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Schuyler H Smith is a community organizer, educator, and bridge-builder active in queer, Jewish, and intersectional spaces in Halifax and nationally. Their work has focused on organizing, communications, coalition-building, and public education, particularly where antisemitism, disability and 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion intersect.
Schuyler first became publicly involved in queer community work through the fight for marriage equality. While studying at the University of Ottawa, they organized marches on Parliament Hill in 2004 & 2005 with and alongside Egale, mobilizing students and allies in support of Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act. During this period, Schuyler worked in Parliament in various roles in the office of Alexa McDonough, Leader of the NDP and MP for Halifax. These experiences shaped their understanding of principled activism, politics, and accountability to community. Schuyler has consistently credited McDonough as a model they strive to live up to in their own work.
While living in Ottawa, Schuyler met Jeremy Dias and later joined his emerging organization, Jer’s Vision, which would become the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. After returning to Halifax, Schuyler supported the organization’s national growth and served on its advisory board as Atlantic regional director. Their work focused on organizing, communications, education and training, and advisory support. During this period, Schuyler supported the organization’s choice to use the pink triangle, a Holocaust symbol, in allyship with the Jewish community.
In 2017, Schuyler helped organize the first national 2SLGBTQ+ Elected Officials Conference in Ottawa, bringing together MPs, MLAs, and municipal leaders from across Canada. The conference created space for openly 2SLGBTQ+ elected officials to meet, share strategies, and build cross-jurisdictional relationships. It was hosted by Svend Robinson and Libby Davies, with participation from Randy Boissonnault in his role as the federal government’s first Parliamentary Secretary for 2SLGBTQ+ issues.
In 2016, Schuyler was elected to the Halifax Pride board for a single term, becoming the organization’s first Jewish board member. During this period, they organized the first Pride Shabbat dinner in Canada, held on the roof of the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market. The dinner was conceived as a way to build resilience, solidarity, and understanding between Jewish and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. These Pride Shabbat dinners have since become a tradition in multiple Canadian Jewish communities.
During their term, Schuyler was involved in discussions that led to changes in police participation at Halifax Pride events. Halifax Regional Police withdrew from marching in the parade while continuing to provide traffic control and perimeter security. Officers later participated in Pride events, in plain-clothes, as volunteers in logistical and support roles. Schuyler resigned from the Halifax Pride board in 2018 following a dispute over a performer booked for a Pride event. The performer, who was not Jewish, had publicly shared a drag skit portraying Anne Frank in a mocking manner that made light of the Holocaust. Schuyler raised concerns and requested that the booking be cancelled. When those concerns were not taken seriously, they stepped down.
Schuyler has been involved for more than a decade in organizing Christmas at Spencer House, an annual Christmas Day meal for seniors who may otherwise be alone on the holiday. The dinner marks its 15th year in 2026.
Schuyler has also served as the founder of CIJA’s 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Board, created to help the organization better understand and engage with queer communities. They later resigned from that role due to differences in approach.
In 2023, Schuyler founded Breaking Challah, Building Bridges, a community-based program created in direct response to the sharp rise in antisemitism following October 7. The program brings people together through shared meals and facilitated conversation, building new and stronger relationships, dignity, and an opportunity to strengthen allyship across communities. Schuyler is a DEIB consultant, speaker, and educator, and serves as an external trainer for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. They currently volunteer as the Atlantic representative for the International Day of Pink, and train and advocate on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, neurodiversity and the fight against antisemitism.
Tags: 2SLGBTQ+, Jewish, Community Organizers, Halifax, Antisemitism, Marriage Equality, Pride History