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Events in Grand River Rainbow Communities


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2003

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2003, January 31 (Friday) * Pride Prom - Walper Terrace Hotel (Kitchener)

“What Are You Gonna Wear? Pride Prom "Vintage Hollywood" For Tickets email ########@#####.### Walper Terrace Hotel. Friday, January 31, 2003.”
[source: The Voice, 2002, December, Volume 5, Issue 2, Inside Back Cover]

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2003, January 31 (Friday) * Pride Prom

“What Are You Gonna Wear? Pride Prom "Vintage Hollywood" For Tickets email ########@#####.### Walper Terrace Hotel. Friday, January 31, 2003.”
NOTE: This was the first event entitled “Pride Prom” to be held in Waterloo Region. For report on this event, see the article by Jeremy Steffler on p.10 of Vol.5, No.5 (2003, March 2003) of The Voice
[source: The Voice, 2003, January/February, Volume 5, Issue 4, Back Cover]

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2003, February 9 (Sunday) * OOT & ABOOT Comedy Show (Yuk Yuk's Toronto)

“OOT & ABOOT February 9, 2003 [misprinted as 2002 in the ad]. $15. Susan Stewart, Ted Morris & Richard Ryder are: OOT & ABOOT @ YUK's 224 Richmond St. West (E. of Duncan) 8:30 P.M. With: The B-Girlz featuring: Roberto Bozac & Linda Ellis. Win a Valentine's Dinner for two.”
NOTE: Roberto Bozac was an active member of GLOW around 1990.
[source: The Voice, 2003, January/February, Volume 5, Issue 4, p.6.]

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2003, February 22 (Saturday) * Speak up!: an evening of CLITerature!

“an evening of CLITerature! Speak up! February 22, 2003 8PM. Mostly Organic Juice Bar 119 King Street West Kitchener. Tri-Pride Fundraiser, Tickets $10, Great Door Prizes, Reserve Now — Limited Space. www.rainbow.on.ca Celebrate your sensual, sexual side with a night of erotic readings by local women — plus music, toys and fun and all in an open, comfortable environment. Do you write sexy prose or poetry? Want to be involved? Visit www.rainbow.on.ca WOMEN AND TRANS EVENT ONLY PLEASE”
[source: The Voice, 2003, January, February, Volume 5, Issue 4, Inside Back Cover]

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2003, March 5 (Wednesday) - March 8 (Saturday) * University of Waterloo, Theatre for the Arts - The Laramie Project (Theatrical Production)

“The Laramie Project Coming to the Theatre for the Arts, University of Waterloo, March 5-8, 2003. Special Benefit Performance March 5th, 8 PM. Tickets for this performance include an invitation to a catered post-performance reception.”
[source: The Voice, 2002, December, Volume 5, Issue 2, p.21]

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2003, March 8 (Saturday) * "Dorothy's Best" Invitational Cosmic No-Tap Tournament

"Dorothy's Best" Invitational Cosmic No-Tap Tournament Doorprizes, Draws. Friends of Dorothy Bowling League (The only Gay/Gay Positive Cosmic Bowling League in the Tri-City Area) Come on out for a Day of Fun and Laughter while Raising Money and Awareness for BREAST CANCER and HIV/AIDS March 8, 2003 At Brunswick Frederick Lanes (519) ###-####. Located at 385 Frederick St., Kitchener behind Frederick St. Mall. Registration & Social: 12:00-1:00 Bowling at: 1:15 PM. Cost: $30.00 per bowler in advance or $35.00 at the door (Include 2 games bowling, shoe rental, Dinner, Doorprize ticket and awards ceremony at Club Renaissance) For More Information contact Paul Curzon at: Friends of Dorothy's Bowling League 23 Herlan Ave Kitchener, On, N2G 2C4 (519) ###-#### or Email: ##########@#######.### Payment Options: Certified Cheque, Cash, Visa or MasterCard Make cheques payable to: Friends of Dorothy Bowling League Registration will also be accepted at Brunswick Frederick Lanes with MasterCard or Visa, at (519) ###-####. Just mention Dorothy's Best Tournament. Ask for Darlene, Sue or Mark All monies recieved will be given to the CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY and ACCKWA. Prizes for top team, Low team and top individual Male and Female. All awards include Handicap. You'll have a Gay ole time!!
[source: The Voice, 2003, March, Volume 5, Issue 5, Back Cover]

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2003, March 8 (Saturday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Charity Tournament

"Charity Tournament: March 8, 2003. 95 bowlers. Per Bowler = $30.00. Raised for: Canadian Cancer Society $841.31; ACCKWA $841.31."
[source: a document written by Diane Kilby on the history of the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League from 1999-2005 (Jim Parrott has a copy).]

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2003, March 13 (Thursday) - March 16 (Sunday) * Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival

Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival March 13-16, 2003 FREE ADMISSION TO ALL SCREENINGS EXCEPT OPENING NIGHT. The Rainbow Reels Film Festival is a festival of queer themed video and film brought to you by the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group & sponsored in part by the University of Waterloo Federation of Students. March 13: Princess Cinema 9:20 Trembling Before G-d. March 14: POETS, Carl Pollock Hall, Atrium, University of Waterloo 6:00 Yapping Out Loud* | 8:00 Divas: Love Me Forever | 9:30 21. March 15: Davis Centre, Rm. 1302 University of Waterloo 6:00 Rewriting the Script* | 7:30 Danny in the Sky | 9:30 Songs of Freedom. March 16: Davis Centre, Rm. 1302. University of Waterloo 7:00 Canada: Sperm Bank of Satan* | 7:30 Sneak Preview of an Independent Canadian Film* | 8:45 Iron Ladies. For more festival information go to: http://rainbowreels.org/ or contact W.P.I.R.G. at (519) ###-#### or info@wpirg.org. *Films followed by discussion with film maker.”
[source: The Voice, 2003, March, Volume 5, Issue 5, Back Cover]

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2003, March 14 (Friday) - March 23 (Sunday) * ACCKWA hosts the 9th Annual Charity Art Auction

ACCKWA hosts the 9th Annual Charity Art Auction Don't miss this great opportunity to *View *Bid on *Take home original, one of a kind pieces of artwork, now from the comfort of your own home! This year ACCKWA's Charity Art Auction is being held on-line. All you have to do is log on to www.acckwa.com. There you will find all the information you need to register, to browse and of course to bid. The auction will run from March 14 to March 23, 2003. If you don't have access to the Internet, you are more than welcome to come into the office to view art and place bids. Please phone ###-#### ext. 310 for more information, to register, or log on to www.acckwa.com
[source: The Voice, 2003, March, Volume 5, Issue 5, p.19.]

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2003, March 22 (Saturday) * TRIBES - a tri-Pride Fundraising Event

“Saturday | March 22 | 2003 TRIBES A Tri-Pride Fundraising Event $3.00 cover | 9PM. Club Renaissance, 24 Charles St. West, Kitchener ###-###-#### Produced in Association with Hype Entertainment”
[source: The Voice, 2003, March, Volume 5, Issue 5, p.15.]

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2003, May 3 (Saturday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Bowling Banquet

On Saturday May 3, 2003, four weeks after the conclusion of its fourth season, the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League had a Bowling Banquet at the Walper Hotel.
[source: a document written by Diane Kilby on the history of the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League from 1999-2005 (Jim Parrott has a copy).]

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2003, May 31 (Saturday) * The Record: Pride events help boost understanding, harmony

Pride events help boost understanding, harmony This article by Susan Chilton (Record staff) is based primarily on an interview with Dave Olesen, co-chair of the week-long tri-Pride celebration from 2003, June 9 (Monday) - June 15 (Sunday). The article begins by focusing on the fact that a board with members from tri-Pride and ACCKWA (AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo and Area) had been established to arrange for a visit of the Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt to Waterloo Region. The article notes that the tri-Pride group had recently been incorporated as a community association, and points out that “From humble origins in 1995 with 86 people in attendance, local Pride gateherings attracted more than 2,000 people last year.” Olesen says that he finds the K-W community very accepting, but that there is some stereotyping about the professions in which gay people are found.
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2003, May 31 (Saturday), p.B1.]

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2003, June 5 (Thursday) - June 11 (Wednesday) * Echo: tri-Pride's Tribes - Pride festival has an event for every tribe

tri-Pride's Tribes - Pride festival has an event for every tribe This article by James Wegg begins with an interview with Events Director, Rick Sickinger, who indicated that “Last year's weekend was so successful that we decided to expand to a full seven days.” This section of the article also gave details of many of the musical performances during the festival. There was also a report on an exhibit of queer works at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery by a trio of Montreal-based photographers. The article also mentions that there will be a financial seminar, as well as a display of 46 sections of the Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt - a tribute to those who had died from the AIDS virus. The article closes by mentioning the campfire at the University of Waterloo's Columbia Lake, the first Guelph Pride Picnic (Saturday) and the closing ceremonies and the final viewing of the AIDS Quilt on Sunday with a performance by the Rainbow Chorus.
[source: Echo - The Tri-Cities Weekly Alternative, 2003, June 5 (Thursday) - June 11 (Wednesday), p.9.]

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2003, June 9 (Monday) - June 15 (Sunday) * Pride Week 2003: Tribes

The Pride Guide gives the dates for Pride Week as June 9-15th 2003, and lists the following events: an art show, a drag king show, a bonfire, two bar party nights, a Guelph picnic, the Island festival, and an AIDS Quilt display.
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003.]

"Canadian music icon and legend, Carole Pope, headlined the stage show. Pride Day 2003 also hosted a display and closing ceremonies of the Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt. The theme Tribes celebrated the differences within our community."
[source: Pride Guide 2006, May 27th - June 4th, p.29.]

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2003, June 8 (Sunday) * Pride 2003: Art Show

An art show entitled Essence/Image at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery exhibits work by the following artists: Evergon, Erika Kierulf, and Chuck Samuels. The opening reception is announced for Sunday, June 8, 2 - 5 pm.
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, p.7.]

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2003, June 10 (Tuesday) * Pride 2003: Kingdom Come Tour

A drag king show entitled Kingdom Come Tour was announced for June 10, Tuesday at The Robin's Nest in Cambridge "A three-week tour featuring some of the most talented and accomplished drag kings in North America will hit clubs and theatres in the U.S. and Canada from May 22nd through June 12th. A film crews will be trailing the kings to create a cinema verite road movie in the spirit of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The film will be an engaging exploration into current attitudes about sex, gender, family and identity politics." The following performers are mentioned: Pat Riarch, Christopher Noel, Luster, Ken Las Vegas, and Carlos Las Vegas.
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, p.9.]

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2003, June 11 (Wednesday) * The Record: Ruling lets gays plan for nuptials

Ruling lets gays plan for nuptials This article by Cherri Greeno (Record staff) began by saying that “Gay and lesbian couples throughout the province are busy planning their weddings after a court ruled yesterday that traditional marriage laws are unconsitutional.” This ruling was handed down by Ontario's Court of Appeal. The article indicated that “The ruling is a personal victory for seven same-sex couples defending a lower court decision that said Canadian law violated their charter rights by preventing them from marrying. Ottawa tried to overthrow that ruling...” (which is evidently why the fight had to be taken to a higher court). The article made it clear that the ruling was effective immediately. It also indicated that Kitchener couple Dawn Onishenko and Julie Erbland were “part of the group defending the lower court decision. They filed for a marriage licence in Toronto three years ago and can now finally get married.” The article went on to say that “The couple plan to marry in Windsor in a ceremony with family and friends. Kitchener's Shelly Durocher, 38, and Melody Alderwick, 48, are planning an outdoor ceremony for next year.” The article pointed out that although marriage licences for same-sex couples were already available at Toronto City Hall, Waterloo Region offices did not know how to proceed, and that “they will wait for direction from the province or their legal department before handing out any marriage licences to same-sex couples.” The article also included remarks from Toronto couple Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell, who were also among the seven couples defending the lower courts decision. The article also included a negative reaction from Bruce Clemenger, persident of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2003, May 31 (Saturday), pp.A1-A2.]

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2003, June 12 (Thursday) * The Record: No wedding bells for K-W gays

No wedding bells for K-W gays Our collection has a printout of an article by Cherri Greeno (Record staff) in which she describes the uncertainty over whether city clerks in Waterloo Region would be obliged to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples. On Wednesday, June 11, just one day after the Ontario Court of Appeals had struck down the opposite-sex restriction on marriage as an unconstitutional violation of s.15, lesbian partners Lynn Tilley and Angie Keen went to Kitchener City Hall to obtain a marriage licence. They were stunned to be turned away. That same day, June 11, the city clerks of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge each indicated that they felt that it was unclear whether all municipalities in Ontario were required to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples, or whether the ruling applied only to Toronto, or perhaps only to the seven same-sex couples who launched the court case. At some point later on Wednesday, Chris Eby, spokesman for the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services made it clear that the ruling did indeed apply to all Ontario municipalities. Kitchener's Dawn Onishenko indicated that she and her partner, Julie Erland, intended to go to Kitchener City Hall to obtain a marriage licence.
[Jim Parrott recalls that the clarification from Chris Eby came too late for any licences in the immediate area to be issued on June 11, Wednesday.]
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2003, June 12 (Thursday) Final Edition, p.A1.]

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2003, June 12 (Thursday) * Same-Sex Marriage Licences: Waterloo

On Thursday morning, gay couple Jim Parrott and William Pensaert phoned up the local television station to indicate that they were going to Waterloo City Hall to get a marriage licence. They were informed that they were already covering a similar event in Kitchener, and would get to Waterloo City Hall as soon as they could. Because Jim and William were worried that the Liberal Federal government might try to reverse the Conservative Provincial government's decision not to oppose the court ruling, they decided to get married as soon as possible, so whilst at Waterloo City Hall they booked the Old Grist Mill beside Silver Lake in Waterloo Park, and booked an officiant for 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 14. They also invited the television staff to bring a camera to the ceremony on Saturday.
[source: Jim Parrott]

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2003, June 12 (Thursday) - June 18 (Wednesday) * Echo: Festival Guide - Tribes 2003 - Tri-Pride Festival June 9 - 15

Festival Guide This guide to local festivals contains the following brief entry: “Essence/Image Exhibit [June 8-15], Kingdom Come Tour (June 10), AIDS Quilt Opening (June 12), Tribal Fires GLOW Bonfire (June 13), Guelph Picnic (June 14), Dollars & Sense Seminar (June 14), Pride Club Nights (June 14), TRIBES Outdoor Festival (June 15), AIDS Quilt Closing (June 15). Phone 584-#### www.rainbow.on.ca”
[source: Echo - The Tri-Cities Weekly Alternative, 2003, June 12 (Thursday) - June 18 (Wednesday), p. 14.]

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2003, June 12 (Thursday) - June 15 (Sunday) * Pride 2003: Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt: Kitchener-Waterloo Visit

The Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt was on display during Tri-Pride, June 12-15th. It was on display at Forbes Hall, RIM Park, Waterloo from June 12th (Thursday) to June 14th (Saturday) and at the Pavillion, Victoria Park, Kitchener on June 15th (Sunday).
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, p.23.]

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2003, June 13 (Friday) * The Record: Gay marriage ruling wrong, Peric says; Other area MPs express support for new status of same-sex unions

Gay marriage ruling wrong, Peric says; Other area MPs express support for new status of same-sex unions Our collection has a printout of an article by Cherri Greeno (Record staff) in which she first reports on reactions by local politicians to the news that the ruling by the Ontario Appeal Court on the legality of same-sex marriages applied to the entire Province of Ontario. The following were not in favour of this change: Cambridge Liberal MP Janko Peric and Kitchener Centre Liberal MP Karen Redman. In favour were Kitchener-Waterloo Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi and Waterloo-Wellington MP Lynn Myers. The author goes on to report that on Thursday morning, lesbian couple Dawn Onishenko and Julie Erbland became the first same-sex couple to obtain a marriage licence from Kitchener City Hall. That morning they were followed shortly after by Lynn Tilley and Angie Keen, who had already planned an outdoor wedding in Waterloo for Saturday, June 14. The article concludes by saying “Officials in Waterloo gave out at least one marriage licence yesterday to a same-sex couple. Kitchener handed out at least two while Cambridge had no requests.” [NOTE: The first Waterloo marriage licence was for William Pensaert and Jim Parrott.]
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2003, June 13 (Friday) Final Edition, p.B1.]

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2003, June 13 (Friday) * Pride 2003: Tribal Fires: Columbia Lake Bonfire

Once again GLOW and tri-Pride arranged a bonfire at Columbia Lake in Waterloo. It was scheduled for 9:30 PM - 1:00 AM, with a drumming circle and campfire foods.
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, p.10.]

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2003, June 13 * Imprint: More of your hometown Pride

More of your hometown Pride This article by Andrew Dilts is given the sub-title “tri-Pride Week 2003 brings celebration of diversity back to the Waterloo Region.” The article features an interview with Dave Olesen (the 2003 co-chair), and a description of many of the events planned for the Pride 2003: Tribes celebration (June 9 - June 15), including the exhibit at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery, the visit by the AIDS Memorial Quilt to the Region of Waterloo, the Kingdom Come documentary filming, and the involvement by GLOW (and their Columbia Lake bonfire).
[source: Imprint, Vol.26, No. 4, 2003, June 13 (Friday), "Features", pp. 10-11]

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2003, June 14 (Saturday) * Pride 2003: Guelph Pride Picnic

"A new event. Guelph Queer Equality and tri-Pride are throwing a picnic featuring Heather Mclean, Greg Upshaw, Sarah Dillon and Miss Drew & Crew. Join us for an afternoon of musical entertainment, fun games and food. Saturday, June 14, Royal City Park (at the Gazebo) Guelph, 12:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M."
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, p.15.]

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2003, June 14 (Saturday) * Pride 2003: Bar Party Nights

Two bar parties were scheduled for the night and entitled Tribal Gatherings 'Set Your Spirits Free'. They were held Saturday, June 14th from 9 PM - 3 AM at both Club Ren (Kitchener) and The Nest (Cambridge).
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, p.13.]

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2003, June 15 (Sunday) * Pride 2003: Roos Island Festivities

The afternoon featured a BBQ by PFLAG and other food from Mostly Organic and from Muses Cafe, a vendor and information area, a silent auction, a supervised children's activities area, a tattoo parlour and, a beer garden by Club Ren. The stage schedule runs from 1:30 pm to 7:50 pm, and featured Miss Drew, community awards, drag performers, Vyletz, Ooot and Aboot, Heather Mclean, Greg Upshaw, Strap-Ons, Women Ah Run Tings, and Carole Pope.
[source: 2003 Tribes The Pride Guide June 9-15th 2003, pp.16-17.]

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2003, June 16 (Monday) * The Record: Lesbian couple tie the knot

Lesbian couple tie the knot This article by Colin Hunter (Record staff) began by focuing on the wedding of Lynn Tilley and Angie Keen in Waterloo Park outdoors on Saturday, June 14; from the photo, it appears that the marriage ceremony occurred in the gazebo in the centre of the horticultural garden in Waterloo Park. [NOTE: Jim Parrott and William Pensaert got married the same afternoon in Waterloo Park - but in the Abraham Erb Grist Mill on the edge of Silver Lake.] Keen and Tilley had been planning for a couple of years to get married that summer and said that “We would have gotten married today whether it was legal or not.” The article went on to say that “The couple exchanged vows in front of 70 friends and family members under the guidance of Judith Koeller, lay chaplain of the first Unitarian Congregation of Waterloo.” Koeller was also quoted as saying “It sends a message to society as a whole that these families have real status in the community.” The article went on to report that the recent “court decision in favour of same-sex marriage was the topic of much talk and celebration at yesterday's tri-Pride festival at Kitchener's Victoria Park.” The article closed with some sobering remarks from Diane Kilby who had been living with her partner Jan Baker. Kilby noted that they were thinking about marriage, but waiting for a bit. She expressed the concern that many same-sex couples were rushing to get married, in part out of fear that the federal government might reverse the court decision. She was worried that therefore “Some couples might make the decision to marry too hastily.”
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2003, June 16 (Monday), pp.A1-A2.]

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2003, July 15 (Tuesday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Mini Putt Putt

On July 15, 2003, Friends of Dorothy Bowling League sponsored a Mini Putt Putt game; 28 people participated.
[source: a document written by Diane Kilby on the history of the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League from 1999-2005 (Jim Parrott has a copy).]

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2003, August 24 (Sunday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Free Bowling Party

On August 24, 2003, the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League had a Free Bowling Party. This occurred two weeks before the official start of their 2003-2004 season.
[source: a document written by Diane Kilby on the history of the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League from 1999-2005 (Jim Parrott has a copy).]

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2003, September 7 (Sunday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Season 5 (2003-2004) Began

On September 7, 2003, the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League began their Season 5, which ran from September 7, 2003 to March 28, 2004, with two playoffs: April 4, 2004 and April 11, 2004. League Fees: $ 11.00. The League had a Toy Drive (Gay & positive Unitarian Congregation of Waterloo to Immigrant Community), three Charity Tournaments (October 25, 2003; March 6, 2004; June 5, 2004), a Bowling Banquet on June 19, 2004. On June 17, 2004, the League received a Community Partner Award from ACCKWA. In Season 5, the League had 44 regular bowlers and 33 substitute bowlers, making 12 teams: Right Up Dorothy's Alley, No Place Like Homo, Gutter Girls, Ditzy Divas, Oz, Lollipop Kids, Fossil's Fury, Tornadoes, Is That Your Wand, Flying Monkeys, Yellow Brick Houses, and Dorothy's Ghost.
[source: a document written by Diane Kilby on the history of the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League from 1999-2005 (Jim Parrott has a copy).]

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2003, October 25 (Saturday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Charity Tournament: Oktoberfest 1

"October 25, 2003 (OKTOBERFEST 1). 66 bowlers. 3 Charities (Rainbow Chorus, ACCKWA and Canadian Cancer Society). Raised: Rainbow Chorus ($ 414.16), ACCKWA ($207.08), Canadian Cancer Society ($207.09)."
[source: a document written by Diane Kilby on the history of the Friends of Dorothy Bowling League from 1999-2005 (Jim Parrott has a copy).]

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