My name is Nicole Provost, and I am a neurodiversity and disability advocate based out of Abbotsford BC. I am a student at the University of the Fraser Valley and I am pursuing a degree in aviation, with the goal of becoming a flight instructor and then an aerial firefighter. When I was 21, I founded my own registered non-profit charity called ‘Mayday Club’. The primary program run by Mayday Club is a 35-voice youth choir made up of children, youth, and young adults who are neurodivergent, disabled, members of the LGBTQIA2+ community, and / or allies. I came up with the idea for a choir with neurodivergent singers because I noticed a lack of opportunity for young individuals of these populations in my community, and in neighboring municipalities such as Mission, Chilliwack, and Hope.
I also realized how efficient of a communication tool a performing youth choir could be, because I recognize that music and dance are universal, and we could use them as a tool to connect with audiences across the province while sharing our message of inclusion. The choir has grown from 13 original members to over 40. In total, we have had over 80 young members, many of whom have gone on to study at university or gain meaningful employment in various fields, despite challenges they face in everyday life. For all of the choir members, the group is a place where they can come to be themselves and be surrounded by like-minded individuals, as well as be pushed to their limits and gain skills in the areas of public speaking, team-work, travel and professionalism, media, dance, and of course music.
It is a sad fact of our society that neurodivergent and/or LGBTQIA2S+ individuals are more likely to experience poverty, abuse, mental health challenges, addiction, or homelessness than their counterparts. Mayday Club aims to combat this by providing them with opportunities to get involved in the community, be connected with like-minded mentors, develop the vocabulary and awareness needed to make safe choices, and gain work-related skills. In reality, neurodivergent and disabled workers are an immense human resource that employers and business owners are failing to take advantage of, due to our society’s lack of understanding on human diversity.
My goal with Mayday Club in the next few years is to get more neurodivergent, disabled, and LGBTQIA2S+ youth involved in leadership roles, because I would like the organization to be run primarily by youth in these populations, as they know their own needs better than anyone else. This month, I will be travelling to Ottawa to receive the Governor General’s Award for my work with Mayday Club and my efforts to advance inclusion in my province. I am ecstatic to be a recipient of the award, but I acknowledge that from the start, Mayday Club has been a team effort, and I am grateful beyond measure to be a part of it.