Tag Archives: National Queer and Trans+ Community History Conference

Introducing Levin

The Calgary Gay History Project has a new volunteer researcher, Levin Ifko!

We first met Levin at the first National Queer and Trans+ Community History Conference in Edmonton in 2024 and have been impressed ever since. Levin has a keen interest in local history and will specifically be digging into trans histories in Calgary—a subject that needs more research attention!

Now for Levin’s introduction:

“Levin Ifko is an artist and writer from and based here on Treaty 7 land in Calgary. He has a 10+ year background in local queer and trans advocacy, from helping start the GSA back in his high school, volunteering with organizations like Skipping Stone Foundation and the Centre for Sexuality, to facilitating arts programming for queer youth and adults. 

Levin is perhaps best known locally as a visual artist, and often uses his art to speak about navigating and celebrating queer and trans culture. He’s shown his work throughout the city at galleries such as Esker Foundation, Stride Gallery, and The New Gallery, as well as in schools, libraries, and community centres across the province as part of the TREX Travelling Exhibition Program. He received a BFA from Alberta University of the Arts in 2022. Since then, he has worked to support the city’s arts scene through writing about local exhibitions, organizing events and programming, as well as through his work as an arts administrator. 

Levin is passionate about the lives of queer people here on the prairies. He is excited to begin sharing research about local trans history as part of the Calgary Gay History Project.”

Welcome Levin! Look for future blog posts with the author’s initials {LI}.

{KA}

Queer History Conference

We are thrilled to be attending the first National Queer and Trans+ Community History Conference in Edmonton this weekend. The conference is set to take place at MacEwan University, where researchers from all over the country will be coming together for a unique queer history immersion experience.

The conference “is designed to bring together 2SLGBTQ+ community members, non-profit organizations, heritage professionals, academics, historians, and emerging scholars who have an interest in documenting, preserving, and celebrating diverse and intersectional queer and trans+ histories in Canada. This conference serves as a scholarly community gathering space to share best practices, foster research collaborations, mobilize knowledge, and build upon existing community and professional networks.”

Registrations are sold out, and the program of outstanding scholars, community historians and activists looks stimulating. The Calgary Gay History Project is contributing a poster about the history and significance of Club Carousel—Calgary’s first gay bar—to the conference. We are happy to represent Calgary at this national gathering and hope to glean many new ideas of how to best preserve and share queer history in our City.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Lois Szabo, and Councillor Evan Woolley (2021) at the opening of Lois Szabo Commons commemorating the founding of Club Carousel. Photo source: City of Calgary.

A special shout-out goes to Dr. Kristopher Wells and his colleagues, who have been labouring behind the scenes to manifest this remarkable gathering—thank you!

{KA}

National Conference—Yahoo!

MacEwan University is hosting the first National Queer and Trans+ Community History Conference, May 3-4 in Edmonton, Alberta. Registrations are open!

See you in Edmonton!

The Conference is designed to bring together 2SLGBTQ+ community members, nonprofit organizations, heritage professionals, historians, academics, emerging scholars, and students who have an interest in documenting, preserving, and celebrating diverse and intersectional queer and trans+ histories in Canada. The Conference aims to foster dialogue amongst participants and presenters to explore the latest research, programming, and community work focused on queer and trans+ histories.

Conference organizers include Dr. Kristopher Wells, MacEwan University; Dr. Jacqueline Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dr. Valerie Korinek, University of Saskatchewan; Dr. Aaron Devor, University of Victoria; Dr. Scott de Groot, Canadian Museum for Human Rights; and graduate students JP Armstrong, York University; Erin Gallagher‐Cohoon, Queen’s University.

See you there!

{KA}