Heather McDowell, executive director of the Stratford Pride Community Centre, and Brock Hart, newly appointed chair of the board and president. Connor Luczka/StratfordToday
The Board of Directors of the Stratford Pride Community Centre (SPCC) is pleased to announce that it has unanimously elected local resident Brock Hart as President and Chair for a one-year term, effective immediately.
Hart, who brings vast experience working with not-for-profit community organizations to his new role, replaces outgoing president and chair Bruce Duncan Skeaff, who resigned in mid-August for health reasons. Hart will join recently appointed SPCC Executive Director Heather McDowell, herself an accomplished community advocate, in guiding the SPCC—generously funded by the United Way Perth-Huron, the City of Stratford, TD Bank, VIA Rail, and other local donors—in the latest phase of its evolution.
“Growing up in a rural community where I was subjected to repeated bullying for being ‘different,’ I know from personal experience how isolating and lonely it can be for queer people, especially youth, in some parts of this province,” says Hart. “Our goal at the Stratford Pride Community Centre is to offer a safe and welcoming space for local 2SLGBTQ+ residents and their allies to connect with like-minded individuals, share their experiences, advocate for education, acceptance and equality, and strengthen our communities.”
As Chief Design Officer for Kitchener-based international consulting firm Overlap, Hart has served on boards for several prominent not-for-profits, including the Business Education Partnership, Centre in the Square, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation, where he also was board chair. An engaging and much-sought-after public speaker, he specializes in navigating change and transformation, and has worked closely with such charitable clients as UNICEF, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, World Vision, and others.
“Our community owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to outgoing co-founder Bruce Duncan Skeaff for having the vision and drive to get the Stratford Pride Community Centre up and running and for securing the initial funding that has made it the only facility of its kind in rural Ontario,” says Hart. “We look forward to continuing to work with our community partners to serve the people of Stratford and Perth County—and to advance our region as a progressive, inclusive, and welcoming place for everyone to live, work, visit or do business.”
For more information, to speak to Brock Hart and Heather McDowell, or to explore upcoming volunteer opportunities, please contact the Stratford Pride Community Centre at (519) 273-SPCC or email us at pride@stratfordpride.com. You can also learn about upcoming events or programming at stratfordpride.com or via our phone line.
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About the Stratford Pride Community Centre
Founded in 2021, the Stratford Pride Community Centre, located at 24 Downie Street, Second Floor, Stratford, Ontario, serves people living in Stratford and surrounding Perth County—as well as those who are visiting, plan to visit, or are looking for a welcoming place to move permanently.
The SPCC also publishes the annual Pride Guide, a directory of local businesses, services, organizations and professionals that welcome 2SLGBTQ+ residents and visitors.
The Stratford Pride Community Centre receives generous funding from the United Way Perth-Huron, the City of Stratford, TD Bank, VIA Rail, and other private donors.
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