Parents & Supporters Toolbox
Content Guide
International Students
Accessibility
LGBTQIA+ Students
Indigenous Students
Mental Health and Wellness
Non-traditional Students
1. International Students
Memorial’s Internationalization Office assists students coming to Memorial University and Memorial students wishing to travel abroad. The Internationalization Office helps new and current international students, whether your student needs information or just a friendly chat. Your student can talk to the staff at the Internationalization Office about health insurance, immigration, academic and career options, and how to get settled here in the city of St. John’s.
The International Student Resource Centre (ISC)
The International Student Resource Centre (ISC) helps welcome international students on campus and ensures that your student will have equal opportunities while studying in St. John’s. The centre and its team focus on bringing people together to embrace and celebrate diversity and culture. With signature annual events including the International Student Recognition Awards (IRSA) and the Multicultural show, there are many opportunities for your student to get involved. Your student can contact the centre by phone (709) 864-2002, by email at isc@munsu.ca, or on Facebook or Instagram @ISCMUN.
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2. Accessibility
The Blundon Centre (Student Life)
The Blundon Centre (Student Life) supports all students who experience barriers to accessing post-secondary education. If your student is dealing with a permanent or temporary disability, they should reach out to one of the student learning accessibility advisors at the Blundon Centre so they can discuss test, exam, and classroom accommodations. Your student can also contact the Blundon Centre to request accessible parking, specific housing arrangements, and alternate format textbooks. Also, make sure your student knows about Clockwork, the Blundon Centre’s online accommodations system so that they can easily request accommodations each semester.
Disability Information & Support Centre (MUN DISC)
Offers peer support for disability-related topics, to advocate for the rights of students and raise awareness of these topics within the university and in the community. The centre works to remove barriers faced by students with disabilities and aims to promote a more accessible education and campus. Your student can contact the centre on Facebook @MUNDISC, or by calling (709) 864-7993, or by emailing accessibility@munsu.ca.
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3. LGBTQIA+ Students
Important Definitions for Parents and Supporters
- Sex: Refers to the physical characteristics of a person (i.e, what sex organs they have)
- Gender Identity: “An individual’s deeply felt sense of gender, regardless of physical characteristics”- because sometimes these don’t always ‘match’ up
- Sexual Orientation: Defined by romantic, emotional, and physical attraction
- LGBTQIA+: An acronym for lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual individuals. The acronym has many terms and it is also constantly changing and improving to include everyone in the community.
- Bisexual: Refers to the sexual orientation of a person who is attracted to two or more genders
- Intersex: A term that describes a variety of conditions in which a person is born without the typical reproductive or sexual anatomy of male or female
- Transgender: Refers to gender identity. A transgender person does not align with the physical characteristics that they were born with
- Non-binary: The preferred umbrella term for all genders other than female/male or woman/man, used as an adjective (e.g. Jessie is a non-binary person). Not all non-binary people identify as trans and not all trans people identify as non-binary
- Cisgender: A term that describes an individual whose anatomical sex aligns with their gender, for example, a person with male anatomy whose internal self is a man
- Two-Spirit: A term used by some Indigenous cultures and communities to describe gender-variant individuals. Some Two-Spirit individuals identify as LGBTQIA+, but the term refers explicitly to Indigenous peoples. It is important to remember that the term is also a symbol of Indigenous resilience, as it is a way of reclaiming pre-colonial identities and traditions
- Pansexual: A person who is attracted to people regardless of gender, physical body, or identity. This can be used to describe sexuality that is fluid
- Asexual: Refers to individuals that experience little to no physical or sexual attraction to others. An asexual person may still want relationships of an emotional or romantic nature
- Lesbian: Refers to a woman that is romantically, emotionally, and sexually attracted to other women.
- Gay: Refers to a man that is romantically, emotionally, and sexually attracted to other men.
- Homophobia: The fear, hatred, ignorance and stigma towards LGBTQIA+ people
- Transphobia: The fear, hatred, ignorance and stigma towards people who are transgender
- Biphobia: The specific stigma bisexual people face in their cultures and communities
Adapted from Kutcher, Stan. (2019). Transitions: Making the Most of Your Campus Experience.
Trans & Gender Diverse Students’ Guide
The Trans & Gender Diverse Students’ Guide was developed specifically for trans and gender diverse students at Memorial University. It provides information for navigating aspects of Memorial’s systems and campuses, as well as links to services and supports outside of Memorial that are relevant for trans and gender diverse students. This guide may also serve as a great resource for those supporting trans and gender diverse students.
Memorial University’s Sexual and Gender Advocacy Resource Centre
Memorial University’s Sexual and Gender Advocacy Resource Centre (MUN SAGA) MUN SAGA provides a support and social group for lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, questioning, and other members of the Memorial LGBTQ+ community. Their office is a safe (and confidential) place where your student can be themselves, hang out with other LGBTQ+ people, and meet new people! They also have a growing library of resource materials and LGBTQ+-themed fiction and poetry that is available to anyone who needs it. Your student can contact MUN SAGA by calling 709-864-7619.
MUN Intersections
MUN Intersections - Memorial University’s Resource Center for Marginalized Genders At the centre, volunteers trained in crisis intervention are available for informal peer support and can provide referrals to various campus and community services. They have a Trans support group and an Asexual and Aromantic support group. Your student can reach out to the centre by calling 737-4366 or emailing munsuwrc@gmail.com.
Memorial University Student Union
Memorial University Student Union (MUNSU) has two representatives that advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus. The queer and transgender representatives advocate for the community as a whole by working with students to create better policy and aid for those who have been discriminated against. The trans representatives specifically advocates for the unique needs of the transgender community on campus either on a systemic level or by helping individual students with specific issues they need resolving. In addition to the queer and trans reps, the director of advocacy can work with LGBTQ+ individuals who require aid due to discrimination based on being part of a gender, sexual, or romantic minority. Your student can reach out to the representatives at MUNSU by emailing lgbt@munsu.ca or advocacy@munsu.ca.
Trans Support Group
Trans Support Group: A peer-based support group that offers support to all trans individuals, individuals that exist outside of the cisgender binary, or individuals questioning their gender identity. This group is made to be a safer space. They are a completely confidential peer-based support group and together they decide when and where to meet, plan social events and discuss where they want the organization to go. Your student can reach out to the group by emailing transsupportgroup@hotmail.com.
Human Rights Commission
Human Rights Commission receives, records and investigates written complaints from individuals that allege a violation of the Human Rights Act. This is where people can go when they’re being discriminated against because they belong to the LGBTQIA+ community. Your student can call 729-2709 to reach out to the Human Rights Commission staff.
Parents of Trans and Gender Diverse Kids
Parents of Trans and Gender Diverse Kids- Newfoundland and Labrador: a peer support group for parents of gender creative, gender questioning, and transgender children and youth in St. John’s NL. You can reach out to the group by emailing parentsoftranskids@gmail.com.
PFLAG Newfoundland and Labrador
PFLAG Newfoundland and Labrador offers a monthly peer support group, your student can contact the group by emailing pflagnl@gmail.com or murphy_p_charlie@hotmail.com, or by calling 709-351-2282.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood provides LGBTQIA+ support groups, pregnancy testing, pregnancy options, counselling from a social worker, physician clinics, emergency contraceptive information, testing and treatment for STIs. They also have Camp Eclipse for LGBTQIA+ youth. To reach out to Planned Parenthood, your student can call 579-1009 or 1-877-666-9847.
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4. Indigenous Students
The Circle
The Circle: First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Students Resource Centre is a space for building community, advocating for rights, planning events decolonizing and indigenizing campus, and learning about yourself. Your student can contact the centre by emailing indigenous@munsu.ca.
The Indigenous Student Resource Centre
The Indigenous Student Resource Centre is responsible for providing supports and services for self-identified Indigenous students. The office also works to educate the general university population regarding Indigenous peoples found within our province. The staff at the office are available to help Indigenous students adapt to an academic and urban environment. By offering programs and services, the IRSC strives to create a welcoming community for all Indigenous students. If your student is looking to reach out to the staff at the IRSC, please contact Valeri Pilgrim at vpilgrim@mun.ca or Tama Fost at tama@mun.ca.
First Light
First Light: St. John’s Friendship Centre is a registered non-profit organization that serves the urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous community alike by providing programs and services rooted in the revitalization, strengthening and celebration of Indigenous cultures and languages in the spirit of trust, respect, and friendship. The First Light Childcare Centre is the province’s first and only Indigenous-run childcare centre. It provides childcare services to children ages 2-12 and is in the process of opening an infant room. To learn more about the First Light Childcare Centre contact Debbie Ingram by emailing debbie@firstlight.ca or calling (709)738-8467, or by visiting their website.
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5. Mental Health and Wellness
Counselling Services
The mission of the Student Wellness and Counselling Centre (SWCC) is to provide integrated services to address the holistic needs of the students studying at Memorial University.
The SWCC consists of counselling, health and wellness supports, including primary health care, counselling, health promotion, disease prevention, and wellness education. Our care is dedicated to helping students remain healthy and make good life choices while pursuing their academic goals. We provide inclusive care to enhance the emotional, physical and personal well-being of Memorial students including the achievement of their academic and personal success.
Our counselling services provide confidential, free support to all students registered at Memorial University, provided by qualified counsellors, doctoral residents, registered psychologists and their professional students.
Our healthcare team provides multi-disciplinary care with expertise in family practice and college health.
Our wellness services empower students to strive for balance and wellness through becoming aware of and taking steps towards a healthier, happier, more successful life through activities and mindfulness.
Our Location
5th Floor University Centre, UC-5000
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL A1C 5S7
Contact Us
Phone: 709-864-8500
Medical Services (physician or nurse): swccfrontdesk@mun.ca
Wellness (services, resources, events): swccwellness@mun.ca
Counselling: swccfrontdesk@mun.ca for inquiries or complete the Request Counselling Form to request an appointment with a counsellor
6. Non-traditional Students
Students Older than Average
Students Older than Average (SOTA) helps mature students reach their greatest potential at Memorial University. SOTA recognizes that sacrifices are often necessary to attend university as a mature student, and can provide valuable advice and support. Your student can contact SOTA by email at sota@munsu.ca or by phone at (709) 864-2158.
The Childcare Centre
The Childcare Centre programs are designed to provide a happy, relaxed environment that is conducive to supporting growth in all areas of development: social, emotional, cognitive, and physical. If you or your student is interested in registering your child for one of their many programs, please visit their website for more information.
The Child Care Subsidy Program
The Child Care Subsidy Program is an income-tested program designed to assist families with the cost of child care fees at regulated child care services. Click here to learn more about applying.
Provincial Resources for Single Parents
The Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour offers many programs and services to single parents. These include financial benefits and incentives to return to work or school. Click here to learn more about provincial resources.