Do you want to explore Calgary’s Queer History from an autobiographical grade school perspective? (I think you do…)
Late in ‘88 is a limited-series podcast created by Bronwin Parks and Elinor Svoboda. The grade school classmates share their experiences of growing up queer and gender non-conforming in Calgary in 1988, at a time when there wasn’t language to describe identities that were fringe and undefinable. Shining a light on their middle childhood, Bronwin and Elinor explore the impact of historical context and the gift of contemporary language that allows more freedom of self-expression. The Calgary Winter Olympics acts as a backdrop to these conversations.
Elinor Svoboda and Bronwin Parks: creators of Late in ’88
Late in ’88 welcomes special guests and experts. The Calgary Gay History Project’s Kevin Allen makes an appearance in episode two, recounting his own queer history from 1988 as well as the story of Mark Perry Schaub, a Winter Olympics volunteer dying of AIDS.
Calgary is a different city than it was in the 80s. Late in ’88 explores how life has changed for queer people (and how it hasn’t) and the gravity of human connection which can make us whole. Recommended listening!
Happy Pride Month, Calgary! If you want to learn why we celebrate Pride twice—in June and on the Labour Day Weekend, read this!
Many queer organizations are hosting events this month—check out Calgary Pride’s community calendar to find one to attend. We want to highlight some impactful events you should consider.
Thursday, June 13th: Chinook Fund Cabaret from 6-9 PM
The successful Chinook Fund is hosting its second fundraising cabaret. The evening will include drag, male burlesque, singing, and dance performances.
Sunday, June 23rd: Jane Perry Commemorative Concert, 3 PM
Earlier this year, we lost the inspiring and talented queer choir director Jane Perry to cancer—far too young. The Calgary Gay History Project worked with Jane on creative history/choral pairings that were wonderfully memorable.
One Voice Chorus’ Club Carousel Cabaret in 2015. Gavin Caldwell (Piano), Kevin Allen (Historian), Lois Szabo (Club Founder), and Jane Perry (Former Artistic Director, One Voice Chorus).
“You are invited to a commemorative concert, celebrating the musical spirit of Jane Perry. The Calgary Unitarians are proud to present this collaborative tribute to her legacy, with the ensembles she directed and helped build, and many special guest performers she worked with and shared musical connection. We’ll have music inspired by Jane’s joy, her musical taste, her world-class skill, and her kindness. Featuring the wonderful Melissa Ko on piano and Tonia Bates, emcee. Participating are One Voice Chorus, the Calgary Renaissance Singers and Players, UUphonia, and many more. We are happy to lift our voices in song together in two mass choir sing-along pieces.”
June 27-30: The 26th annual Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival
“Attention film buffs, arts fans, and creative kin across the Treaty 7 area: Early Bird tickets for the 26th annual Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival are available now! Discover 33 short films, 15 artists, 10 makers, 7 feature films and 2 DJs spanning all genres, media and runtimes at the storied Grand.
Come together and celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ lived experiences and narratives YOUR WAY! For the first time, discover a makers’ market and arts exhibition, featuring over a dozen of the finest creative talents from all disciplines and mediums.”
The Calgary Gay History Project recently contributed historic gay media to our colleagues in Edmonton for digitization. Heroically, they have already digitized hundreds of magazines! You can find the collection: here.
Most of this online collection focuses on Edmonton, but several publications have a provincial reach. We contributed issues of Modern Pink, Alberta Gay and Lesbian Press (AGLP), and Outlooks Magazine, which were all published in Calgary but distributed province-wide.
The close connection between our two cities is long-standing. Importantly, this collection includes several Club 70 Newsletters. Club 70 was the sister organization to Calgary’s Club Carousel, and the Club 70 Newsletter was similar in format and style to Carousel Capers. In their newsletters, one can read about the camaraderie between the Clubs.
For example, on July 29, 1972, Club 70 hosted their “Klondike-Calgary Night” after a blanket invite was sent to the members of Club Carousel.
Club 70 Newsletter with Calgary Invite!
This digital archive has been spearheaded by the Edmonton Queer History Project, an innovative university-community project designed to help celebrate the people, places, and moments that have helped to build Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Calgary Gay History 