Tag Archives: Calgary Heritage Authority

Spotlight on YYC Gay History

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Kevin Allen | 8 comments

It is with some excitement that we announce the Calgary Gay History Project getting a public profile boost this Autumn.

The short film, GROSS INDECENCY: THE EVERETT KLIPPERT STORY, we produced with director Laura O’Grady and Spotlight Productions, has been accepted into the Calgary International Film Festival (which opens tonight). It is screening three times, on September 22, 24, and 30. The latter being the “Best of Shorts” program at the festival – we are very honoured.

Click the caption to watch the film on YouTube

Kevin Allen has been invited to be the very first Historian in Residence at the new Central Library opening downtown on November 1, 2018. It is a three-month community engagement residency that supports individual historians and researchers working in any genre related to Calgary’s social, cultural and built history.

The New Central Library

Kevin will be working in a bright, designated office space on the fourth floor of the new Central Library and will engage with the public through programs such as open office hours, interactive workshops, and lectures.

As part of the residency, Kevin will curate an exhibit at the Library which will be displayed in May 2019. The residency program is a partnership between the Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Heritage Authority.

If any Calgary Gay History Project readers have programming ideas for the residency, please email Kevin at calgarygayhistory@gmail.com.

Enjoy the fall colours!

{KA}

8 Comments

Posted in Gay history

Tagged bisexual, Calgary Heritage Authority, calgary public library, CIFF, Everett Klippert, gay, gross indecency, Historian in Residence, lesbian, queer, transgender

Humbled Again!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

Thank you everyone who took the time to come to the Gay History presentation at the Calgary Public Library last Friday and the Jane’s Walk on Saturday.

We had over 100 people in attendance at the downtown library, keen to learn more about the project, and to share some stories themselves.

The Calgary Heritage Authority was kind enough to give me a historical brick, as a thank you, with a plaque commemorating the occasion.

Then, the next day the Jane’s Walk turned into a crowd. We started with about 60 people and added a few dozen along the way, making for our own kind of Historical Pride Parade.

It was a deliciously warm and sunny morning. Thank goodness the Calgary Foundation lent us a portable microphone and speaker, otherwise the walk could never have been so big! People were able to share some of their own stories along the way of the 12 sites we visited. It turned out to be a magical morning.

Special thanks to Del Rath, part of the research team, who lugged the speaker around on the walk, and to Terry MacKenzie for these candid photographs.

1 Comment

Posted in Gay history

Tagged Calgary, Calgary Heritage Authority, calgary public library, gay, Gay history, history, human-rights, Jane's Walk, queer

2 Gay History Presentations this week – bring walking shoes!

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

On Friday May 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00 PM, please join me at the Castell Central Library (616 Macleod Trail SE) for an encore presentation of Calgary’s Secret Gay History. The presentation will be similar to the one I gave at CommunityWise on February 27th, but there will be some new material – as there have been new discoveries!

Come specifically to find out more about this:

The library is asking people to register in advance for this talk (free), in order to gauge numbers. As well there will be complimentary Wine & Cheese. This presentation is part of a series called Heritage Matters and is a co-production between the Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Heritage Authority.

Then on Saturday May 4th, at 10 AM, I am leading a Calgary Gay History Jane’s Walk. Expect the walk to take 90 minutes or so, and we will travel to significant historical gathering spots in the Beltline, beginning and ending at CommunityWise (the former Old Y, 233 12 Ave. SW).

Finally I need to do a few shout outs and thanks:

1) Terry MacKenzie from the Calgary Heritage Authority has been an incredible promoter and facebook provocateur for the project – thank you!

2) Third Street Theatre, Calgary’s new queer theatre company, is performing I Am My Own Wife, a historical play about German transvestite, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. The 2003 Pulitzer and Tony Award winning play has never been performed in Calgary, and Third Street does a bang-up job. There are only a few more shows…

3) Thank you Laura Lushington and Avenue Magazine for profiling the project this week.

4) Thank you Paul Karchut, Director of CBC’s Calgary Eyeopener, for the engaging interview (we did an abbreviated Jane’s Walk together today). The story can be heard online: here.

Hope to see you this weekend!