Building bridges and belonging: Cumberland County Pride Dance brings students together

For Carly Cleveland, Amanda Gogan and Jacqlyn McIver, supporting students goes far beyond healthcare programs and services. At its core, their work is about something much more meaningful: helping young people feel seen, valued and connected.

Cleveland, Gogan and McIver are Nova Scotia Health Public Health Youth Health Centre (YHC) coordinators. And that sense of belonging is at the heart of Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), which are now active in most high schools across Nova Scotia.  

These student-led groups provide safe, welcoming spaces for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, as well as allies. And as the Youth Health Centre coordinators are quick to point out, you don’t have to identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to join—many students attend simply to support friends or to help foster more inclusive school environments.

“Whether they are a member of the community or an ally, students come together regularly just to talk, connect, and find ways to build inclusivity into their schools and community,” said Cleveland. Those efforts have taken many forms—from fundraisers benefiting local non-profits to popcorn sales and face painting at school events. Each initiative helps build awareness and acceptance.

Yet for youth in rural areas like Cumberland County, inclusion isn’t the only challenge. Geography can be a significant barrier. Students in smaller communities often have fewer opportunities to connect with peers from neighbouring schools who share similar experiences.

Recognizing this gap, the three YHC coordinators from across Cumberland County came together to create something special: the first-ever Cumberland County Pride Dance.

Held on Friday, June 12 at Springhill High School, the event welcomed students from all high schools in the region. With transportation made possible through the support of the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE) and a grant from the Cumberland County Community Fund, students were bused in for an afternoon of celebration and connection.  

The dance offered something many 2SLGBTQIA+ students don’t always feel they have access to—a space in which they can truly be themselves. “Many students in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community aren’t comfortable attending traditional school proms,” Cleveland explained. “This event allowed students to wear what they wanted, go with whomever they wanted, and be themselves without fear of judgment.”

In a show of solidarity, Springhill High’s graduating class – which had held its prom earlier – lent their decorations to help transform the space for the event. Combined with additional décor, the result was a vibrant, welcoming setting that reflected the spirit of the event.

For the YHC coordinators, the success of the dance was made possible through strong partnerships. “The administration at the school level and at the RCE has been incredible to see,” said Cleveland. “If we didn’t have their support, none of this would be possible. They see first-hand the impact GSAs have in schools and for the youth they support.”

She also highlighted the key role of the CCRCE’s equity consultant, who helped co-ordinate transportation so students from across the county could attend.

For Gogan, the impact of the event was evident in a simple but powerful moment. A student from her school was meeting up with someone from another school they had connected with at the dance. “We’re building bridges—and I am so happy,” said the Springhill High YHCC.

Those connections, she added, are exactly what these efforts are meant to support. “This reaffirms that building capacity within our communities needs to be our focus,” Gogan explained. “Some of the GSA team leads have been involved since Grade 7 and are now graduating. This dance was one of their goals for many years, so to see it come to fruition was an incredible way to finish their time in public school—and it leaves a positive legacy for future students.”

That legacy is already taking shape. For many students, the pride dance was more than just an event—it was a milestone, a statement that they are not alone, and a celebration of identity in all its forms.

As Public Health and partners look ahead, the goal is clear: to make the Cumberland County Pride Dance a lasting tradition and continue growing its reach each year.

Because at its heart, this work is about more than one event. It’s about reminding every student of a simple truth: You’re a rainbow of possibilities.

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Learn more about Public Health's Youth Health Centres.

Photo 1 (L-R): Amanda Gogan, Carly Cleveland, and Jacqulyn McIver 
Photo 2: Youth Health Centre door at Springhill High School