Rainbow Story Hub
Sat. Nov 8th, 2025
Trending Stories: Rob Browatzke – Part TwoRob Browatzke – Part OneRon Byers – Part TwoRon Byers – Part OneScott Bryen – Part TwoScott Bryen – Part OneDuane ShaveMarni Panas2025 Edmonton Queer History MonthEdmonton Pride Parade 2025The Gay Straight Jacket – Film ScreeningGaywire Archives: Kristy Harcourt and Dan SavageTrevor Schmidt: Edmonton’s Risk-Taker in TheatreEdmonton and Beyond: The Ongoing Legacy of Theodore (ted) KerrStories That Heal: Ruth DyckFehderau’s Activist and Literary LegacyMichael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART TWOMichael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART ONEEdmonton Pride 2003: Adamant Eve StreetersEdmonton’s Elusive Women’s Spaces: The Prism StoryA Brief Police History of Queer EdmontonA Dance-Hall of One’s Own: The Quietly Loud Queerness of WomonspaceFlashback Neon SignA Damn Proud Gay Canadian Soldier – Part TwoA Damn Proud Gay Canadian Soldier – Part OneFrom Scholar to Senator: The Incredible Story of Dr. Kristopher Wells Sex and Sin in the City of Champions: The Story of Chez PierreForty Years of Fabulous: The Story of Twiggy and Edmonton’s Drag Evolution Raid on Pisces Bathhouse — Darkest Before the Dawn The Facts in the Case of D. Vriend Coming Out Short StoriesLet’s Hear It For The Girls: A Lesbian Architecture Romance A conversation with Dr. Barbara Romanowski 2024 Edmonton Queer History MonthTHE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards Part TwoTHE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards Part OneThe Flashback Files: Gone But Not ForgottenThe Flashback Files: Sister NeonThe Flashback Files: Dance Marathon!The Flashback Files: TwiggyLoading Dock to Farm Pasture: The Annual Flashback to Tofield MigrationThe Flashback Files: B-52’s Beach Party 1990The Flashback Files: Gloria HoleThe Flashback Files: Masters of CeremoniesThe Flashback Files: Drag RacesLiz Massiah – Edmonton’s Lesbian Community Leader ExtraordinaireDeaf, Kink, LesbianBig Joey – Another LookISCWR Turnabout 2010May Long Drag Marathon (2011)ISCWR Grease (2014)ISCWR’s Nightmare Before ChristmasISCWR Rocky Horror Picture Show 2011ISCWR Lion King ProductionYou can stay at the YMCA: Edmonton’s Village PeopleISCWR’s Beauty and the Beast Slide ShowLittle Shop Of Horrors ShowVernon’s Podcast talks to Rob BrowatzkePride On The Square Montage – 2009Kylie 2008FAB – The Early YearsPride Parades Video CollectionsISCWR Website From 1998Edmonton Pride Parade 2018Edmonton Pride Parade 2017Edmonton Pride Parade 2016Edmonton Pride Parade 2015Edmonton Pride Parade 2014Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2003Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2004Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2006Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2009May Long Weekend Drag Show – 2009Hello Dolly Production 1979Remembering Deborah ChymyshynThe Wizard of Oz Production September 2002Reminiscing Gay Pride Edmonton while walking along Jasper Avenue with Millie#TBT: Vanity FairA STUDY OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATIONThe Individual’s Rights Protection Act and the LGBTQ CommunityRelight The NeonPartying with Ike & Tina in 1976A Flashback to FlashbackCruising at The PigISCWR Ball Program ArchiveMaking weird waves: on a crestDivine Memories: The Day I Met The Superstar EntertainerDr. Charles BidwellIt may be hard for many of you to imagine…Murray BillettMaureen Irwin – Fierce LesbianGender Journey – You Never Stop Coming OutDustin Scott Talks Queer History – Episode 2Dustin Scott Talks Queer History – Part 1Edmonton’s Pride Celebration HistoryThe Great 1998 Cruising ControversyEdmonton Pride Parade Video 2014 #1Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2013Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2010Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2009Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2008
Greater Edmonton Region, Alberta
Sat. Nov 8th, 2025
Trending Stories: Rob Browatzke – Part TwoRob Browatzke – Part OneRon Byers – Part TwoRon Byers – Part OneScott Bryen – Part TwoScott Bryen – Part OneDuane ShaveMarni Panas2025 Edmonton Queer History MonthEdmonton Pride Parade 2025The Gay Straight Jacket – Film ScreeningGaywire Archives: Kristy Harcourt and Dan SavageTrevor Schmidt: Edmonton’s Risk-Taker in TheatreEdmonton and Beyond: The Ongoing Legacy of Theodore (ted) KerrStories That Heal: Ruth DyckFehderau’s Activist and Literary LegacyMichael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART TWOMichael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART ONEEdmonton Pride 2003: Adamant Eve StreetersEdmonton’s Elusive Women’s Spaces: The Prism StoryA Brief Police History of Queer EdmontonA Dance-Hall of One’s Own: The Quietly Loud Queerness of WomonspaceFlashback Neon SignA Damn Proud Gay Canadian Soldier – Part TwoA Damn Proud Gay Canadian Soldier – Part OneFrom Scholar to Senator: The Incredible Story of Dr. Kristopher Wells Sex and Sin in the City of Champions: The Story of Chez PierreForty Years of Fabulous: The Story of Twiggy and Edmonton’s Drag Evolution Raid on Pisces Bathhouse — Darkest Before the Dawn The Facts in the Case of D. Vriend Coming Out Short StoriesLet’s Hear It For The Girls: A Lesbian Architecture Romance A conversation with Dr. Barbara Romanowski 2024 Edmonton Queer History MonthTHE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards Part TwoTHE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards Part OneThe Flashback Files: Gone But Not ForgottenThe Flashback Files: Sister NeonThe Flashback Files: Dance Marathon!The Flashback Files: TwiggyLoading Dock to Farm Pasture: The Annual Flashback to Tofield MigrationThe Flashback Files: B-52’s Beach Party 1990The Flashback Files: Gloria HoleThe Flashback Files: Masters of CeremoniesThe Flashback Files: Drag RacesLiz Massiah – Edmonton’s Lesbian Community Leader ExtraordinaireDeaf, Kink, LesbianBig Joey – Another LookISCWR Turnabout 2010May Long Drag Marathon (2011)ISCWR Grease (2014)ISCWR’s Nightmare Before ChristmasISCWR Rocky Horror Picture Show 2011ISCWR Lion King ProductionYou can stay at the YMCA: Edmonton’s Village PeopleISCWR’s Beauty and the Beast Slide ShowLittle Shop Of Horrors ShowVernon’s Podcast talks to Rob BrowatzkePride On The Square Montage – 2009Kylie 2008FAB – The Early YearsPride Parades Video CollectionsISCWR Website From 1998Edmonton Pride Parade 2018Edmonton Pride Parade 2017Edmonton Pride Parade 2016Edmonton Pride Parade 2015Edmonton Pride Parade 2014Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2003Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2004Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2006Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2009May Long Weekend Drag Show – 2009Hello Dolly Production 1979Remembering Deborah ChymyshynThe Wizard of Oz Production September 2002Reminiscing Gay Pride Edmonton while walking along Jasper Avenue with Millie#TBT: Vanity FairA STUDY OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATIONThe Individual’s Rights Protection Act and the LGBTQ CommunityRelight The NeonPartying with Ike & Tina in 1976A Flashback to FlashbackCruising at The PigISCWR Ball Program ArchiveMaking weird waves: on a crestDivine Memories: The Day I Met The Superstar EntertainerDr. Charles BidwellIt may be hard for many of you to imagine…Murray BillettMaureen Irwin – Fierce LesbianGender Journey – You Never Stop Coming OutDustin Scott Talks Queer History – Episode 2Dustin Scott Talks Queer History – Part 1Edmonton’s Pride Celebration HistoryThe Great 1998 Cruising ControversyEdmonton Pride Parade Video 2014 #1Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2013Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2010Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2009Edmonton Pride Parade Video 2008
Greater Edmonton Region, Alberta
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Rob Browatzke – Part Two
Rob Browatzke – Part Two

Part Two: Rob Browatzke – Recovery and Evolution
In this second installment, Rob Browatzke reflects on his struggles with addiction and how it affected his work at Buddy’s, Down Under, and Boots. After the passing of the Boots Bar owner, he moved on to Prism Bar and the Junction Bar & Grill, eventually finding sobriety and a new sense of purpose. With support from his uncles, Rob helped launch Evolution Wonderlounge in 2013 — Edmonton’s premiere queer nightclub — and now shares how that legacy continues with the opening of EVO in the spring of 2025.

A powerful story of resilience, renewal, and the ongoing evolution of community.

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Rob Browatzke – Part One
Rob Browatzke – Part One

Part One: Rob Browatzke – Finding Community
In this first installment, Edmonton writer and community builder Rob Browatzke reflects on coming out in high school, his first night at The Roost nightclub, and the early challenges of finding acceptance. Rob shares stories of moving to Lethbridge for college and returning to Edmonton, where he worked at the Georgia Bathhouse, Down Under, Boots Bar, The Roost, and Buddy’s Niteclub. He also talks about his shift into community activism and media — from volunteering with the Gay Men’s Outreach Crew and Edmonton Pride Festival to helping launch Fresh Magazine after writing for Times.10.

A candid look at the spaces, people, and moments that helped shape one of Edmonton’s most enduring voices in queer culture.

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Ron Byers – Part Two
Ron Byers – Part Two

Part Two: Survival, Storytelling, and Legacy

“I never thought I’d still be here to tell this story — but maybe that’s exactly why I need to.”

In Part Two of this biographical series, Edmonton’s Ron Byers continues his remarkable journey — one defined by survival, advocacy, and the power of storytelling to build community and preserve memory.

As the AIDS crisis deepened through the 1980s and 1990s, Ron witnessed the loss of countless friends and community members. Then, in 1998, he himself was diagnosed with AIDS, facing both the stigma and the steep challenges that came with navigating a medical system often unprepared — and at times unwilling — to meet the needs of those living with HIV. Through it all, Ron’s resilience and determination became acts of quiet defiance and hope.

Decades later, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ron once again turned to storytelling — this time through writing. He began contributing to the Edmonton City as Museum Project, documenting the History of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose and the History of Gay Bars in Edmonton. These projects inspired the creation of his own non-profit foundation, the Rainbow Story Hub, dedicated to preserving and amplifying Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ history.

His work soon caught the attention of Explore Edmonton, who invited him to author the Guide to Pride in Edmonton. That collaboration sparked the founding of Pride Edmonton, reviving local Pride initiatives and connecting organizations across the city.

Building on these partnerships, Ron worked with Explore Edmonton and other community leaders to raise awareness of Queer History Month, ensuring that Edmonton’s queer stories were celebrated and remembered. His leadership also extended internationally when he joined a team developing Edmonton’s bid to host the 2030 Gay Games, highlighting the city’s inclusive spirit on the world stage.

Today, Ron reflects with gratitude on the journey that brought him here — from survival to storytelling, from activism to recognition. His decades of work have been honoured with numerous accolades, including being named a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his service to community and culture.

Part Two celebrates Ron’s ongoing legacy: a story of perseverance, creativity, and the belief that by telling our stories, we make it possible for others to tell theirs.

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Ron Byers – Part One
Ron Byers – Part One

In Part One of this biographical series, Edmonton’s Ron Byers reflects on the early chapters of his life — from coming out as gay and facing rejection at home, to finding the courage to live openly and authentically. His story traces the challenges, friendships, and discoveries that shaped both his life and Edmonton’s emerging queer community.

After leaving home, Ron moved into his first apartment with his best friend from high school. It was there that independence began to take root — a time of exploration, music, and late-night conversations about identity and belonging. Soon after, he found Edmonton’s first gay bar, a hidden space that offered connection and the promise of something larger than himself.

That discovery set him on a path of adventure. Ron joined a female impersonation revue, traveling across the Prairies as the troupe’s tech person. Life on the road opened his eyes to the artistry and resilience within drag performance — and to the chosen families built through laughter and performance in small-town bars and hotel ballrooms.

Returning to Edmonton, Ron became part of the staff at Flashback, the legendary nightclub that stood as a safe haven for the city’s 2SLGBTQ+ community through the 1970s and 1980s. Within its walls, he witnessed both the joy of liberation and the heartbreak that came with the AIDS crisis, as friends and colleagues were lost to a growing epidemic that reshaped the community forever.

In time, Ron sought peace and balance away from the city. He found it on a small farm near Tofield, a life chapter captured in the story “Loading Dock to Farm Pasture: The Annual Flashback to Tofield Migration.”

Part One captures the foundations of Ron’s journey — the courage to come out, the pull of community, and the unbreakable spirit that kept Edmonton’s queer history alive even through its hardest years.

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Scott Bryen – Part Two
Scott Bryen – Part Two

This is Part Two of Scott Bryen’s story.

Every community has its torchbearers — people whose strength, compassion, and authenticity light the way for others.

In Edmonton, one of those voices belongs to Scott Bryen — a respected leader, advocate, and mentor whose journey has helped shape the city’s queer and leather communities for more than four decades.

From the early days of organizing safe spaces for self-expression to building bridges between the leather, kink, and wider 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, Scott’s work has been rooted in visibility, respect, and belonging.

His story is one of courage — of challenging stereotypes, nurturing understanding, and ensuring that every person has a place to be fully themselves.

We celebrate Scott’s legacy — a legacy of community, education, and love — and the lasting mark he continues to leave on Edmonton’s evolving queer history.

For Part One please check out: https://yegqueerhistory.ca/scott-bryen-part-one

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Scott Bryen – Part One
Scott Bryen – Part One

Every community has its torchbearers — people whose strength, compassion, and authenticity light the way for others.

In Edmonton, one of those voices belongs to Scott Bryen — a respected leader, advocate, and mentor whose journey has helped shape the city’s queer and leather communities for more than four decades.

From the early days of organizing safe spaces for self-expression to building bridges between the leather, kink, and wider 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, Scott’s work has been rooted in visibility, respect, and belonging.

His story is one of courage — of challenging stereotypes, nurturing understanding, and ensuring that every person has a place to be fully themselves.

We celebrate Scott’s legacy — a legacy of community, education, and love — and the lasting mark he continues to leave on Edmonton’s evolving queer history.

Watch Part One of Scott’s story with interviewer Murray Billett.

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Duane Shave
Duane Shave

Duane Shave was a founding member and Empress of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose (ISCWR) as well as Matriarch of All Alberta in the International Court System. We bring you the story of Duane Shave — better known onstage as Empress II, Chatty Cathy — a true pioneer in Edmonton’s performing arts and queer community history. As Edmonton’s longest-performing drag queen and a retired educator, Duane’s influence stretches far beyond the stage. His story is one of courage, compassion, and commitment, intersecting performance, teaching, activism, and community leadership.

From helping to found the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose (ISCWR) in the mid-1970s to being crowned Empress II, Duane has long been a central figure in Edmonton’s drag and LGBTQ2S+ community. He stepped into the role of Matriarch of All Alberta upon the passing of the Edmonton court’s founding Empress, and he continues to be a guiding presence in its operations.

In a time when public drag events were rare, Duane performed some of Edmonton’s first “public drag shows,” including at venues like Chez Pierre — spaces that welcomed queer expression in an often-hostile environment. Through his decades of performance, mentorship, and service, Duane has left a legacy that binds art, education, and activism together.

We invite you to listen closely as Duane Shave — Empress II, educator, advocate — shares the story of how a life on stage can also be a life of service, community, and transformation., a retired educator, and one of the first drag queens to perform publicly in the city, notably with Empress 1 Millie at the Pegasus nightclub and in the ISCWR’s elaborate Broadway-style drag shows, including Hello Dolly!.

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Marni Panas
Marni Panas

Advocate, Leader, and Changemaker

This biopic tells the story of Marni Panas, a nationally recognized advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Marni has dedicated her life to advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, healthcare equality, and creating safe, affirming spaces where everyone can be their authentic selves.

From her personal journey as a transgender woman to her leadership in organizations and communities across Canada, Marni’s story is one of courage, resilience, and hope.

🌈 Why This Story Matters
Marni’s work continues to inspire change—challenging stigma, building understanding, and showing what it means to lead with compassion.

👀 What You’ll Learn

Marni’s personal and professional journey

Her role in advancing human rights and healthcare inclusion

The impact of her advocacy on Canadian society

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2025 Edmonton Queer History Month
2025 Edmonton Queer History Month

Queer History Month 2025 marks a special milestone for Rainbow Story Hub as we celebrate five remarkable community leaders who have shaped the 2SLGBTQIA+ movement over the past 55 years.

With generous support from the 47th Reign of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, we honour the profound contributions of these leaders—not only to Alberta’s longest-running 2SLGBTQIA+ organization, but also to the broader community they continue to cherish and serve.

Each story is shared through video, featuring the leaders in their own words, enriched by historic images that highlight their journeys and legacies.

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Edmonton Pride Parade 2025
Edmonton Pride Parade 2025

After 7 long years, the Edmonton Pride Parade made its return — more colourful, and fabulous than ever before!

Thousands of 2SLGBTQ+ community members, allies, and supporters lined the streets as the Pride Parade made its way back to the streets of downtown Edmonton in a dazzling celebration of love, identity, and unity.

The 2025 Edmonton Pride Parade was lead by Edmonton’s first Trans Parade!

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The Gay Straight Jacket – Film Screening
The Gay Straight Jacket – Film Screening

In celebration of Pride Month, Rainbow Story Hub and Metro Cinema are honored to host a special screening of the 1981 CBC documentary The Gay Straight Jacket—a poignant time capsule examining Edmonton’s queer community in the wake of the 1981 Pisces Spa raid.

Directed by CBC Edmonton Documentary, this 28-minute film delivers an unvarnished portrait of a tense yet pivotal period for 2SLGBTQ+ Edmontonians. Featuring intimate interviews with community members, clergy, and activists, as well as rare footage from queer venues like The Roost and Flashback II, the documentary offers a vital glimpse into early queer activism and resilience .

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Gaywire Archives: Kristy Harcourt and Dan Savage
Gaywire Archives: Kristy Harcourt and Dan Savage

In this Gaywire Fundrive Special from 1999, Kristy Harcourt interviews Dan Savage about his work – his sex ed advice column, then-recently published book, Savage Love, and how one can stretch Canadian radio profanity guidelines– all while having a tea party, live on air, in HUB Mall on the North Campus of the University of Alberta. Listen to this piece of Edmonton Queer History today! Thanks to CJSR FM88 for allowing us to bring this unique audio episode out of the vaults.

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Trevor Schmidt: Edmonton’s Risk-Taker in Theatre
Trevor Schmidt: Edmonton’s Risk-Taker in Theatre

Trevor Schmidt has never been one to play it safe. As the long-standing Artistic Director of Northern Light Theatre (NLT), he has spent more than two decades reshaping Edmonton’s theatre scene with daring, provocative, and emotionally charged productions. Whether through his original works, visionary direction, or collaborations with groundbreaking artists, Schmidt has made it his mission to challenge audiences while keeping independent theatre thriving.

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Edmonton and Beyond: The Ongoing Legacy of Theodore (ted) Kerr
Edmonton and Beyond: The Ongoing Legacy of Theodore (ted) Kerr

Theodore (ted) Kerr’s journey as a queer writer, artist, and community organizer is a story of movement—across cities, disciplines, and generations. Unsure of where he will next call home given the current upheavals in Canada and the U.S., Kerr’s work on HIV/AIDS cultural production and queer storytelling is internationally recognized. Yet his foundation was built in Edmonton, Alberta, where a blend of suburban upbringing, grassroots activism, and artistic experimentation first shaped his path.

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Michael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART TWO
Michael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART TWO

In Part Two Michael Phair talks about working with his late friend Maureen Irwin and many others as the met with the Alberta Human Rights Commission in their attempt to get rights for the LGBTQ+ community included as protections as the refusal by the Province of Alberta Government to add protections at that time.

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Michael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART ONE
Michael Phair – Found In, Advocate, Politician, Community Leader – PART ONE

In Part One Michael Phair talks about moving to Calgary from Loyal, Wisconsin – a small town of less than 1200 people… even today. After a brief time in Calgary he moved to Edmonton and shot to local notoriety on May 30, 1981 when he was arrested as a “found in a bawdy-house” during the police raid of the Pisces Bathhouse.

This event propelled him to the role of advocate and activist for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community…. something that even 40+ years later he still stands as a leader in the community.

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Edmonton Pride 2003: Adamant Eve Streeters
Edmonton Pride 2003: Adamant Eve Streeters

This is a collection of street interviews, or streeters, that were done by the CJSR Radio Adamant Eve team at the Edmonton Pride Parade, June 15th, 2003. While these were done to be cut and used in a show, they are presented in their original recorded formats, in order to better showcase the parade environment. They were recorded with a portable MiniDisc recorder.

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Edmonton’s Elusive Women’s Spaces: The Prism Story
Edmonton’s Elusive Women’s Spaces: The Prism Story

The lesbian bar has become a rare gem, as elusive as a white whale. There are only 32 remaining lesbian bars in the United States at time of writing — with 25% located in New York — and according to Radio-Canada data, there are none left in Canada. It’s a shame, given that Edmonton was by all accounts something of a hotbed for vast and varied queer venues. But what did the proverbial fall of lesbian “Rome” actually look like here in Edmonton? For that, we can look to Prism.

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A Brief Police History of Queer Edmonton
A Brief Police History of Queer Edmonton

One of the most infamous early examples of persecution of the gay community occurred in 1942 with a series of same-sex trials in Edmonton. The trials were the result of a coordinated effort between the RCMP and Edmonton Police, who conducted a sting operation in response to a personal ad in the Edmonton Journal. Over the course of a few months, ten men were arrested, and nine were convicted for engaging in same-sex activity.

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A Dance-Hall of One’s Own: The Quietly Loud Queerness of Womonspace
A Dance-Hall of One’s Own: The Quietly Loud Queerness of Womonspace

Womonspace emerged as a response to the glaring lack of safe spaces where lesbians could socialize and participate in activities without facing judgment at best and outright discrimination at worst. Two women, Jeanne R. and Ann E., were inundated with complaints from the women they counseled at Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE) — concerns about the absence of a lesbian social scene — and decided to do something about it.

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Flashback Neon Sign
Flashback Neon Sign

On June 17, 2023 a new sign was added to the City of Edmonton’s Neon Sign Museum. This marked the first time that a gay-owned business for “gay people and their friends” was acknowledged in such a public and immortal way. A ceremony was held on 104 Street with owner John Reid, dignitaries and friends of Flashback who chanted “Light it up, Light it up” and cheering as the power was turned on bringing the blue glow of the sign to Edmonton’s downtown once again. In the Fall of 2024 a new plaque was added to the building. The…

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A Damn Proud Gay Canadian Soldier – Part Two
A Damn Proud Gay Canadian Soldier – Part Two

In Part Two Retired Major John McDougall of the Canadian Armed Forces and soon retired Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission talks with Activist and former Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission about his time with the Canadian Armed Forces and being arrested for being gay.

#edmontonpolice #canadianarmedforces #lgbtpurge #yegqueer #yeggay

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Sex and Sin in the City of Champions: The Story of Chez Pierre
Sex and Sin in the City of Champions: The Story of Chez Pierre

Pierre Cochard first hired two drag queens to perform at Pegasus in 1971, which was “a straight business” located on 106 Street North of Jasper Avenue. Millie (Paul Chisholm) and Chatty Cathy (Duane Shave) performed Edmonton’s first “public drag show.”

Cochard steadfastly defended queer people, believing that Chez Pierre should be a safe space for sexual dissidents. He famously said, “Strippers are God’s children too.” Thanks to Cochard’s “unfaltering acceptance,” Chez Pierre “remains a welcoming home for Edmonton’s drag scene to this day.”

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Forty Years of Fabulous: The Story of Twiggy and Edmonton’s Drag Evolution 
Forty Years of Fabulous: The Story of Twiggy and Edmonton’s Drag Evolution 

In this captivating documentary interview, we sit down with Twiggy, an iconic Edmonton drag queen who has been performing for over 40 years. Twiggy shares her journey from the early days of drag to the vibrant queer scene in Edmonton today. Explore the origins of her artistry, the evolution of drag culture, and the changes within the local LGBTQ+ community through her eyes. This is more than a personal story—it’s a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the enduring spirit of drag.

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Coming Out Short Stories
Coming Out Short Stories

We welcome your story of Coming Out in a short story format of 300 – 700 words. You can submit your story using the Expression of Interest form on our Contribute Your Story page. You can also attach one or two photos using the form which will be added to your story. These do not qualify for any honorariums at this time.

Stories must be about your Coming Out Experience in the Greater Edmonton Region.

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The Flashback Files: Gone But Not Forgotten
The Flashback Files: Gone But Not Forgotten

A tribute to the many friends who lit up the Flashback stage. We miss you all. Emperor 10 of the ISCCA – Cardinal Sin Mr. Flashback 13 – Zola Sadie Yoda Empress 12 of the ISCWR – Ora Fice Tinoir Reena Sabrina Empress 9 of the ISCCA – Flora Tron Emperor 7 of the ISCWR – Sam Empress 1 of the ISCWR – Millie Joolz Prince 12 of the ISCWR – Perry Karen K. Empress 11 of the ISCWR – Beverly Crest Mz . Flashback 12 – Kim Burley Mz Flashback 4 – Bianca Bang Bang/Janie Marie/Lee Denning Mz.…

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The Flashback Files: Dance Marathon!
The Flashback Files: Dance Marathon!

Archival footage from the legendary Flashback nightclub. Video from 1981-1983 recorded by Patrick Monaghan. All other footage 1983-1992 recorded by John Reid or whoever else was available to run the camera. VHS Files digitized by Jim Bilodeau. Thanks to Darrin Hagen and Chris Fassbender with the support of the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton – Local Government here is a video that captures a few moments of the fun.

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The Flashback Files: Gloria Hole
The Flashback Files: Gloria Hole

Every once in a while, a queen is born. Whether through osmosis or immaculate misconception is still mostly a mystery, but they appear. Suddenly and without warning, a new pretender to the throne stands in front of you. Under the terms of the Sisterhood of Unrecognized Royalty, they all get their grab at the tiara at some point in their career. Darrin HagenThe Edmonton Queen: The Final Voyage – 2007 July 1982 a young man ventured out on his own with a few clothes, a love letter from an older (33) man and his accordion strapped to his back…

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The Flashback Files: Masters of Ceremonies
The Flashback Files: Masters of Ceremonies

From the stage of the legendary Flashback nightclub we present a montage of various live unscripted moments of hilarity and confusion from some of the outstanding Flashback event hosts ever to grace the stages. From Gloria Hole (Darrin Hagen) to Rhoda B. (Ron Byers) then the icon and face of Flashback John Reid. There is even Millie (Paul Chisholm), Neon (Terrie Grieve), Trash (Terry Robison) plus many more that you will be sure to remember. Thankfully this video is not rated NSFW!! Patrick Monaghan – a consulting producer on the Flashback Documentary Film – decided to start filming drag…

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The Flashback Files: Drag Races
The Flashback Files: Drag Races

One of the most fun events put on by Flashback was held on the May Long Weekend. Annually the Mz Flashback Contest was held and part of the weekend fun was the Drag Races – invented long before RuPaul came along. In fact it was Mz. Flashback 4 Bianca Bang Bang (Lee Denning) and Mr. Flashback 4 Mr. Vera (Daryl Broyles) that came up with the idea after they saw a video from the US. way back in 1979. According to Mr. Vera “it was an actual drag race on like wild world of sports and some old drag…

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Liz Massiah – Edmonton’s Lesbian Community Leader Extraordinaire
Liz Massiah – Edmonton’s Lesbian Community Leader Extraordinaire

Most foundational LGBTQ+ organizations in our city were influenced by Liz Massiah, Edmonton’s lesbian community leader extraordinaire. From GALA to Womonspace, the AIDS Network of Edmonton, and the Liaison Committee, Liz was there for it all. Her steady head has worn many hats as a community leader, civil rights activist, social worker, and psychologist. Liz was an out lesbian when she moved to Alberta from Ontario in 1983 after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with her MSW. Like many lesbians of her time, she married a man before coming out later in life. Years earlier, she and her husband…

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Deaf, Kink, Lesbian
Deaf, Kink, Lesbian

Sonya Moyer is a 70+ year old Deaf queer woman from Medicine Hat. She discovered she was a lesbian while attending Gallaudet College in Washington D.C. Like many queer people in the 70s and 80s, she married a man to hide her sexual identity but the marriage did not last long and she moved back to Canada… “where her roots are.” After she returned, she found the love of her life, started to come out and found out something new about herself. She was kinky. As a Deaf person… connecting to the kink and queer communities has been difficult. When she was active in queer and kink community, finding other Deaf people in those communities was rare and most of the hearing people she met did not know sign language.

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Big Joey – Another Look
Big Joey – Another Look

In the mid-seventies, Big Joey – who was born Janet Wilkeson – was a character slightly larger than life. Though she was a founding member of Club 70 as well as a huge supporter of Flashback, she is primarily remembered for her no-nonsense behaviour and the power of her physical presence. It may surprise you to know she was also a dog loving softie.

For some reason Joey and I were ‘roommates’ for a short time sharing a house with John Reid – a founding partner of Flashback. I think it was his house, located in a totally cute, blue-collar working-class neighbourhood in Edmonton.

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May Long Drag Marathon (2011)
May Long Drag Marathon (2011)

May Long Weekend has been the home of a drag marathon for many years and at many venues: Boots, Junction and Evolution. Started originally by Rob Browatzke as a way of celebrating his birthday. Typically, these shows have been linked to a charity which in recent years has been mental health causes. This is a video montage of short clips of the performances and is from the Baker Park collection.

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ISCWR Grease (2014)
ISCWR Grease (2014)

We have another Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Production Show from the Baker-Park archives.

This February 2014 production wasn’t the only time the ISCWR brought Grease to the stage; a 2002 production starring Miss Bianca and Rob Browatzke ran at The Roost, Boots, and Secrets.

This 2014 version ran at Evolution Wonderlounge and in partnership with Womonspace at Bellevue Hall in a dinner theatre style and starring Tequila Mockingbird as Sandy and Stiffy Steele as Danny

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ISCWR Lion King Production
ISCWR Lion King Production

The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose is known for their big production shows. At Coronation 37 in 2012, they even included one in the entertainment line-up for the evening: The Lion King. Cast included Jim McBride as Mufasa, Marni Gras as Sarabi, Stefan “Stiffy” Steele and Prince Charmin as Simba, Leah Way as Rafiki, Ivanna Diamonds as Zazu, Rob Browatzke as Scar, Clara T and Vanity Fair as Nala, Big Daddy Pump as Poomba, Yeust Bobb as Timon, as well as ensemble actors

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You can stay at the YMCA: Edmonton’s Village People
You can stay at the YMCA: Edmonton’s Village People

From 1994 on, Edmonton’s own Village People Revue featured prominently in many shows, at bars all over Edmonton, and indeed, western Canada. The group started off as an ISCWR fundraiser but soon took on a life of its own. Below, find a link to a December 2000 article originally published in Times.10 Magazine that tells the origin story of this group of characters. Just like with the real troupe, non-Indigenous persons wearing a headdress was never appropriate. Pictures are included for the sake of historical accuracy, not to further perpetuate insensitivity. The last official show of Edmonton’s Impersonation Revue…

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ISCWR’s Beauty and the Beast Slide Show
ISCWR’s Beauty and the Beast Slide Show

Showing what goes into an Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose production show. This is a slide show montage video of rehearsals, costumes, backstage and from the actual production of 2016’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” who’s audience members got to enjoy a dinner as well as the show. Admission also allowed one to stay for a dance put on by Womonspace. The event took place at Bellevue Community League in Edmonton on January 23, 2016

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Little Shop Of Horrors Show
Little Shop Of Horrors Show

From May 19 to May 21, 2011 the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose presented their production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Junction Bar & Eatery. This is a montage of the performances featuring cuts from the many songs performed. Cast Seymour – JeffyLube XXXPressAudrey – Marni GrasAudrey II – RobMr. Mushnik – Yeust BobbOrin Scrivello, DDS – Randy QuiverRonette, Crystal and Chiffon – Dayzi Chayne, Debi, Clara TSupporting Cast: Anelle, Bead, Otto Matic-Quiver, Victoria Park, Jugsy Malone Director – Leah WaySet Design: Lj Steele, Stiffy SteeleSpotlight – Dee Luv Our thanks to the Baker Park…

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Vernon’s Podcast talks to Rob Browatzke
Vernon’s Podcast talks to Rob Browatzke

Vernon’s Podcast Episode 16 Edmonton’s Queer History is now streaming on all major platforms! For easy access go to vernonspodcast.com Rainbow Story Hub Foundation and Edmonton Queer History Project‘s ROB BROWATZKE stops by to share a few things! Author of Through the Mirrorball and owner of Evolution Wonderlounge. His knowledge of Queer history in Edmonton Alberta is immense. Too much for just one session, but listen to us try. We talk about the #gaybars, #gayrights, #pride, #devision, #unity, #comingout, #sobriety and so much more.

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Pride On The Square Montage – 2009
Pride On The Square Montage – 2009

This is a Baker-Park montage from Pride 2009’s show at Churchill Square. What performers do you recognize? The theme for Pride 2009 was Age of Aqueerious with the Pride Festival running from June 12 – 21, 2009. The performances in this video montage are from the main stage on Churchill Square on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

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Kylie 2008
Kylie 2008

Boots Bar hosted a lot of shows over their years – including this mega-tribute to Kylie Minogue. This montage shows the size of the cast and scope of the show, back in those days before Dragging our Heels taped everything start to finish! The event was held on November 25 & 26, 2008 and was presented by White Diamonds Productions and was a SHOWBOY Original event.

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FAB – The Early Years
FAB – The Early Years

Fifteen years ago, Aaron Granley and Daren Kavich were sitting at Boots, sharing a few pitchers of beer, and bitching how no one came out. Daren was recently back from Vancouver, where he’d attended one of the successful Bearracuda events that happened regularly there, and they lamented that nothing like this happened in Edmonton. There’d been bear groups before, but nothing was active. As Daren told Aaron stories about what the scene was like at Bearracuda, Aaron got more and more irritated that local bears and bear-admirers and bear-adjacents had to travel elsewhere for a party like that. Or…

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Pride Parades Video Collections
Pride Parades Video Collections

With thanks to several contributors we have compiled a collection of Pride Parade videos. Many are only highlights and do not capture the entirety of the parade. Others are the full parade and come from ShawTV which filmed the parade and presented it live on the Shaw Community Channel. The final one is of the 2018 Pride Parade – the last we have had in Edmonton. This was from Radical Citizen Media and also captures as a separate video with a portion of the Protesters blocking the parade.

Updated: On August 23, 2025 Edmonton saw the return of he Pride Parade. we are delighted to have Blazewing Photography’s donation of their video of the parade now in our collection.

All these can be found on our website by using the SEARCH box and entering Pride Parades, by using this list of links or by visiting our YouTube Channel and choosing the “Pride History” Playlist from our menu.

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ISCWR Website From 1998
ISCWR Website From 1998

In 1996 Ron Byers, a member of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, built their very first website on the Geocities – a web hosting service that allowed users to create and publish websites for free. Recently the files used were found and so we have uploaded them to our website so you can check this “historic” part of our history. Click the pic below to access the website. Please note that it was NOT built to be mobile friendly (mobile internet did not exist then) and is best viewed on a desktop or larger tablet.

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Edmonton Pride Parade 2018
Edmonton Pride Parade 2018

2018 was the last Pride Parade held in the City of Edmonton. The Parade – held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 – ran east on 82 Avenue (Whyte Avenue) to 104 Street where it then turned North to Gazebo Park Park where it disbanded and Parade attendees then headed East to End of Steel Park for the Pride Festival grounds. At about 10 minutes after the start of the Parade reached 104 Street it was blocked by protesters who held up the parade for over 30 minutes while officials from the Edmonton Pride Festival Society attempted to negotiate a resolution while considering the “Demands” of the protesters.

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Edmonton Pride Parade 2017
Edmonton Pride Parade 2017

Edmonton Pride Parade 2017 – ShawTV This is a full length edition of the Edmonton Pride Parade filmed by Shaw TV Edmonton on June 4, 2016. The presentation was hosted by Shaye Ganam and Darrin Hagen with Reporter On The Street – Vanity Fair with special Guest Marni Panas Check out the @ShawTVEdmonton YouTube Channel Viewing time 1:18:29

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Edmonton Pride Parade 2016
Edmonton Pride Parade 2016

Edmonton Pride Parade 2016 – ShawTV This is a full length edition of the Edmonton Pride Parade filmed by Shaw TV Edmonton on June 4, 2016. The presentation was hosted by Dana Giesbreicht and Darrin Hagen with Reporter On The Street – Vanity Fair and Jordan Hertner Check out the @ShawTVEdmonton YouTube Channel Viewing time 1:24:02

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Edmonton Pride Parade 2015
Edmonton Pride Parade 2015

Edmonton Pride Parade 2015 – ShawTV This is a full length edition of the Edmonton Pride Parade filmed by Shaw TV Edmonton on June 6, 2015. The presentation was hosted by Alexa MacLean and Darrin Hagen with Reporter On The Street – Vanity Fair Check out the @ShawTVEdmonton YouTube Channel Viewing time 1:15:54

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Hello Dolly Production 1979
Hello Dolly Production 1979

This video was filmed at the Edmonton Inn Hotel in 1979 during the Coronation Ball held by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose. It featured volunteer members of The Court presenting a lip sync performance of Hello Dolly. Directed by John M. Kerr and starring Chatty Cathy (Duane Shave), Ron Byers, Daryl Broyles, John M. Kerr, Gerry Kasten and Bill Wallace.

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The Wizard of Oz Production September 2002
The Wizard of Oz Production September 2002

The Wizard of Oz Production September 2002 When Roost DJ – Jazzy Geoff – went to theatre school, he was excited to take what he’d learned and build bigger and better programming at the bar. The first production he did was The Wizard of Oz, which incorporated movie dialogue as well as the songs to tell the full story. Starring Miss Bianca as Dorothy Gale, Ladonna as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Dyna Thirst as Glinda, this show ran for a number of spots in September 2002 to great reviews! This video footage was recently given to…

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Reminiscing Gay Pride Edmonton while walking along Jasper Avenue with Millie
Reminiscing Gay Pride Edmonton while walking along Jasper Avenue with Millie

We were cruising along in front of The Bay store where crowds were loading on and off the buses. The sidewalk was very crowded so I moved this lovely lady closer to me.

I asked “What name shall I address you?”

“Millie Empress I… when I’m in Drag and you may call me Paul when I am not doing a Drag Show. Will you come to see me?” she said.

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The Individual’s Rights Protection Act and the LGBTQ Community
The Individual’s Rights Protection Act and the LGBTQ Community

On January 9, 1992, The Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC) called on the Government of
Alberta to open the Individual’s Rights Protection Act (IRPA) to include sexual orientation as a protected
ground. The Commission reached its decision unanimously. The February edition of Dignity announced
its plan to have a team of volunteers help it “determine the number of potential complaints involving
discrimination based on sexual orientation.”

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Relight The Neon
Relight The Neon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mark Scheuer working restoring the Flashback neon sign in the workshop of City Neon PHOTO BY Peter Hays/Tangerine Productions Historic Edmonton Gay Bar Sign Joins Neon Sign Museum Edmonton – June 15, 2023 “Never in the history of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Edmonton have we ever had such a visible, prominent and permanent display of our community” says Ron Byers, Director of the Rainbow Story Hub Foundation. “Come out and listen to some great disco supplied by Flashback’s own DJ Mikee (Michael Brennan), hear from the man behind it all – John Reid and cheer with…

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Partying with Ike & Tina in 1976
Partying with Ike & Tina in 1976

Seeing Tina Turner that night at the Edmonton Gardens in 1976 still remains one of the biggest highlights of my lifetime. I was a young 21 year old when I had a chance to “run away with the circus”. I was asked to join a traveling drag show called the Fantasy Follies as their sound and lighting technician. What a chance to go way past my shyness and fears and live in hotel rooms travelling across Canada with a group of amazing Drag performers. We often played in Edmonton at the Corona Hotel but travelled from Prince George, B.C…

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A Flashback to Flashback
A Flashback to Flashback

History of Edmonton’s Gay Bars, Part 2: A Flashback to Flashback Author Ron Byers and Rob Browatzke | September 30, 2020 The impact Flashback had on relations between LBGTQ people and straight people was enormous. With LGBTQ members bringing friends to the club (many of them straight), Edmonton’s young adult crowd was quickly changing their opinions on how they viewed the LGBTQ community. As John Reid says, “How better to get to know people than to party together and feel safe? We were proud of [Flashback] becoming a melting pot of differences that found harmony.”  To read this story on the Edmonton City As…

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Cruising at The Pig
Cruising at The Pig

Cruising for sex in the late 60’s and early 70’s was an experience that seems seedy and dangerous by today’s standards but at the time when there were no protected spaces for gay men to connect with each other they had to carve out their own places at local businesses that were willing to allow gay men to gather as long as some discretion was used. The Pig N Whistle Lunch Room was one of those places. Located at 10548 Jasper Avenue, it opened around 1938 and was bought by local businessman Henry Wener in 1942. During the many…

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ISCWR Ball Program Archive
ISCWR Ball Program Archive

This collection features digitized copies of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Coronation Ball Programs. The Edmonton Queer History Project has been working with the University of Alberta Library & MacEwan University Library to support free and public access to important items of historical significance to Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities.  The collection is preserved on Archive.org and is accessible to anyone. Please click the link below to access the ISCWR Collection. The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose’s mission is to raise funds, through activities by the ISCWR, for charities and other organizations which either provides direct services to the…

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Making weird waves: on a crest
Making weird waves: on a crest

In 1972 independent film maker John Waters released a film called Pink Flamingos. The film featured a three hundred pound star, then virtually unknown. The character was ‘Divine — the most disgusting person in the world’. The film played repertory cinemas across North America and eventually Europe and Waters and Divine both gained notoriety for their work. The final scene was particularly noteworthy: in order to prove his title as the most disgusting person in the world, Divine picks up still steaming dog feces and eats it. A star is born.

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Divine Memories: The Day I Met The Superstar Entertainer
Divine Memories: The Day I Met The Superstar Entertainer

Watching “I am Divine”, the feature-length documentary about the late legendary performer, I was struck with a powerful, overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

My mind raced back to the very first celebrity interview I ever did. It was 1986, and I was an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada, struggling to find my way through a liberal arts degree. Back then, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I was fascinated with gay politics and culture and I loved movies.

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Murray Billett
Murray Billett

When thinking of the Edmonton gay scene, and the people most heavily involved with it, few names come to mind faster than Murray Billett. From work on political campaigns and challenges to discriminatory laws, to his work with the Edmonton Police Service, Murray Billett’s career has helped transform our community, making it a safer, fairer, and juster place.

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Maureen Irwin – Fierce Lesbian
Maureen Irwin – Fierce Lesbian

An ‘out’ Lesbian in the 1980’s, Maureen Irwin was considered fierce and to be reckoned with! At a time when there were very few members of Edmonton’s queer community who were out, Maureen was a strong proud mother, grandmother and Lesbian!

Within the queer community Maureen became an active volunteer assisting GATE (Gay Alliance Toward Equality) as it moved and set up an office and services in the downtown. She also actively worked with and assisted Womonspace, a Lesbian volunteer organization.

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Dustin Scott Talks Queer History – Episode 2
Dustin Scott Talks Queer History – Episode 2

In this audio podcast Episode Dustin talks with Rainbow Story Hub founder Ron Byers in Part Two. Topics featured in this episode are:
The origins of the Pride Festival in Edmonton and the impacts of the Stonewall riots. What is was like to be a gay man in the 80’s when the HIV virus first came on the scene. The origins of the AIDS Network of Edmonton and its transition to HIV Edmonton. His own struggles as a long term AIDS Survivor and the health challenges he faces. How drag queens and the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose stepped up to the challenges of raising money for AIDS research and patient care at a time when government funding was non-existent.

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Edmonton’s Pride Celebration History
Edmonton’s Pride Celebration History

Pride is the most visible symbol of the global movement for 2SLGBTQ+ equality, celebrating progress, affirming the existence of 2SLGBTQ+ people, and demanding recognition of their basic human rights.

Pride celebrations are individual and different in every country around the world and many are structured on their individual histories. Change happens at different speeds and degrees and is often done at local levels. Pride is a reflection of each community individually.

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