by Bethana Sullivan • 2012-07-15
Wanting or needing to network with a business tribe, LGBT business people Krista Snow, Carolyn James, and Jules Chamberlain attended a couple of meetings of the Business Breakfast Club Halifax. It took only the two meetings for them to discover that something was missing, a pizzazz, some colour, a little double entrendre in the conversation maybe. But mostly it was a desire to be among their own, their tribe, so to speak. And from that spark of desire, InterQ was born, a stand-alone, down-home Halifax creation. Not for them the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce out of Toronto. This endeavour is born out of the heartbeat of Nova Scotians' LGBT community. Jules Chamberlain describes InterQ as having a heartbeat, strong and vibrant, like the land of Nova Scotia, and the people who live here.
InterQ is about the intersection of like-minded people caring about their own and others' businesses, caring about the intersection of business with community development, and caring for the LGBT community as it intersects with the larger community. Each point of crossing is rich with new ideas, new friends, and exciting possibilities of how to grow each other and the community. InterQ is about being business oriented with a twist.
At their second InterQmix, hosted by MacInnis Cooper at their Purdy’s Wharf offices, the turnout was noticeably larger than the first InterQmix. The setting was divine, light, and airy, with a sense of being contained but not restricted. While suits dominated the scene, there was enough of soft image apparel to not scare off those in alternate enterprises. And an increased number of women were present, from insurance brokers, to social workers, to furniture designers. The ratio of men to women is out of balance and it will probably be a challenge for InterQ to attract not only more women but also people of colour. As someone said to me recently, “Where has all the colour gone?” But I think this group will be up to it. Certainly, the energy of the room spoke to the excitement of being part of something new, and something needed in the LGBT business community.
Interim chair Justin Schurman welcomed everyone to the second meet and greet and introduced its interim board: Michelle Clare, Darrell Schuurman, Benjie Nycum, Justin Mury, Lynn Iding, Krista Snow, Carolyn James, and Jules Chamberlain. Given the interest expressed in this new endeavour, the interim board is going ahead with setting up as a non profit society, creating its bylaws, and developing membership packages for the range of businesses from a single person to a large corporation. InterQ-a chamber + commerce atlantic will focus on promoting ‘the rich diversity of the LGBT community.’
The next InterQmix will be in September. Keep your eye on the WAYVES MAGAZINE facebook page for details. It is an exciting time to be part of the Atlantic LGBT business community and WAYVES will be sharing more of their story on Wayves and in the Magazine. You can also find Inter-Q on Facebook.
