Beyond Limits 2026
Conference Day Program
October 02, 2026 · Toronto
What’s on at
What’s on at
Beyond Limits
One-day conference program
Spelling or pronoun correction? Please contact r.santiago@utoronto.ca.
At a glance
Friday schedule
8:00–9:00Registration, coffee and pastriesMountbatten Lane
9:15–10:45Opening welcome and keynoteMountbatten
11:00–12:30Block A · Three parallel sessionsThree rooms
12:30–2:00Lunch, posters and community tablesMountbatten Lane
2:00–3:30Afternoon INQYR ShowcaseMountbatten
4:00–5:30Block B · Three parallel sessionsThree rooms
5:45–6:00Closing remarks and recognitionsMountbatten
7:30–11:00Snacks, Sips and SkatesMountbatten Salon
Live Spanish-to-English interpretation is available during the opening keynote, the interpreted parallel sessions, and the INQYR Showcase.
October 2 Conference Program1
Interactive venue guide
Find your room
Hover over or select a glowing point or room name to see the programming taking place there.
Direct link to this map
Selected space
Mountbatten Salon / AB
The main shared-program space throughout Friday.
- 9:15–10:45 · Opening welcome and keynote
- 11:00–12:30 · Community-engaged research methods
- 2:00–3:30 · INQYR Showcase
- 4:00–5:30 · Digital Life, Subcultures and Belonging
- 5:45 onward · Closing and evening celebration
Beyond Limits 2026Morning program
Welcome and keynote
Opening the day
All morning plenary programming takes place in Mountbatten. Live Spanish-to-English interpretation is available.
8:00–9:00
Registration, coffee and pastries · Mountbatten Lane
Collect your name badge, conference package, and interpretation headset. Volunteers will assist with registration and wayfinding.
9:15–10:45
Opening welcome and keynote · Mountbatten
Welcome and introductions from Dr. Shelley Craig (she/her), followed by keynote speaker Ilan H. Meyer (he/him) of the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Dr. Meyer will explore minority stress and LGBTQ health: where the research has taken us, what generational shifts are telling us, and what comes next.
University of Toronto welcome: Additional speaker to be announced.Live interpretation10:45–11:00
Break
Hydration, coffee top-up, and transition to the parallel sessions.
Block A · 11:00–12:30
Community Engaged and Collaborative Research Methods
Mountbatten AB · Live Spanish-to-English interpretation · Fifteen-minute presentations followed by shared discussion.
Mountbatten AB
Community Engaged and Collaborative Research Methods
Doing Research Pero a lo Mexicano: Lessons and Challenges of a Cross-Border Collaboration in LGBTQ+ Population HealthJuan Carlos Mendoza-Pérez (Él) · Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Care, Community, and LGBT+ Youth Mental Health in La Paz: Reflections from La Paz es DiversaEli Verdugo (they/them) · La Paz es Diversa
Desplazamiento del prejuicio patologizante hacia identidades trans: fundamentos para una propuesta tecnológica de formación ética en profesionales de salud mentalJessica Ayón Zuñiga (her/ella) · Universidad Autónoma de Occidente
Outcomes and Lessons Learned from Sexual and Gender Minority Youth-Engaged Research Priority Setting Using the Write-Draw-Storying MethodChris Wang (they/he) · University of Toronto
Cultivating Queer Joy through Expressive Writing among LGBTQIA+ Youth in the US and New ZealandEric K. Layland (he/they) · University of Delaware
Questions and discussion
October 2 Conference Program2
Beyond Limits 2026Block A · Parallel sessions
11:00–12:30
Block A
Choose one concurrent session. Each room holds five presentations followed by questions and discussion.
Baker
Schools, Training and Safer Practice
Pride and Possibility: Teaching in the Ontario Catholic School SystemErin Van Moorsel (they/she) · OECTA
National School Climate Survey: Experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ Students in the USShweta Moorthy (she/her) · Glisten
Creating Safer Clinical Spaces in Hostile Contexts During Unsafe Times: A Case of Queer-Affirming Psychotherapy in West AfricaMarigold Cobbina (She/Her) · University of Calgary
Canadian Nursing Students’ Experiences Using Globally Networked Learning to Promote Affirming Care for 2SLGBTQIA+ IndividualsSamantha Colafella (she/her) · York University
School Anticipation, Prevention, and Response to Anti-Trans BacklashRory O’Brien (they/them) · San Diego State University
Questions and discussion
Windsor
Programs and Interventions
Parenting with LOVE: A Pilot Test of a Psychoeducational Intervention for Parents of LGBTQ+ YouthCarol Broughton (She/They), Brandie Brazell (pronouns not provided), M.Ed., LPC-S, NCC, and Douglas Knutson (he/him), PhD, LHSP, ABPP · Oklahoma State University
Proud to Be Me: Body Image and Queer Joy Programming for 2SLGBTQIA+ YouthSyd Gilchrist (they/them) · Canvas Programs
Where Queer Joy Takes Root: Exploring Sustainable Wellbeing at fYreflyAlison Rodgers (she/her) and Dr. Rachel Nicholls (pronouns not provided) · Trent University
LGBTQTeeHee: A Queer Comedy Intervention for Wellbeing, Resilience, and Community CareAnthony Joseph Gifford (He/Him) · Birmingham City University
Tuned In!: 12-Month Longitudinal Outcomes of a Virtual Affirmative Mindfulness Intervention for Sexual and Gender Diverse YouthGio Iacono (he/him) · University of Connecticut
Questions and discussion
The Community Engaged and Collaborative Research Methods session runs concurrently in Mountbatten AB.
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Beyond Limits 2026Poster session · 12:30–2:00
Mountbatten Lane
Lunch, posters and community tables
Pick up lunch, explore the research, and meet community organizations. Vote for your favourite posters using the voting link available in this program and in the poster area.
Poster awards
Vote for a poster
Open the voting page ↗
Poster locator
Find posters 1–28
Select a number to jump to that poster. Physical table positions can be added when the floor layout is confirmed.
October 2 Conference Program · Posters4
Beyond Limits 2026Poster session · Continued
28 poster presentations
Poster presenters
Poster awards
Vote during the poster session
Attendees will vote for their favourites during the session, with four awards given out during the dance and roller disco:
- The Beyond Limits Award, for the poster that pushes past a conventional boundary, whether in method, framing, or who the research is done with
- Best in Show, for all round excellence. Strong research, clearly communicated, well presented
- The Joy Award, for the poster that best captures queer joy, resilience, or possibility
- The Bold Design Award, for the poster that makes the strongest visual case for its work
Community tables
Meet local organizations
Featured community tables include Get Real, It Gets Better Canada, and AFFIRM. Additional organizations may be announced.
October 2 Conference Program · Posters5
Beyond Limits 2026Afternoon program
Creative methods and community knowledge
INQYR Showcase
2:00–3:30
Afternoon INQYR Showcase · Mountbatten
A celebration of creative outputs from the INQYR international network. Energizing segments from across the regions bring research to life through arts-based methods and creative demonstrations. Presenter lineup to be announced.
Live interpretation3:30–4:00
Break and optional movement session
A snack break with space for embodiment, movement, and queer joy.
Creative projects from across INQYR
Presenters and running order will be added as confirmations arrive.
Level UPPresenter to be confirmed
GLOPresenter to be confirmed
AutonomePresenter to be confirmed
Resource MappingPresenter to be confirmed
Mexico regional showcasePresenter to be confirmed
Online VignettesPresenter to be confirmed
Ballroom Study & performancePresenters to be confirmed
Block B · 4:00–5:30
Digital Life, Subcultures and Belonging
Mountbatten AB · Live Spanish-to-English interpretation · Fifteen-minute presentations followed by shared discussion.
Mountbatten AB
Digital Life, Subcultures and Belonging
Category Is: A Study of Ballroom, Black Excellence and Anti-Black Racism in CanadaKeith Adamson (he/him) and Martin Austin (he/him) · University of Toronto
Is Anyone Out There? An Ethnographic Study of Queer Online CommunitiesJames Webster (he/him) · University of Winnipeg
Creative Resistance: The Collective Resilience Strategies of Trans and Gender Diverse YouthOlu Jenzen (she/her) · University of Southampton
From D&D to DIY: Using Creative Subcultures as a Belonging ToolkitRosalinda Kowalczewski (she/her/hers) · NC State Women’s Center
Stories in the Glass: Queer and Transgender South Asian Youth on Identity and DrinkingAnurada U. Amarasekera (she/they) · Toronto Metropolitan University
Questions and discussion
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Beyond Limits 2026Block B · Parallel sessions
4:00–5:30
Block B
Choose one concurrent session. Each room holds five presentations followed by questions and discussion.
Baker
Diaspora, Belonging and Access to Care
Queer Voices Beyond Downtown: Arts-Wellness Practices with 2SLGBTQ+ Youth of Colour in ScarboroughAndrea Charise (she/her) · University of Toronto Scarborough
It’s Always Nice to Remember That We’re Not Alone: Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography With LGBTQIA+ Migrant YouthThomas Tri (They/He) · York University
Centering LGBTQIA+ Migrant Student Belonging and Well-Being Through Mixed-Method Participatory Arts-Based ResearchRoya Haghiri-Vijeh (she/her) · York University
Amra Korbo Joy: Cultivating Joy as a Tool for Building Community Resilience in Toronto’s Bangladeshi LGBTQ CommunitiesLubaba Gemma (pronouns not provided) and Maiesha Zarin (they/them), presenting on behalf of Bushra Ahmed · Bangladeshi Queer Liberation
Videoconferencing-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in LGBTQ+ PeopleIsaac Dunn (He/Him) · University of Technology Sydney
Questions and discussion
Windsor
Youth Voices, Policy and Practice
Theory Building with Trans and Nonbinary Young People: What Does It Mean to Be (Well)?Alex Wagaman (she/her) · Virginia Commonwealth University
Beyond Non-Profits and Formal Institutions: Exploring Queer and Trans Asian Youth Grassroots Initiatives for Community CareMaple Xiang (They/She) · University of Toronto & Dany Ko (siya/伊 or They/Them) · SCI AIDE
You’re Not Just Scrambling: Centering TGD Youth Voices in Mental Health, Stigma, and Community Care in OntarioVikki Huang (she/her) · TWIRI / CCVT
Queer Youth Perspectives on Policy for Medical Assistance in Dying for Mental IllnessJay Tang (they/them) · University of Victoria
Assessing Social Workers’ LGB-Affirmative Practice Competence Using Vignettes: Development and ImplicationsYu-Te Huang (He/him/his) · University of Hong Kong
Questions and discussion
The Digital Life, Subcultures and Belonging session runs concurrently in Mountbatten AB.
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Beyond Limits 2026Closing and evening program
The day continues
Recognitions, downtime and queer joy
5:45–6:00
Closing remarks and recognitions · Mountbatten
A shared close to the formal conference program.
Live interpretation6:00–7:30
Drinks and downtime
Join an informal gathering on the Market Garden Patio or recharge in the designated Seymour quiet room before the evening festivities.
7:30–11:00
Snacks, Sips and Skates · Mountbatten Salon
A closing party hosted by Beats and Skates with a DJ, dance floor, catered snacks, cash bar, playful prizes, and presentation of the poster awards. The first 50 guests receive a complimentary Limitless cocktail.
Skating
Optional and beginner-friendly
Skates are available thanks to Nitro Skates, with helpers from Toronto Roller Derby and a demonstration from the Beats and Skates crew. Dancing and social space are available off skates.
Guests
Partners and family are welcome
Registered conference attendees are included. Companions who are not registered may attend with a separate guest ticket.
Guest ticket: Price and purchase details to be announced.All Friday programming takes place on the second floor of the Chelsea Hotel Toronto. Ask a volunteer for directions, interpretation support, or access to the Seymour quiet room.
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