As the morning light streams through the windows of Montreal’s newly renovated Palais des congrès, a palpable energy fills the exhibition hall. Over 3,000 healthcare professionals, community advocates, and policy makers have gathered for what organizers are calling a watershed moment in Canadian LGBTQ2S+ healthcare.
The inaugural National Conference on 2SLGBTQIA+ Health kicked off yesterday with record attendance, making it the largest gathering of its kind in Canadian history. The four-day event has transformed Montreal into an epicenter of dialogue around inclusive healthcare practices and policy reform.
“We’re not just talking about specialized care anymore,” explains Dr. Marielle Tremblay, conference chair and director of the McGill Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity Health. “What we’re witnessing is a fundamental shift in how Canadian healthcare systems approach gender-affirming and culturally responsive care across all disciplines.”
The timing couldn’t be more critical. According to Health Canada’s 2024 Community Health Survey, 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians report accessing preventative healthcare at rates 23% lower than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. The disparity grows even wider in rural communities and among Indigenous 2Spirit individuals.
Walking through the bustling conference hall, I notice the diverse array of sessions addressing these gaps. Workshops range from practical clinical training for primary care providers to policy roundtables with provincial health ministers. Perhaps most striking is the prominence of Indigenous-led sessions on Two-Spirit health—a deliberate choice by organizers to center traditionally marginalized voices.
Joseph Cardinal, a respected Two-Spirit elder from the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, opened the conference with a traditional blessing. “This gathering marks a return to understanding that caring for all aspects of a person—physical, emotional, spiritual—has always been the foundation of healing,” Cardinal told the assembly.
The conference arrives at a pivotal moment in Canadian healthcare policy. Last month, Federal Health Minister Anita Anand announced a $78 million investment to improve healthcare access for gender-diverse Canadians. The funding followed heated provincial debates about coverage for gender-affirming procedures and transgender youth healthcare.
“What happens in these conference rooms this week will directly shape how that funding translates to better outcomes in waiting rooms across the country,” notes Sam Everett, executive director of Rainbow Health Network.
Exhibitor booths showcase innovations ranging from telehealth platforms designed for rural queer communities to educational materials in over fourteen languages. The Montreal University Health Centre unveiled a new mobile screening unit specifically designed to bring STI and cancer screening services to underserved LGBTQ2S+ communities.
Not everyone welcomes the conference. A small group of protesters gathered outside, highlighting ongoing cultural tensions. Conference security worked closely with Montreal police to ensure participant safety while respecting the right to peaceful demonstration.
Inside, the focus remained squarely on evidence-based approaches. Dr. James Wong, presenting research from the University of British Columbia, shared compelling data from their five-year longitudinal study. “When providers receive specific training in LGBTQ2S+ healthcare needs, we see a 47% improvement in patient retention and follow-up care,” Wong explained to a packed auditorium.
The conference has also become a forum for difficult conversations about healthcare disparities within LGBTQ2S+ communities themselves. An afternoon panel addressed the specific barriers faced by racialized queer and trans Canadians.
“It’s not enough to just create LGBTQ-friendly clinics,” argued Desiree Johnson, a Black trans health advocate from Toronto’s Sherbourne Health Centre. “We need to confront the ways racism, colonialism, and transphobia create compounding barriers for many in our communities.”
The economic impact hasn’t gone unnoticed by local officials. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, speaking at the welcome reception, highlighted how the conference aligns with the city’s vision as an inclusive innovation hub. Tourism Montreal estimates the event will bring approximately $5.2 million in economic activity to the city.
For many attendees, however, the most valuable aspects are the connections formed between communities that rarely interact. Rural healthcare providers share challenges with urban specialists. Community organizers compare notes with policy researchers. Medical students engage with elders.
“I’ve worked at my small-town clinic for twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve had access to this kind of specialized training,” says Dr. Martha Kennard, a family physician from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. “I’ll return home with practical tools to better serve my LGBTQ2S+ patients of all ages.”
The conference continues through Sunday, concluding with a national strategy session where participants will draft policy recommendations for provincial and federal health authorities.
As afternoon sessions begin, attendees flow between meeting rooms with a sense of purpose. For many, like nurse practitioner Thomas Bergeron from Saskatoon, the gathering represents something profound.
“This isn’t just about professional development,” Bergeron tells me as we wait for an afternoon session on rural healthcare delivery. “It’s about finally acknowledging that providing competent, affirming care for 2SLGBTQIA+ people isn’t optional or niche—it’s a fundamental part of what good healthcare means in Canada.”
Looking around at the diverse faces engaged in conversation, it’s clear this conference represents more than just another industry gathering. It signals a maturing healthcare system grappling with its responsibility to serve all Canadians with dignity, regardless of who they are or whom they love.
