Edmonton Queer History Project

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Description

Welcome to the Edmonton Queer History Project

Queer history is everywhere. Every place has a story to tell. Some stories are more visible and well known, while others have been hidden and kept silent due to fear, persecution, and prejudice. The Edmonton Queer History Project is designed to help tell our stories by documenting what queer life was like in our city over the past 50+ years. Most of these histories are undocumented or known only to a few members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two spirit and queer communities. Seldom are queer lives or culture included as part of our city’s official history, school curricula, or public discourse. We intend to help break this silence.

These are the stories and experiences of the people, places, and moments that have helped build and define our city. These are the stories of our friends, family members, city builders, lovers, activists, artists, and so many others. These are also the stories of queer life that have been hiding in plain view. You only needed to know where to look to find them. We have always been here. Sometimes silent. Other times loud. But always present.

We recognize these narratives are only partial, often privileged, and necessarily incomplete. Many accounts are based on media reports as well as police and court records—institutions that have frequently criminalized and pathologized queer lives. Where possible, we have utilized queer media, personal and public archives, oral histories, first-hand accounts and personal interviews to verify sources, fill in missing information, and ensure these accounts accurately reflect local experiences. Documenting Edmonton’s queer history will always be an ongoing project. We hope that you will be inspired to share your stories, memories, and artifacts and help us continue to build a growing archive of the rich diversity of queer life in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton).

We dedicate this archive to the generations of queer people and pioneers who came to a remote Northern prairie town to find love, adventure, community, and each other. You are the dreamers, fighters, lovers, and activists who have made change possible. We see you. We celebrate and honour your amazing resilience, courage, determination, and pride in our city and each other.

We respectfully acknowledge that much of Edmonton’s queer history occurred on Indigenous land within Treaty Six Territory, which has been the traditional gathering place for Nêhiyawak (Cree), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Dene, Inuit, and Nakota Sioux.

Who Are We?

The Edmonton Queer History Project (EQHP) is a collaborative community initiative and we are grateful for the many contributions and support received from our funders, community collaborators, and project team members. Our original team members include Michael Phair, Darrin Hagen, Dr. Michelle Lavoie, Rob Browatzke, Kyler Chittick, Japkaran Saroya, Paige Simpson, and Dr. Kristopher Wells. More recently, we have expanded our work with new project members including Remi Baker, Blaze Bennett, Morgan Evans, Elizabeth Cytko, Toryn Sudaby, Sarah Dumais, Samantha Hegelson.

Our collective work has been made possible thanks to funding and support from the MacEwan Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Canada Research Chairs program, City of Edmonton, Edmonton Heritage Council, Edmonton Downtown Business Association, Edmonton Community Foundation, and the Stollery Charitable Foundation. We are also thankful for guidance and support from the Edmonton Queer City Project, Fruit Loop, City of Edmonton Archives, Provincial Archives of Alberta, MacEwan University, University of Alberta Libraries, Neil Richards Collection of Sexual and Gender Diversity at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Alberta Archives, Old Strathcona Business Association, Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton Police Service, and the Alberta Law Courts.

Info

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Are you a 2SLGBTQ+/Queer Business, Organization or Group or are you an Ally?
2SLGBTQ+/Queer Non-Profit

Location

Street Address
11110 104 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Postal Code
T5K 1M9
11110 104 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, AB, Canada

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