'It's really going to make a huge difference for us': Quadrangle N.L gets significant federal funding

Quadrangle N.L. — a 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy group that works to improve the quality of lives and experiences of the community in Newfoundland and Labrador — is getting $890,000 from the federal government as part of the national action plan to end gender-based violence.

Pam Parsons, minister responsible for women and gender equality, made the announcement on Monday at Quadrangle's new office space in St. John's. 

"Over the next four years, this financial support will serve as a foundation stone for Quadrangle, and its mission to enhance violence prevention efforts, including embarking on a vital education and awareness initiatives tailored specifically to the emerging needs of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community," Parsons said on Monday. 

Quadrangle N.L. executive director Charlie Murphy said the money marks a historical day for the organization. 

"It will allow us to have stable staff members … the ability to do more programming, the ability for us to travel across the province and really do some really important work that currently has not been existing," Murphy said.

"It's really going to make a huge difference for us, being a provincial charity."

In June, Quadrangle declined the provincial government's invitation to attend the 2023 Pride Month flag raising celebration. 

At the time, Murphy said Quadrangle had been repeatedly denied funding for years, and they did not want to send a message that they were supported by the provincial government. 

Eddy St. Coeur, co-chair of St. John's Pride, said that move is what helped Quadrangle secure today's funding. 

"We're so proud of Quadrangle and that team of people who've been advocating for seven years for funding to come in and be invested into the community," he said. 

"That's how we got here today. It was from Quadrangle advocating on behalf of the community, and for drawing attention to the need."

So far in 2023, Quadrangle has worked with and supported more than 800 people. 

Murphy expects that number will be closer to 1,000 by the end of the year.