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.
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}.
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.
On Monday, July 29th at 7:00 pm, step into history with Lois Szabo, a 2SLGBTQ+ community builder, as she engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Kevin Allen of the Calgary Gay History Project. Please join us at Lois Szabo Commons: 936 16 Avenue SW and enjoy complimentary pizza and soda, sponsored by Calgary Pride. Bring a folding chair if you have one.
In 2021, the City of Calgary unveiled Lois Szabo Commons, a park in the Beltline, as a testament to Lois’ instrumental role in the creation and development of the groundbreaking gay bar, Club Carousel, in 1970.
Lois with politicians, friends and family at the Park’s dedication ceremony. Photo: Marlene Hielema.
This free event is part of Historic Calgary Week 2024. There are 88 events to take in during the fascinating 11-day history festival. The theme this year, Community Builders, will focus on the people and organizations that have made Calgary and surrounding area a desirable and vibrant place to live.
Bonus queer history event on the same day, July 29, at the Central Library:
Join Historian in Residence, Tess McNaughton, in an exploration of Calgary’s 2SLGBTQIA+ history. In this presentation, Tess will share their research so far and explore queer stories of Calgary, proving that resilience and strength are timeless qualities. From overcoming adversity to celebrating triumphs, dive into the diverse history of this city. Through this presentation, you will gain insight and respect for the vibrant queer community members who have called Calgary home.
Calgary Gay History 