Inihkatsíniskimm (Buffalo Stone Caller) Cade Fowler, a Faculty of Arts & Science student and outgoing co-chair of Q-Space is the third recipient of the VandenHoek Schlachter Pride Award at the University of Lethbridge. This recognition celebrates Fowler’s commitment to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community on campus and beyond.
Fowler was born in Fort McMurray but has lived in Lethbridge most his life. His family comes from Southern Alberta and the Lethbridge area, Kainai Nation, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. While he has been studying archaeology, he’s making the switch in programs to Indigenous studies this year. Fowler started as a volunteer coordinator with Q-Space, a 2SLGBTQIA+ student club and advocacy group in 2021 and became co-chair in 2024.
“Activism and advocacy work are oftentimes thankless and underappreciated jobs, especially within minority communities such as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” he says. “This is an award that I know students who are passionate about 2SLGBTQIA+ activism, advocacy and community, myself included, only dreamed of having in place several years ago.”
Fowler plans on donating a portion of his Pride Award to develop a bursary fund within Q-Space for transgender students on campus to access gender-affirming resources.
“This bursary fund is for students if they need gender-affirming gear like gaffs and binders or monetary assistance in purchasing HRT (gender-affirming hormone therapy) because of how expensive things are in our current climate,” says Fowler.
“I want to see this dream become a reality while I am still attending the University. I see how much my community needs this service, to have this in place for someone who might not be able to afford it, who’ve never purchased it before or maybe they can’t have it shipped due to being in a household where they might not be comfortable.”
With Q-Space, Fowler has organized events and activities including Q-Space’s annual Transgender Day of Visibility event, Trans Day of Remembrance, drag shows, clothing drives and the club’s first Mini Drag Ball. He’s worked with peers, faculty, staff and the University leadership and says he’s had the opportunity to contribute to conversations and initiatives that foster accessibility, equity and inclusion with other 2SLGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff.
“Being a community leader for Q-Space has allowed me to advocate for my community more than I ever would have imagined and that has been an immensely rewarding experience.”
The VandenHoek Schlachter Pride Award was established through a generous donation by ULethbridge alumni Jason VandenHoek (BMgt ’05) and Kurt Schlachter (BSc ’00, LLD ‘24), creating an endowment fund that recognizes ULethbridge students and their exceptional contributions to advancing equity and inclusion for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
“We are honoured to support students like Cade who are dedicated to using their voices for 2SLGBTQIA+ issues to help others feel seen, valued and included,” says VandenHoek. “Cade’s courage, authenticity and commitment to creating a more inclusive community embodies the spirit of this Pride Award and why we created this fund in the first place.”
Even though Fowler is leaving his role on the executive team of Q-Space, he’ll continue his advocacy work with the student club focused on protecting the accessibility rights and protections for transgender students attending ULethbridge.
“I’ve been in queer advocacy work ever since I came out when I was in high school,” he says. “What keeps me going is the fact that I see people around me still struggling. I had people advocating for me. We’re the next generation of those before us. We have to keep going.”
