Lily Barraclough

Hi! I’m Lilian (Lily) Barraclough (she/they) and I’m a writer, researcher, environmental professional, musician, and activist currently in my second year of the SOPR program. I’m a Queer, non-binary, white and able-bodied person from a Queer family. I grew up in Tkaronto but spent eight years in Mi’kma’ki [on the East Coast] before returning to Ontario to pursue my doctoral degree and currently live in Guelph, ON, the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron, the Anishnaabe, and the Haudenosaunee peoples and the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

My partner, Caden, and I have two horses (Alamar and Miller) and a dog (Anna), and we love to spend time outdoors on adventures with them. I love reading or playing board games and enjoy singing in choirs and playing piano and string instruments.

I have a Master of Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University and a BSc. (Hons.) In Environmental Science from the University of King’s College – Halifax. I’m passionate about engaging with community through research, activism, and the arts on the multitudes of intersections between the climate emergencies, queerness and social issues that are often overlooked. My past research focused on the mental health impacts of climate change on youth climate activists, using an intersectional and arts-based approach as well as youth-adult partnership in climate related decision-making and organizing. My goal with my PhD research is to highlight the inequitable experiences of Queer communities with climate change to create more dialogue on how governments and communities can better support Queer folks in our changing climate. I am passionate about innovative arts-based methodologies, building sustainable, equitable futures, and strong, resilient communities and I was drawn to SOPR because of the unique focus of the program on methodological boundary crossing, community-engaged research, and decolonial change. Beyond my academic and research pursuits, I serve and support communities in addressing the multiple crises we face and building resilience through a variety of volunteer roles, including as a board member of the Youth Climate Lab, a member of the Rainbow Chorus of Waterloo-Wellington, an active volunteer with OPIRG Guelph, and a board member of the moonlight institute.