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Kirk Furlotte (he/him) is CBRC’s Senior Regional Manager for the Atlantic Region. Raised as a proud Nova Scotian, Kirk spent his early adulthood in Calgary and Vancouver before returning to Kjipuktuk (Halifax), drawn back by family and a deep sense of home.
In his early 30s, Kirk went back to school to study health promotion, motivated by his growing involvement with 2S/LGBTQIA+ community initiatives and his desire to improve the lives of queer and trans people around him. During his undergraduate studies, he volunteered with several organizations, including serving as president of a queer softball league, allowing him to build valuable connections and friendships in his local community.
Guided by his previous work experience and academic training, Kirk interned with prideHealth—a joint program by Nova Scotia Health and the IWK Health Centre—to help develop resources for trans and gender-diverse communities in the province. In that role, he produced a detailed Trans* Health Guide to assist gender-diverse people in navigating social, legal, and medical transitions. Reflecting on its success, Kirk noted: “It was flying off the shelves, and it was so rewarding to see the impact.” His guide gained considerable popularity and was recognized by Halifax's Youth Project, which honored him with a commemorative tile celebrating his contributions to trans health.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Kirk immersed himself in queer health research and pursued a master’s degree in health promotion at Dalhousie University. His master's thesis explored end-of-life care expectations among older gay men, addressing often overlooked needs in queer healthcare.
Kirk joined CBRC in 2018 as the Atlantic Regional Manager, coinciding with the organization's expansion in Atlantic Canada through the Advance Alliance initiative. Throughout his time with CBRC, he has actively facilitated community-building efforts, hosting several regional queer health forums. Kirk highlights: “Having funding to actually bring people together from across Atlantic Canada was rare and incredibly valuable.” Additionally, Kirk created regular networking opportunities, including monthly queer health meetups and co-working sessions in Halifax, which provide spaces for queer health professionals to collaborate and support each other’s work.
Outside of work, Kirk enjoys socializing with friends through board games, movies and outdoor activities. He shares his home with his husband, Ace, and their dog, Scotty—not intentionally named in honour of the Star Trek character but reflecting Kirk’s passion for science fiction. As a devoted fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and comic books, Kirk proudly describes himself as "a nerd through and through."
Driven by genuine curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to improving queer and trans health, Kirk’s journey has been defined by meaningful connections, thoughtful advocacy, and joyful community-building. Whether creating health resources or facilitating conversations, Kirk aims to strengthen 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities with warmth, kindness, and a good dose of nerdy humor.
Photo: Kirk Furlotte
“What I love most is connecting with others who are so passionate about the work we do. It can feel pretty isolating [in Atlantic Canada] sometimes, but when we come together, it makes a real difference.”
