• Chloe Camara
• April 24, 2024
• 0 Comments
• 7 minutes Read

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…

• Nik Zemlak
• March 26, 2024
• 0 Comments
• 3 minutes Read

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.

• Gwen Tonack
• January 21, 2024
• 0 Comments
• 6 minutes Read

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.

• Baker Park
• January 4, 2024
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

ISCWR Turnabout 2010

For years one of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose’s annual events was Turnabout, the rare opportunity to catch traditionally male-presenting performers do female-presenting numbers, and traditionally female-presenting performers do male-presenting.

• Baker Park
• December 13, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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.

• Baker Park
• December 13, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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

• Baker Park
• December 11, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

ISCWR’s Nightmare Before Christmas

This 2014 drag production show and fundraiser was put on by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, starring Rob Browatzke as Jack Skellington and Mel Trixx as Sally.It was presented at Evolution Wonderlounge on November 8, 2014

• Baker Park
• December 11, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

ISCWR Rocky Horror Picture Show 2011

The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose is known for production work. This version of Rocky Horror Picture Show happened on October 28, 2011 at the Junction Bar & Eatery There are 3 parts to this:Part 1Part 2Photo Montage

• Baker Park
• December 8, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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

• Rob Browatzke
• December 5, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

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…

• Baker Park
• December 3, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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

• Baker Park
• December 3, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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…

• Rainbow Story Hub
• November 26, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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.

• Baker Park
• November 25, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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.

• Baker Park
• November 21, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

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.