Community

Help

Ottawa Frontrunners maintains connection with a number of organizations in the community. Here we provide links to international sport federations and local GLBT-oriented organizations.

International organizations

International Front Runners (IFR)
Coordinates GLBT running clubs worldwide. On their Web site you can find a history of the Front Runners and links to other clubs. We are Ottawa's chapter of International Frontrunners.
Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA)
Coordinates GLBT sports of all kinds worldwide. Members range from individual clubs to continental associations. GLISA coordinates the Outgames, beginning with Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006, to which we are sending a team.
Federation of Gay Games
For more than 20 years the quadrennial Gay Games have helped to empower tens of thousands of LGBT athletes through fellowship and friendly competition.

Ottawa GLBT sport organizations

Rideau Speedeaus
The Ottawa Rideau Speedeaus are primarily a gay, lesbian, and bisexual swim team that welcomes members from the straight community as well. They practice several times per week and participate in competitions and hold an annual tournament and dance. Many members of Ottawa Frontrunners cross train with the Speedeaus.
Gay Ottawa Volleyball (GOV)
A group of people for the GLBT community who meet every Monday and Wednesday nights from September through May for fun nights of volleyball in the nation's capital. Mondays are recreational and the Wednesdays are competitive with fixed teams.
e-mail: GOV@rogers.com; tel: 613-244-3886 or 613-236-2106
Ottawa Rainbow Rockers
Ottawa's Gay & Lesbian Curling League. Membership is open to all gays and lesbians in the Ottawa area with any level of curling ability, from a total rookie to a seasoned veteran. Individuals are welcome to join as a full member or as a spare.
Ottawa-Gatineau Gay Hockey Association (OGGHA)
OGGHA promotes hockey in the National Capital's gay community and is open to gays, lesbians, and heterosexual players. The OGGHA is committed to promote recreational and social environment and to contribute to charitable organizations within the community.
e-mail: ogha@gayottawa.com
Time Out / Temps Libre
Time Out / Temps Libre is a volunteer organization that supports social and recreational activities within the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community. Membership in Time Out provides you with essential information on sports and leisure activities in the Ottawa–Hull area, as well as a quarterly newsletter that gives you the latest news on happenings in the region.
e-mail: timeout@gayottawa.com
TimeOut Hiking
This group is run by volunteers. Participants are gays, lesbians, and friends who appreciate nature. At least one hike will take place every month from May to October. Potentially, winter hikes will be organized in the future. The destinations are mainly in the areas surrounding Ottawa. Most hikes will be day hikes. There are, however, a few exceptions.
e-mail: write_pu@yahoo.com; tel: 613-828-1387
OUT Divers
OUT Divers was founded to help promote recreational scuba diving for GLBT individuals in the Ottawa/Gatineau area. Composed of both men and women of all skill levels, the group is open to experienced divers, new divers, those who have never tried scuba but would like to try it as well as non-diving partners.
e-mail: scuba@gayottawa.com
Ottawa Wolves
The Ottawa Wolves RFC is the first predominantly gay rugby team in the National Capital Region. The Wolves mission is to promote and encourage participation in the game of rugby among those who have traditionally been under-represented in the game, specifically the gay community.
e-mail: info@ottawawolves.ca
Mountain Bike Free Ride/Off-Road Group
If you like mountain biking or are interested in starting, need some advice or guidance, then this association is for you. A mountain bike with full suspension or front suspension is required. Mountain biking can be of the following types: urban/street with or without tricks, jumps, stairs, technical, off-road, downhill, and cross country. This is an excellent sport to improve one’s cardio and to enjoy the outdoors. Adventure, discoveries, fun, and get in shape!
e-mail: mtbottawa@gmail.com; tel: 613-741-3894
LOG/OPALE, Lesbian Outdoor Group
The mission of LOG/ OPALE is to enhance the quality of life for lesbians in the Ottawa– Gatineau area. We provide a forum where members can meet, socialize, and organize themselves for recreational and outdoor activities. Activities are organized by the members. Five general meetings followed by a social gathering and potluck are held each year.
e-mail: log_opale@yahoo.ca; tel: 613-237-9872 ext. 2045
Elles Loisirs
Non-smoking club for French homosexual women who want to do social, sport and cultural activities.
info@ellesloisirs.com; 813-595-2717
Ottawa Date Squares
The Ottawa Date Squares is a gay and lesbian friendly club open to everyone in the National Capital region and elsewhere who wishes to learn modern square dancing in a friendly, welcoming, sociable, fun and active setting. It actively participates in local, regional, national and international square dance events hosted by a variety of clubs and associations, both gay and straight.
Ottawa Out Golfing Group
The Ottawa Out Golfing Group is a friendly, recreational golf league for gay men and lesbian women of all skills and abilities — beginner to expert. All that is left to do is tee it up!
e-mail: rmeagher@istar.ca; tel: 613-565-1967

Selected other local GLBT organizations

Tone Cluster
Tone Cluster is a vibrant musical ensemble that contributes both musically to the Ottawa arts scene and socially as part of Ottawa's GLBT community. Several members of Ottawa Frontrunners sing in Tone Cluster.
Pride Ottawa
Ottawa's annual Pride celebration, featuring a parade, information fair, festival, and other activities throughout Pride week.
Public Service Pride Network
A social environment to meet other civil servants I the National Capital Region. Meets the last Firday of every month, 5:00–7:00 pm. Venues rotate monthly throughout Ottawa and Gatineau (Hull sector).
GLBTTQ Community Centre of Ottawa
The GLBTTQ Community Centre creates a safe space and forum for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Two-Spirit and Queer groups as well as citizens of all ages, abilities and classes to advance an inclusive, active, fun, proud and empowering community.
Pink Triangle Services
Pink Triangle Services (PTS) is a community-based not-for-profit organization that fosters the wellness of all gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two-spirit and queer (GLBTTQ) persons in the National Capital Region.
Ottawa Bears
The Ottawa Bears is a group dedicated to hirsute gay men and their admirers.
e-mail: bears@gayottawa.com
Ottawa Knights
The Ottawa Knights is a gay men’s leather and denim club. Bar nights are the second Saturday of every month at the Cellblock (above the Centretown Pub).
e-mail: info@ottawaknights.com; tel: 613-237-9833
Ottawa Womens' Discussion Group
We are called the Ottawa Women’s Discussion Group. Come meet other bisexual women of all ages, for informal discussions and general socializing. We meet in person every first Thursday of the month, 7:00–9:00 pm and at times, go for coffee afterwards. The group is sponsored by Pink Triangle Services.
e-mail: nsoucy@freenet.carleton.ca
Public Service Pride Network
Last Friday of every month, 5:00–7:00 pm. A social environment to meet other civil servants in the National Capital Region. Venues rotate monthly throughout Ottawa and Gatineau (Hull sector).