Pamela Lyan Gerardo

Pamela Lyan Gerardo’s journey to Fort McMurray began in 2012, when she moved from Boston, Massachusetts, with her family. “My parents made a huge sacrifice to seek better opportunities for us,” she says. “They left behind their own family and community, stepping into the unknown without any support system in Canada. Their courage and commitment shaped how I see community, resilience, and the importance of giving back.”

Now 24, Pamela is a community builder, youth advocate, and program coordinator. “The most rewarding part of my career is being trusted to hold space in community,” she says. “Whether it’s through programming, advocacy, or showing up in times of crisis, I am constantly reminded that our strongest solutions are rooted in care, relationship, and solidarity. Seeing youth light up when they feel heard or realize their voice matters is what keeps me going. I know I am doing meaningful work when people share parts of themselves they don’t feel safe sharing anywhere else.”

Her volunteer work runs deep, spanning programs such as Youth Voices Wood Buffalo, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Youth (MACOY), Me to We, Some Other Solutions Youth Leadership, EnviroMENTOR Wood Buffalo, the Justin Slade Youth Foundation, Wood Buffalo Pride, and mutual aid organizing. “Volunteering is not a checkbox for me,” Pamela says. “It’s part of how I live in alignment with my values of community, care, and respect. I want to create spaces where people feel safe, included, and empowered to lead.”

Pamela credits both her family and chosen community for shaping her path. “My parents taught me that education is a tool, but lived experience is just as powerful,” she says. “I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by chosen family, elders, and mentors who constantly remind me I am not doing this work alone. Their wisdom has made me bold in my choices and grounded in my purpose. The queer family I have created in Fort McMurray are some of the most passionate, kind, empathetic, and encouraging individuals I have ever met.” Pamela adds, “I want to especially give love and thanks to my mother and father for their endless encouragement and care. To my brothers Pavel, Hector, Andrew, and Derek, thank you for inspiring me and cheering me on every single day. And to my Tio Hector, thank you for opening doors, creating opportunities, and providing a path toward liberation for our generation. Your advocacy, care, and teachings have deeply shaped the way I move through the world. I am so grateful.”

Her motivation comes from her early experiences in the region. “When I first arrived, I felt like I had to shrink myself to fit in or hide who I was to navigate challenges,” Pamela says. “I was often the only person of colour or queer person in the room. The systems here were not built for people like me, and I knew that had to change. I did not want to just survive; I wanted to transform and make a path for others.”

Pamela recognizes the challenges the community faces today, including disconnection and systemic inequities. “Many youth feel unheard and isolated,” she says. “We continue to see systemic racism, colonialism, and poverty in both overt and subtle ways. To address this, we need to center lived experience, especially from those historically silenced. Fixing the systems that exclude them is essential.”

Looking forward, Pamela’s goals are both ambitious and grounded. “I want to continue disrupting systems that harm and building structures that heal,” she says. “That means pushing for policy changes, expanding access to culturally safe services, and creating more intentional space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and racialized communities to lead. Personally, I aim to deepen my wellness practices and learn from those who came before me. My goal is not just to do good work; it’s to do it sustainably, consistently, and with integrity.”

Pamela sees her role as one of bridge-building and accountability. “I make space for hard conversations and deeper healing,” she says. “Whether I am organizing mutual aid, writing grants, planning youth programming, or attending community events, my work reflects a commitment to justice, joy, and care. I want equity to be a lived reality, not just a buzzword.”

At the heart of Pamela’s work is a simple philosophy: collective care creates lasting change. “I am here to work alongside others committed to equity, culture, and transformation,” she says. “I believe in the wisdom of our people, in the power of community, and in building futures where no one is left behind.”