A past REACH Board member is headed to Ottawa this fall after being recently appointed to the Senate. Dr. Kristopher Wells, who served on REACH’s Board from 2014 to 2020, has a vast array of experience from academia to community building and advocacy. 

“Watching REACH get established and continue to grow, I was excited to be a part of that important work,” says Wells. 

During his tenure on the Board he served as Secretary and contributed to long-term planning to help keep the organization sustainable and connected to diverse communities. 

“Part of our goal was to set a strong foundation for future success while building upon those important networks and sustaining conversations to create an inclusive, safe, welcoming and respectful community for everyone.”

Any Canadian who meets the requirements can apply to be a Senator. 

“It’s an interesting process. You write an essay, submit references, and it goes into a pool,” he explains. “I wrote my essay about what I believe Canada to be: a multicultural, pluralistic nation that celebrates diversity and difference. That is the strength and uniqueness of Canada.”

“These are the pillars I’ve based my whole life and career around,” he says. 

With his unique perspective as an academic and 2SLGBTQ+ community member, Wells is looking forward to getting to work. 

“It’s a serious job in terms of scrutinizing government legislation, and suggesting amendments to strengthen legislation,” he says. “We can study an issue in great depth, which is something the House of Commons normally doesn’t have the time to do. The Senate studies and issues reports on topics that are important to Canadians.”

“I’m looking forward to continuing my lifelong work and passion promoting fundamental human rights, embracing Canada's diverse society,” he says. “I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into the bills that come before the Senate and continuing to be a champion of our diverse 2SLGBTQ+ community. I think what most people fail to understand is that our community is unique because it exists within every other community in society. Whether it’s anti-2SLGBTQ+ legislation, hate crimes or growing populism, this is a time of rising global concerns.” 

Wells will be in good company in Ottawa, as he’s the second REACH Board member to be appointed to the Senate, following Patti Laboucane-Benson. 

“I just think it speaks to the quality of the board members that REACH is able to draw upon within the community. Ultimately, it speaks highly of the organization that professional people of all walks of life want to support,” he says. “The learning and mentorship that you receive from other board members is really something truly special. And the lifelong relationships and friends you make, in serving our community, that's what it’s all about: servant-leadership and giving back to organizations that are doing great work in our community.”