At Friends of Ruby, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth are at the heart of everything we do. As the year comes to a close, we want to highlight the essential roles our Youth Centre, mental health supports, Transitional Home, and programming play in the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Youth Services sees every day how meaningful it is when a young person walks into a space where they feel understood, affirmed, and supported through whatever is challenging them, big or small.
Meet Yuri
We’re delighted to introduce you to Yuri (she/they), our extraordinary Youth Services manager here at Friends of Ruby. Yuri leads our Youth Services team with compassion, insight, and deep commitment to 2SLGBGTQIA+ youth. She joins us today to give a closer look at what makes Friends of Ruby’s youth services unique, effective, and life changing.
Care That Meets Youth Where They Are
Youth Services at Friends of Ruby offers a wide range of supports. “From clinical counselling and solution-focused brief therapy to long-term and short-term case management, to art therapy and group outings, the team is structured to meet the unique goals and needs of each youth who reaches out,” Yuri explains.
But beyond programs, a defining feature of Friends of Ruby’s approach is that it is led by a frontline team with lived experience. “There is a big difference when the person in front of you truly understands stigma or discrimination,” Yuri says. “Our staff are queer and trans themselves, with intersecting identities. That lived experience shapes how we show up.”
It’s not about a single service. It’s about creating a space where youth do not need to shrink themselves to fit in.
Moments That Stay with Us
When asked about a moment that reminds her why this work matters, Yuri shared a story from a recent youth gathering.
She saw three youth she had worked with when she first joined Friends of Ruby nearly four years ago. Each had achieved meaningful milestones they once thought were out of reach, like completing school, securing housing, and establishing steady routines. “It was really moving,” she says. “They were thriving in their own lives, but they still came back to check in. It reminded me that we are here, and that what we do has a lasting impact.”
Yuri reflected on the strengths she sees most often in the youth who come through the door. “Sometimes the biggest strength is the ability to just show up,” she explains. “That’s how trust is built. That’s how goals start to take shape. And once trust is there, you begin to see communication, consistency, and confidence grow.”
These moments speak to the extensive of support youth experience at Friends of Ruby. Sometimes, the most powerful milestone is simply the ability to show up, ready to take the next step.
Looking Forward: Possibility in the New Space
Now that Friends of Ruby is moving into our new Youth Centre at 70 Richmond St E, Yuri shared her hopes for what a young person will feel the moment they enter the space.
“I hope that they feel grounded,” she says. “Having all our services in one building again means youth won’t have to navigate multiple locations or confusing service changes. The location is accessible, close to other community hubs, and easier for youth to reach.”
As Yuri looks ahead to the opening of the new Youth Centre, she sees possibility not just for youth, but for her staff.
“This move gives everyone a chance to settle. When staff feel grounded, that supports the work they do with youth.”
Being together in one building strengthens connection, communication, and collaboration. Youth can easily move between programs, visit staff they trust, and explore pathways forward without navigating multiple locations.
A Message to Our Supporters
When asked what she hopes supporters take away from Friends of Ruby’s work, Yuri is clear. “We are a one-of-a-kind space. We offer mental health support, social connection, and housing pathways all in one place. And we couldn’t do any of it without you.”
She adds that demand continues to grow each year. With your support, Friends of Ruby can continue offering the tools, compassion, and affirming care youth need to build lives that once felt out of reach.
“It saves lives. It builds skills. It helps youth imagine futures that feel possible.”
Thank you for standing with 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Thank you for believing in their strength and resilience. And thank you for helping Friends of Ruby continue to be a place where youth feel grounded, supported, and ready for the next step forward.