jeremy dias
Jeremy Dias was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up there until moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he attended high school. As a youth, he was motivated by social and political inequality to take action, volunteering with numerous organizations and charities. In high school, he started and lead a number of clubs including Stop Racism and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving. He also founded and coordinated the Sault Ste. Marie’s first regional LGBTQ youth group.
After coming out in high school, Jeremy faced extreme cases of discrimination by students & school officials. At 17, he began a legal case against his school and school board, and at 21 won Canada’s second-largest human rights settlement. Jeremy used the money to found the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity, the International Day of Pink and the Jeremy Dias Scholarship.
Jeremy has been featured on Canada AM, Much Music, CTV News, Global News and CBC News; and has been a keynote speaker at countless conferences and events.
He continues to volunteer for a number of organizations including the Federal Minister of Status of Women’s Gender-Based Violence Prevention Advisory Committee; the Federal Minister of Health’s STBBI Partner Organizing Network; the Ontario Human Rights Community Advisory Group; the TD Scholarship for Community Leaders Selection Committee; Member of the National Advisory Committee for the Canada Booth at the World AIDS 2018 Conference, and the Ottawa Police Liaison Committee. He is also a weekly guest on Unique FM | La radio francophone à Ottawa and a regular commentator on CBC News Network. Jeremy Dias currently serves as The Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity (and the International Day of Pink)’s Founding Member.
Education
He has completed a degree in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Ottawa. As of June 2019, Jeremy has stepped down from their role as the Executive Director, to head back to school for an MBA at Carleton University.
Awards and Distinctions
National Youth Leader (MADD Canada, 2003)
Miss Campus Pride (uOttawa & Carleton, 2004-2005)
Mover & Shaker (Ottawa Citizen, 2005)
Political Activist of the Year (nomination, Capital Xtra, 2005)
Metis Sash (University of Manitoba, 2005)
Citizen of the Year (City of Ottawa, 2006)
Outstanding Achievement in Queer Youth Visibility (Youthline, 2006)
Youth Activist of the Year (Capital Xtra, 2006
Jury’s Choice (Québec Queer Youth Alliance, 2007).
Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers (Province of Ontario, 2007)
Do Something/Teen Choice Awards (nomination, Do Something Inc, 2008)
Youth Achievement Award (Pride Toronto, 2008)
Featured on 100,000 Doritos Bags (Do Something Inc, 2008)
Susan Sarandon Award (Do Something Inc, 2009)
Young Revolutionaries Who Rock (Dallas Jessup, 2009)
Grand Marshall (Vancouver Pride, 2009)
Youth Leader Award (Crime Prevention Ottawa, 2009)
Everyday Hero (Global National News, 2010)
Grand Marshall (Windsor Pride, 2010)
Victim Service Awards of Distinction (Attorney General, Province of Ontario, 2011)
School Fish (Diversity Value) Named after Jeremy (Michelle Jean Elementary, 2011)
Interviewee for Lady Gaga (Metro News, 2011)
National Award (Durham Pride, 2011)
Step Up, Speak Out Champion (Canadian Asociation for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Phsycial Activity, 2011)
GLISA North America Human Rights Award (GLISA North America, 2011)
Inductee (Queer Hall of Fame, 2011)
Jose Julio Sarria Human Rights Award (Imperial Court, 2011)
Order of the Golden Eagle (Imperial Court, 2011)
Order of the Maple Leaf (Imperial Court, 2011)
Community Hero Award (PFLAG Brockville, 2011)
Mayor’s City Builder Award (City of Ottawa, 2012)
Top 10 (2B Magazine, 2012)
Youth Entrepreneur (Notable.ca, 2012)
Activist of the Year (nomination, Capital Pride, 2012)
Not-For-Profit Award (nomination, The Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce, 2012)
Youth Social Entrepreneur Award (Red River College, 2012)
Diamond Jubilee Award (Government of Canada, 2013)
Great Canadians Near You (CBC, 2013)
Harmony Movement Award (Harmony Movement, 2014)
Community Award (Brockville Pride, 2015)
Speak Truth to Power Champion (Canadian Teachers’ Federation, 2015)
Noted, (Manitoba Legislature, 2016)
Grand Marshall, (Barrie Pride, 2017)
Rainbow Trailblazer Award (Brockville Pride, 2017)
Featured Alumni (Encounters with Canada, 2017)
Featured Story (ETFO, 2017)
Featured Canadian (CBC’s What’s Your Story-A Canada 2017 Yearbook, 2017)
Difference Maker: the 150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health (CAMH, 2017)
#OC150 Award (Yasir Naqvi, 2017)
StandOUT Educators Award (Vancouver Pride, 2018)
RCMP Challenge Coin (RCMP, 2018)