“Chatty Cathy” refers to Duane Shave, a prominent and influential drag queen in Edmonton’s queer history, known as Empress II Chatty Cathy Jackson.
Shave was a founding member and Empress 2 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!.
Key Contributions and Legacy
Pioneering Drag:
Duane Shave was one of the first queens to perform on a non-queer public stage in Edmonton, paving the way for other drag artists in the city.
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose (ISCWR):
As Empress II and Matriarch of All Alberta, Shave was instrumental in the ISCWR’s rise to prominence for its lavish, fully choreographed, and costumed productions, which were well-known on the Imperial Court circuit.
Educator and Advocate:
Beyond drag, Duane Shave was a retired educator and a respected figure in the community.
Additional Resources:
Hello Dolly Production Video – Edmonton Inn – 1979
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/hello-dolly-production-1979/
Sex and Sin in the City of Champions: The Story of Chez Pierre
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/sex-and-sin-in-the-city-of-champions-the-story-of-chez-pierre/
Edmonton City as Museum Project – The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, Part 1
https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2020/11/18/the-imperial-sovereign-court-of-the-wild-rose-part-1-the-first-twenty-five-years/
Edmonton City as Museum Project – The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, Part 2
https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2020/11/25/the-imperial-sovereign-court-of-the-wild-rose-part-2-the-next-twenty-years/
Dragging Our Heels – Mr. Chatty Cathy Jackson – Barbra Streisand Mix
https://www.youtube.com/@DraggingOurHeels
Mr. Chatty Cathy Jackson performing “Barbra Streisand Mix” during Coronation 43: An Evening Of Prism Jewels & Cascading Colours hosted by the ISCWR on August 25th, 2018 at The Edmonton Inn & Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada!
Rainbow Story Hub
Rainbow Story Hub brings the history of Edmonton's 2SLGBTQ+ community to life from the perspective of those who lived it. Through stories, videos and other media we hope to capture and preserve these stories from the people who lived them. These stories can then be used to inform, educate and enlighten not only our own community through GSA’s and hopefully one day school curriculum but also the greater community we live in today.
Kyler Chittick
