Tag Archives: Calgary

The YYCGayHistory Collection Launches

It is with delight, wonderment, and gratitude that we announce the launch of the Calgary Gay History Project Collection at the University of Calgary Archives.

Image by Andy Nichols, 2024, University of Calgary Archives Photographs, Libraries and Cultural Resources.

This now publicly accessible collection consists of published material, photographs, audiovisual material, ephemera, and other material related to the Calgary Gay History Project. This includes magazines, business directories and informational brochures, material from sporting events such as Western Cup, Outgames, and gay rodeos, show logs and audio recordings of radio shows, material from theatrical events such as Fairy Tales Film Festival and Third Street Theatre performances, as well as other 2SLGBTQ+ issues and concerns.

Dr. William Bridel, Archivist Kim Geraldi, and the Calgary Gay History Project’s Kevin Allen exploring the collection. Image by Andy Nichols, 2024.

The collection has been gathered from many community organizations and donors, including: Calgary Outlink, Calgary Pride, Kevin Allen, Stevie Lee Anderson, Jonathan Brower, Kelly Ernst, Matt Gillespie, Richard Gregory, Robert Lawrence, Terry MacKenzie and Kenneth Peach, Neil McMullen, Nancy Miller, Judy Moore, Pam Rocker, Gene Rodman, Joey Sayer, Michael Wright, and several anonymous donors.

Pride Flag with historic buttons donated by Richard Gregory. Image by Andy Nichols, 2024.

We thank all the donors to the collection who entrusted us with their materials over the past decade. We are grateful to Dr. William Bridel, a professor at the U of C (and queer historian himself) who facilitated the transfer of materials from Kevin Allen’s overloaded condo to the University. Finally, we thank archivist Kim Geraldi, who handled our collection so enthusiastically and tenderly.

William, Kevin and Kim looking at early Fairy Tales Film Festival Posters. Image by Andy Nichols, 2024.

A launch party for the Calgary Gay History Project collection is tentatively being planned for October. Our Past Matters—now future generations of researchers can explore queer Calgary’s storied past!

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Our Past Matters at Calgary Pride

In celebration of Calgary Pride 2024, we’re giving away a copy of Our Past Matters. Find it, in one of the inner city Little Free Libraries. {Maybe leave a book for someone else, while you are there!}

Look for Our Past Matters this weekend!

Kevin will be doing a book signing from 2-3 PM at the Pride Festival in Prince’s Island Park on Sunday, September 1st, hosted by Calgary Pride at their marketplace booth. Come by and chat about queer history. Book sales support the festival and Calgary Pride.

Finally, Celebrate Pride 2024 at Shelf Life Books on September 4th with a fun-filled extravaganza of local talent including drag performances by Dogiichow & Osmo Cis, literary readings by Skylar Kay and Bret Crowle, hosted by Kevin Allen.

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Queer Summer in the City

In the lead up to Calgary Pride, the city gets decidedly queerer. Thank you to everyone who came out for our park-side gay history event on Monday with Lois in Lois Szabo Commons. It was the perfect evening. Thanks also to our sponsors, Calgary Pride and Historic Calgary Week {whose final events are happening this weekend}.

Kevin and Lois sharing history in Lois Szabo Commons. Photo courtesy of Mr. Fab.

We are doing a queer history walk with Calgary Outlink on Monday, August 12th at 6 PM. It’s free, but you have to register in advance—a $10 donation is encouraged for all the great work Outlink does in supporting our community.

Drag sensation Francheska Dynamites messaged us about a Queer in Alberta documentary screening on Friday, August 16th, in collaboration with Lavender Club YYC. Tickets are $5 or pay what you can at the door—check it out.

{KA}