Shoppers , sorry, readers , are tuning into community-led digital safety: ODLAN and Wisdom2Action have launched a new programme in Canada to help 2SLGBTQIA+ diasporic communities spot and respond to online mis/disinformation, and it matters because trusted, culturally relevant resources make a real difference to people’s online wellbeing.

Essential Takeaways

  • Who’s involved: ODLAN partnered with Wisdom2Action and received support from the Government of Canada’s Digital Citizen Contribution Program.
  • What it does: Co‑designed resources and training aim to boost digital resilience against mis/disinformation targeting gender, sexuality, race and nationality.
  • Practical feel: Materials will be community‑driven, accessible and shaped by lived experience , expect clear, usable tools rather than dense policy briefs.
  • Why it matters: Tailored approaches help diasporic 2SLGBTQIA+ people recognise harmful narratives and protect their safety online.
  • How to follow: Sign up for updates via ODLAN’s newsletter on odlan.ca to get project news and invites.

A timely lifeline for communities that need nuance

The problem is real and often tactile , misinformation arrives as a whisper in a group chat or a viral post that looks authoritative. ODLAN’s new programme, launched with Wisdom2Action, aims to turn that whisper into something people can interrogate, with clear, culturally grounded guidance. According to the Digital Citizen Contribution Program, government funding is backing initiatives like this to build digital citizenship and resilience nationwide.

This project is built for diasporic 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, who face overlapping risks when false narratives combine homophobia, racism and xenophobia. ODLAN says the approach will be co‑design, which means community members help shape the resources so they feel practical and relevant, not generic.

Why community co‑design changes the game

Top‑down training can miss the cultural cues that make disinformation persuasive. By involving community organisations and lived‑experience voices, ODLAN and Wisdom2Action are aiming for tools that actually get used. That matters for people juggling family expectations, language barriers and concerns about safety.

Expect sessions, toolkits and quick reference materials that community groups can adapt for local needs. Wisdom2Action brings community engagement experience, and ODLAN brings subject expertise in digital literacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, so the partnership is a sensible fit.

What the Digital Citizen Contribution Program brings to the table

The Government of Canada’s DCCP exists to bolster projects that help citizens become savvier online. Funding through this programme signals that the initiative isn’t a one‑off , it’s part of a broader push to tackle online harms with public support. That also opens doors for wider distribution and uptake among community organisations across provinces.

For community groups, that means access to tools and possibly training without the usual resource barriers. For individuals, it should translate into clearer, safer ways to navigate social media, messaging apps and forums where misinformation often spreads.

How to judge whether a digital resilience tool will work for you

Practicality beats jargon. Look for resources that are short, in plain language, and give concrete steps: how to verify a claim, who to trust locally, how to document harm safely, and how to report content. Materials that acknowledge cultural contexts , language nuances, migration experiences, family dynamics , will be the most useful to diasporic 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

If you’re part of a community organisation, check whether materials are adaptable and whether training includes facilitation guidance. And if you’re a participant, seek workshops that centre safety and consent, because discussing disinformation can surface trauma or targeted abuse.

What comes next and why you should care

ODLAN and Wisdom2Action plan to roll out co‑designed resources and to share findings that other groups can use. For anyone concerned about online safety, this kind of tailored resilience work will likely spread , and fast , because disinformation doesn’t respect borders. Expect more community partnerships and practical toolkits in the months ahead.

If you want to keep up, sign up to ODLAN’s newsletter at odlan.ca and watch for local workshops. It’s a small shift that can make each scroll, click and message feel a bit safer.

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