the parents of transgender children. We are deeply concerned about the...
Gender justice groups urge BC government to repeal harmful name change ban
Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands– Gender justice groups from across the province are calling on the BC Government to repeal Bill 26 the Name Amendment Act (No 2) 2024. The bill changed the Name Act, restricting access to legal name changes for many British Columbians. The new Name Act...
BC Election Day | For Non-Binary and Transgender Voters
Still have questions? Get support by calling our BC Trans Vote Line at 778-819-4556. Elections BC Info Sheet for Transgender Voters ID Requirements for Voting Candidate List Where to Vote Note: You can vote at any polling place across BC. You do not need to be in your home riding to vote for a candidate...
Statement on solidarity with the Palestinian people
CWHWC expresses unequivocal solidarity with the Palestinian people, both in Palestine and globally. As an organization operating on the ancestral, unceded, and stolen lands of Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island, we recognize our duty to speak out against settler colonialism. Understanding the profound repercussions of settler colonialism on trans and gender diverse individuals, we acknowledge...
Join Our Board
We’re looking for people to join the CWHWC’s board. In this opportunity, volunteer board members will work together with CWHWC staff and volunteers to help the organization grow and thrive. Becoming part of the CWHWC is an opportunity to work in collaboration with other folks who are dedicated to supporting the well-being of trans, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people and communities and to creating the affirming, caring spaces our communities need...
Resolving Vaccine Passport Issues
People who changed their names: The BC a government announced a backend fix for vaccine passports that showed deadnames for people who legally changed their names. If you changed your name but your vaccine passport displayed it wrong, do these three steps: Try to download a new vaccine passport. This step should solve problems for...
Join Our Team: Administration & Peer Support **Updated**
Note that this posting is updated as of June 22nd to remove the “connection to Indigenous communities” requirement. We will still prioritize Indigenous peoples and those with connections to Indigenous communities, but are expanding the criteria to include all BIMPoC folks. The new application deadline is July 2, 2021. This post is also available in...
CWHWC Statement in support of Black Lives Matter and Divesting from Police
Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) operates on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations. We are a volunteer-led clinic run by and for Two Spirit, trans, and gender diverse people. This month we mourn and remember George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, D’Andre Campbell, and Regis Korchinsky-Paquet...
Position: Counsellor / Social Worker
Join our team! We're looking for counsellors / social workers to help support trans and gender-diverse clients at our monthly clinics. Please reply by June 3rd, and email contactus@cwhwc.com with any questions...
ID Change Clinic – Sunday December 8th: 4-7PM
Next clinic, we will have a lawyer and medical doctor on site to help complete name and gender change paperwork and notarize documents. Free of charge...
Looking for Volunteer Counsellors
Are you passionate about ensuring that all Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse folks get access to respectful, affirming counselling? Do you want to join community members in providing holistic healthcare that is by and for Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse communities? Consider volunteering as a counsellor with the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC)...
Join the CWHWC Board
The deadline for expressing interest has been extended to December 15, 2018. Are you passionate about ensuring that all trans and gender-diverse folks get access to respectful, affirming and holistic health care? Do you want to join trans and gender diverse community members in providing low barrier holistic health care that is by and for...
Nov 5th Clinic Cancelled
Hi friends, We’ve had to cancel our clinic for Sunday November 5th, 2017. We are an organization run by and for trans people with no funding, and we’re staffed entirely by volunteers. We don’t have enough volunteer service providers to run a clinic this week. We will be open on Monday November 27th from 6-9pm...
Wellness Retreat for Trans Sex Workers
Gender Journeys: Wellness Retreat for Trans Sex Workers is a program that supports trans people to discuss and explore parts of our lives – our relationships to partners, family, friends, and the people we work with. Dealing with transphobia. New community resources. Feeling good about who we are. Staying resilient when things get hard. This...
We’re Taking a Summer Break!
Hi everyone, The past year has brought about a lot of change for our clinic. As many of you know, we have made the choice to phase out medical services, which will happen as of this July 2017. The clinic will also be taking a break over the summer this year for the first...
CWHWC Seeks Volunteer Counsellors
The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services to trans and gender diverse people in a way that is respectful and...
Phasing Out Medical Services at CWHWC
For a short, easy to read post with the same info, please click here. Dear Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) community members, At the CWHWC, we are now in our fifth year of providing holistic health care on a volunteer basis to trans communities. Our team is grateful for the many people who have...
2017 Clinic Dates
CWHWC will continue to operate on the second Sunday and fourth Monday of each month in 2017. However, when these dates fall on a long weekend, we moved the date. Confused? Us too. Check out the clinic schedule below and all will be clear: Sunday January 8 Monday January 23 Sunday February 19 Monday February 27 Sunday March...
Trans Community Holiday Dinner
Trans community members are warmly welcomed to the Trans Community Holiday Dinner. Location This year, we will be gathering at Broadway Youth Resource Centre on 2455 Fraser Street (at Broadway). The Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam nations have been gathering and feasting on this land since time immemorial. This is their unceded territory, and until there...
Limited Clinic Services on Thanksgiving Weekend Sunday October 9th
Hope everyone is enjoying the cool fall leaves and fresh air. We will be running a limited clinic this weekend, Sunday October 9th, that will include our volunteer lawyer, drop-in counseling, and resource supports. Please also feel free to drop in for snacks and company. Medical services will resume for our next clinic on Monday...
Open Letter from the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre in support of Black Lives Matter Vancouver
We are a group of white, Indigenous, and people of colour (POC) trans and queer health providers and community workers organizing a trans wellness space on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Watuth nations in Vancouver, BC. We are writing this letter to voice our unwavering support for Black Lives Matter Vancouver, and...
We’re Recruiting!
CWHWC is a volunteer-operated wellness centre run by and for trans and gender diverse people. Are you interested in joining our community of volunteers? Maybe you know of someone who would be a great addition to the team? Please help us spread the word near and far. Centre Organizer Volunteer Coordinator Registered Nurse General Practitioner/Nurse...
CWHWC Picnic
Summer 2016 crept up out of nowhere. And it called loudly for a picnic for all trans and gender diverse people and our allies. With frisbees! And croquet! And bodies sprawled on blankets under a big shady tree! Stuffing our faces with snacks! The volunteers over at the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre want to...
Volunteer Position: Client Liaison
The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services to trans and gender diverse people in a way that is respectful and...
Clinic Closed on May Holiday
We will be taking a break on the May holiday, and the clinic will be closed on Monday, May 23. The revised clinic schedule for May and June will be: Sunday, May 8 Sunday, June 12 Monday, June 27...
TransRightsBC
We’re really excited to announce the launch of TransRightsBC! TransRightsBC is a multimedia resource designed to promote awareness of trans rights in the province of British Columbia. It addresses topics such as employment, housing, education, health care, public spaces & services, police & prison, parenting, harassment & violence, and immigration & refugee issues. The website...
Yoga With Raven Has Ended
Raven and CWHWC would like to thank all those who participated in The Yoga program over the years. For now we are taking a break and will keep you all posted should we resume in the future...
Volunteer Position: Client Liaison
The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services to trans and gender diverse people in a way that is respectful and...
Counselling Changes
We currently offer drop-in counselling with Registered Clinical Counsellors and Social Workers during CWHWC’s Sunday clinics, as well as access to Resource Workers on both Sunday and Monday clinic days (Monday clinic days will start in January 2016). To access drop-in counselling, please take note of the dates and times of clinic offerings.We do not...
CWHWC Is Moving
As you may have heard, CWHWC is moving to a new home located in the shared space of South Hill Family Health Centre (SHFHC) and South Community Birth Program (SCBP). Both these programs are committed to LGBTQ2S communities and are generously donating space for twice monthly clinics at their new site. Similar to our arrangement...
Yoga with Raven on November 11 Cancelled
There will be no Yoga with Raven on November 11. The next session will be on November 25 from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. If you haven’t been to the yoga class yet we encourage you to come out and give it a try. Raven is very skilled at making the class work for all levels...
Election Resources
Where to go for information about voting in the upcoming federal election.Elections Canada: http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspxsection=faq&dir=id&document=index&lang=e#tr Voting while trans ca: http://votingwhiletrans.ca/...
Yoga with Raven is Moving !
Yoga with Raven is moving to a new location in the Broadway Youth Resource Centre at 2455 Fraser Street starting on September 16. The time will remain the same i.e. 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. If you haven’t been to the yoga class yet we encourage you to come out and give it a try. Raven is very...
Volunteer Posting: Intake & Resource Worker
The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services to trans and gender diverse people in a way that is respectful and...
CWHWC Annual Picnic
CWHWC is hosting our annual picnic on Wednesday, July 29 from 7-9pm in Grandview Park. There will be free snacks, a smashing game of croquet, some frisbee, and a whole lot of awesome people chilling on blankets. All are welcome! This event is part of Genderfest 2015. We are committed to making sure this event...
Come join us at the Trans, Twospirit, Genderqueer & Intersex Liberation and Celebration March
For more details visit the march website at https://transpridevancouver.wordpress.com/...
CWHWC Decision to not Partner with the Vancouver Queer Film Festival
After careful consideration, the CWHWC has decided not to partner with the Vancouver Queer Film Festival this year. Please see our letter below. To the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, This letter is to advise you that the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) has decided not to partner with the Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF)...
CWHWC is expanding our volunteer team!
We’re looking for a Volunteer Counsellor. Please apply to contactus@cwhwc.com by August 21. The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services...
Italian Day on the Drive
Sunday June 14 is Italian Day on Commercial Drive. Commercial Drive will be closed to vehicles (including the 20 bus) from Venables to Broadway. and parking in the surrounding area will be difficult to find. If you are planning to visit the clinic but don’t feel comfortable in crowds, an alternate route is to take...
Addressing chest binding in transgender and gender diverse clients
Our friend, Alexandra Corbet – Co-Investigator with the Binding Health Project at the Boston University School of Public Health – recently wrote a super helpful blog about binding. It is an excellent summary of current research on the mental, physical, and emotional impacts of binding, plus concrete tips for clinicians on how to be an effective,...
More yoga with Raven!
We are very pleased to announce that starting May 13th our yoga class will be happening every 2 weeks! See below for the list of dates. A big thanks to the folks at Woodward’s/PHS for donating the space and to Raven for being so generous with her time. If you haven’t been to the yoga...
CWHWC is expanding our volunteer team!
We’re looking for a Volunteer Counsellor. Please apply by May 4 at contactus@cwhwc.com. The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services...
CWHWC is expanding our volunteer team!
We’re looking for a Registered Nurse, and a Volunteer Coordinator. Please apply by January 20th at contactus@cwhwc.com. The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre (CWHWC) is a holistic health care centre serving transgender and gender-diverse communities. It operates on a volunteer basis and works within an anti-oppressive social justice framework. At the CWHWC, we aim to...
Holiday Gathering
This Sunday Dec 21st from 4-7pm Join the volunteer staff of the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre for a potluck meal with all the fixings! Turkey, veggie options, and much more. A warm space to share a holiday meal with other trans* community members and our loved ones. 1145 Commercial Drive (in the REACH Community Health...
General Statement from CWHWC in response to Ministry of Health announcement October 30, 2014
We are very pleased to see the response from the BC Ministry of Health today, which affirmed their commitment to strengthening programs and services for the transgender* community. We are thankful to everyone who has shared their stories and put time into raising awareness about the hugely important issue of timely care for transgender* and...
Clinic condemns underfunding as program to access gender-affirming surgery grinds to a halt
NEWS RELEASE October 28, 2014 Vancouver, BC – Transgender* and gender-variant British Columbians are facing yet another roadblock to accessing medically necessary care. As of October 1, 2014, public funding to assess individuals’ eligibility for gender-affirming surgery in BC has run out, leaving many stranded at the start of an already long and arduous process...
CWHWC Statement Regarding Trans* Surgeries in BC
As many of you are aware, the process for accessing gender-affirming surgeries in BC is long and challenging. For years, access to surgery has been limited by long waits, out-of-pocket costs not covered by MSP, and required travel out of province. We have recently learned that there is no more funding available for the BC...
Meet & Greet in the Park!
It’s Genderfest and we’re delighted to be taking part for the third year in a row! Everybody is welcome to join us on Monday July 27 from 7-9pm in Grandview Park for a picnic-style Meet & Greet. There will be a delicious assortment of baked goods, including vegan and gluten free options. Play a game...
We’re making a BC Trans* Advocacy Toolkit
CWHWC’s volunteer lawyers are providing the legal content for a trans* rights resource. But first they need your help! Let them know your key human rights questions and concerns through this link: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/toolkit/. It will take about 5 minutes of your time. Participants will have a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card. We’ll also be collecting input in person,...
More Accessible Counselling
At the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre, we think being a member of trans and gender diverse communities is something to celebrate and be proud of. We also know that our communities have to deal with a lot of oppression. Whatever challenges you face, we have a team of counselors who can help you stay...
Art Group
CWHWC is excited to welcome Sam Kaplan and Beth Clark to the team! Sam & Beth will be running an Art Group once a month for trans and gender diverse people. The group will be a fun, informal drop in space for people to get creative, explore different mediums, socialize, and have fun. No previous...
Community Kitchen
We’re excited to kick off a Community Kitchen for Trans* & Gender Diverse People, in partnership with the good folks over at Saige Community Food Bank! The first Community Kitchen will be held on January 26, 2014 at 4:30pm (during a regular clinic opening). Join us in the basement of REACH to cook, share skills,...
Holiday Party!
You are warmly invited to join us for the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre Holiday Dinner! Food will be provided, but if you would like to bring something to share, please do! Sunday December 22, 2013 at 4pm (after clinic!) 1145 Commercial Drive...
What’s PAPening?!
What’s PAPening – a sexual health clinic for trans and gender diverse people – is back! Paps are an important part of screening for cervical cancer. If you have a cervix, you may need a pap, regardless of: who you get down with, how often you get it on, what kind of sex you have, whether...
You’re Invited to the Scary Sparkle Party!
The Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre is throwing a fundraiser! We rely entirely on fundraisers and donations to keep our clinic running. These funds pay for things like insurance, medical supplies, office supplies, snacks and refreshments for clients, educational materials, our post office box, postage, and cell phone minutes. Please join us on October 26th...
Accessing Gender-Affirming Surgery in BC
The Prism Education Series Presents: Accessing Gender Affirming Surgery* in BC: How do the WPATH Standards of Care Affect You? Presented by: Dr. Gail Knudson MD, MPE, FRCPC & Dr. Marria Townsend, MD, CCFP Thursday September 26th, 11:00- 1:00 pm Auditorium – Eye Care Centre 2550 Willow Street (at the corner of West 10th Ave),...
Oral History Workshop with Amber Dawn
In collaboration with the NEWS Project, we’ll be hosting the following workshop at out next clinic on August 11, 2013. This is part of a larger project launched by Raincity Housing to help end the stigma associated with mental illness. See the poster below for details and spread the word...
Public Statement: Cultural Appropriation at the Summer Sparkle Party
What happened? At the Summer Sparkle Dance Party that we hosted on June 22, one of the drag performances featured a person who is not of South Asian descent or culture wearing a veil and articles of traditional South Asian clothing. We, the organizers of the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre, deeply regret that we...
Summer Sparkle Party
You are invited to our fundraiser dance party! When: Saturday June 22nd at 9pm Where: Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Sliding Scale: $10 -50 19+ Event Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/275968042540470/?fref=ts Want to volunteer at our fundraiser? Email rowyn@cwhwc.com. Thanks...
Parks Board Meeting
An important message from the folks at the All Bodies Swim: On Monday, May 13 at the Vancouver Parks Board meeting, Commissioner Trevor Loke will be raising a motion to convene a working group to identify and recommend measures to make Vancouver’s parks and recreational facilities safe, inclusive, and welcoming for trans and gender variant...
CWHWC welcomes barbara findlay!
We are excited to announce that lawyer barbara findlay, QC will be joining us for our Monday night clinics, starting March 25! barbara will be available to chat with clients on a drop-in basis about any legal questions they have. She can also notarize documents as part of the identification change process. Like all of...
Meet Gerry, our new Dietician!
Gerry Kasten loves food! He is a cis-gender, queer ally, born to a farming family. He still helps his brother bring in the harvest each year. He has an Honours Diploma in Commercial Cooking and has both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Nutrition. His Master’s research was on food choices amongst gay men. He has worked...
New Drop In Support Group!
We are very excited to announce that we are offering a new drop-in support group for trans and gender diverse people! Our very first support group is running this Sunday March 10th from 3:00 to 4:30pm. The topic for this first session will be “Belonging.” The session will begin with a welcome, introductions, and the...
Upcoming Community Events
We were asked to help spread the word about some awesome upcoming community events. First up is the All Bodies Swim on Saturday February 9th from 7:30pm – 9:30pm. Whether you’re trans, queer, a person of colour, fat, have scars, furry, use mobility aids, are inked or pierced… This is a pool party for you! It’s...
CWHWC Holiday Gathering
Our clients and volunteers are invited to join us for a Holiday Gathering following our clinic on… Sunday December 23rd. The party will take place from 4 to 6:30ish in the basement of Reach. We will provide dinner, but if you like to cook or bake, feel free to bring something to share. We will...
Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20th marks the Transgender Day of Remembrance, when events are held in communities across the world to memorialize those people whose lives were cut short by transphobic violence. In bearing witness to these tragedies, we are called on to counteract transphobia and cisgender privilege. Many of those who were murdered were women, and their...
*New!* Yoga with Raven
Chill, Breathe, Stretch, Strengthen… Yoga is for every-body! Join us on our Monday Night Clinics from 7pm to 8pm for Yoga with Raven, a free yoga class for trans* and gender diverse folks! Raven is a Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher. She has been teaching for 7 years and practising for 13. Practising Yoga has been essential...
Scary Sparkle Party
Come out and support our community clinic and dance it out while doing it! Saturday October 27, 2012 9pm – 1am Capri Hall, 3925 Fraser Street DJ’s PC Faggot + Ruggedly Handsome+ FuriousGreenCloud + Party Martyr+ Blain Bee! Full Bar 19+ event Accessible space (for a full accessibility audit see Capri Hall Accessibility Audit by the...
What’s Pap-ening?!
This clinic is being offered by and for our trans and queer communities for self-identified queer, trans, gender-non-conforming or questioning people. Our aim is to provide a comfortable space for all! The evening will include: ∙Drop-in Paps and STI (sexually transmitted infection) screening with a nurse or doctor ∙Sexual health information by community partners ∙Drop...
Board of Directors Vacancy
Our social profit organization is currently seeking new board members. Our volunteer Board of Directors meets as a group monthly in East Vancouver. Additional sub committee meetings may be required. We are searching for candidates with two or more of the following qualifications: • Experience with not for profit organizations • A background in one...
Informed Consent FAQs
At the CWHWC we aim to work collaboratively with people who self-identify as trans and gender non-conforming. We strive to provide gender affirming health care that reduces health disparities. Because of our strong belief in trans people’s right to self-determination, we used an informed consent model. We do not support the traditional psychiatric model which requires the health care...
Here’s Our Number. Call Us, Maybe?
We have a brand new clinic phone line! Our number is 604 442 4352. Volunteers will monitor this phone Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 7pm, as well as during regular clinic hours. If nobody answers, rest assured that if you leave a message with your name and contact info, someone will...
CWHWC Meet & Greet
Monday July 30, 2012 at 6pm Come hang out with us at Grandview Park for food, social time, and a chance to meet clinic staff in a relaxed setting! We’ll get some sun, feed you well, and there’ll be some park-friendly games available to play with. Also feel free to bring your own park games!:...
What’s New in June
Huge thanks to everyone who helped make The Magic Sparkle Party a success! We surpassed our own expectations, raising about $3300, after expenses! There are whisperings of a Scary Sparkle Party for October. Stay tuned… We are excited to announce that we have a Board of Directors. Welcome to Shannon Blatt, Devon MacFarlane, Earl Moloney,...
Magic Sparkle Party
Join us on Friday May 18th at 7:00pm for the Magic Sparkle Party – a fundraiser for the CWHWC...