Peace Flag House’s name comes from the two rainbow peace flags that fly on the front of the house. These flags have become a bit of a neighbourhood landmark.

We put the flags up in 2013 because we live across the street from a high school and we know there are high rates of homophobic and transphobic bullying in our schools.

We wanted any kids at the high school that may be struggling with bullying and acceptance to know they weren’t alone.

Putting up the flags felt like a simple act. But those flags sparked an ongoing wave of hate crimes targeted at our house. Homophobic graffiti, stolen flags, broken flag poles and slashed tires became normal.

Those flags also brought the neighbourhood together in the most spectacular way. Pascal tells the full story here for Tedx Ryerson.

Peace Flag House has become short-hand for our social justice perspective: we choose to answer hate with inclusion, anger with love and injustice with positive social change.

We believe in creating the world we wish to live in.

And we have learned through our experience with community development, education and digital communications that stories are the essence of this work.

Stories change minds, shift perspectives and most importantly they build connections. Whether chatting with your neighbour, posting on Instagram, building a web site or hosting a big PR event, telling the story of the good you bring to the world is invaluable.