2005, March 5 (Saturday) * Friends of Dorothy Bowling League: Charity Tournament: Dorothy's Best

"DOROTHY'S BEST (March 5, 2005). (53 bowlers). Two charities. ACCKWA: $642.00. Hopespring Cancer Support $642.00."
[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).]

2005, March 18 (Friday) - March 20 (Sunday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival

The cover title of the Festival booklet read: "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005. Festival Guide. Showing at UW Davis Centre Room 1302. Free admission to all screenings." A total of eight screenings occurred. The second page of the Festival booklet included the following remarks: "The Rainbow Reels Organizing Committee is dedicated to showcasing films that explore the world of queer culture beyond the mainstream. There is more to us queers than the Fab Five and Will Truman! This year's film selection ranges from inspiring documentaries to sexy dramas, from a coming of age story to the tragedies of homophobia. With a broad combination of feature length and short films of various genres from Canada and abroad, there is sure to be something for everyone. ... Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival 2005 Organizing Committee: Jordan Cole, Chris Cowperthwaite, Raj Gill, Jim Perretta, Lana Phillips, Steven Singer and Sue Weare."
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005."]

2005, March 18 (Friday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: Jim in Bold

Jim in Bold (Directed by Glenn Holsten, USA 2003, 78 mins.) was shown on Friday, March 18, 2005 at 7:30 pm. This documentary about youth and homophobia was followed by a discussion with Dave Vervoort, a therapist based in Guelph.
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.4.]

2005, March 18 (Friday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: Sugar

Sugar (Directed by John Palme, Canada 2004, 78 mins.) was shown on Friday, March 18, 2005 at 9:30 pm.
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.5.]

2005, March 19 (Saturday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: Georgie Girl

Georgie Girl (Directed by Annie Goldson and Peter Wells, New Zealand 2001, 70 mins.) was shown on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 7:00 pm. This was a documentary about a transsexual of Maori descent who became a Member of Parliament of New Zealand (not the 1966 film with a similar title, Georgy Girl).
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.6.]

2005, March 19 (Saturday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: The Night Life

The Night Life (Written and Produced by Steve Hutton, Animated Short, Canada 2004, 8 mins.) was shown on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 8:30 pm. (Before his move to Toronto, Steve Hutton was active in the Kitchener-Waterloo rainbow community.)
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.7.]

2005, March 19 (Saturday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: Stag Party

Stag Party (Directed by Steward Wade, Short Film, USA 2004, 15 mins.) was shown on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 8:40 pm.
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.8.]

2005, March 19 (Saturday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: My Mother Likes Women

My Mother Likes Women (Directed by Ines Paris and Daniela Fejerman, Spanish and English subtitles, Spain 2002, 93 mins.) was shown on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 9:00 pm.
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.8.]

2005, March 20 (Sunday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: Brother to Brother

Brother to Brother (Directed by Rodney Evans, USA 2004, 94 mins.) was shown on Sunday, March 2005 at 7:00 pm.
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.9.]

2005, March 20 (Sunday) * WPIRG: Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival: Yossi & Jagger

Yossi & Jagger (Directed by Eytan Fox, Hebrew with English subtitles, Israel 2002, 67 mins.) was shown on Sunday, March 2005 at 9:15 pm. "There will be a film reception prior to the screening in DC 1301. This film screening and reception is co-sponsored by the Waterloo Israel Public Affairs Club".
[source: A booklet entitled "WPIRG'S 5th Annual Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival, March 18 - 20, 2005," p.10.]

2005, May 26 (Thursday) - June 1 (Wednesday) * Echo: Festival Guide - Tri-Pride Festival May 28-June 5

Festival Guide This guide to local festivals contains the following brief entry: “Tri-Pride Festival May 28-June 5. Bowling, pageants, parades & Ashley McIsaac. 584-#### www.rainbow.on.ca”
[source: Echo - The Tri-Cities Weekly Alternative, 2005, May 26 (Thursday) - June 1 (Wednesday), p. 10.]

2005, May 28 (Saturday) - June 5 (Sunday) * Pride Week 2005: 10th Anniversary - 1995-2005 Decade

The Pride Guide gives the dates for Pride Week as May 28 - June 5, 2005, and lists the following events: a bowling tournament, Guelph Pride Picnic, reception for a sculpture exhibition, bingo games, Miss Tri-Pride Pageant, bonfire, bar parties, and the Roos Island festivities, including community awards. The Welcome statement on p.3 identifies this celebration as the 10th anniversary of Tri-Pride.
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005.]

"Decades celebrated its 10th anniversary. With over 3,000 people in attendance and the stage line-up, headlined by Ashley MacIsaac, it was the best Pride ever. What a way to go into retirement for three of tri-Pride's longest serving board members, Dave Olesen, Rick Sickinger and Melody Alderwick. Do they ever know how to throw a party!"
[source: Pride Guide 2006, May 27th - June 4th, p.29.]

2005, May 28 (Saturday) * Pride 2005: Scotch Doubles Bowling

"Join us in celebrating our 10th Anniversary with a Pride Week Kick-Off Event. Come and enjoy an afternoon of Scotch Doubles Bowling, Saturday May 28th, 2005, at Brunswick Frederick Lanes." Registration was from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., followed by 4 games of bowling commencing at 1:15 p.m.
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.9.]

2005, [exact date not known, but during the period of the tri-Pride festival] * The Record: Gay festival respectable, not risqué, organizer says

Gay festival repectable, not risqué, organizer says This article by Liz Monteiro (Record staff) was based primarily on an interview with Dave Olesen, co-chair of the week-long tri-Pride celebration from May 28 (Saturday) - June 5 (Sunday). Olesen indicated that “local pride activities are family-oriented and not flashy events like the Toronto Pride parade.” The article mentioned that the featured performer was to be fiddler Ashley McIsaac; it also mentioned some other events that were planned, and gave a brief schedule for the Sunday Pride Day events.
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2005, [exact date not known, but during the period of the tri-Pride festival], paging not known.]

2005, May 29 (Sunday) * Pride 2005: Guelph Pride Picnic

"Guelph Pride Picnic: BBQ, Community Booths, Entertainment, Family Friendly. Celebrating Guelph's LGBTTTQQ communities. May 29, 11am-4pm, Royal City Park (across from the Boathouse Tea Room). Free! Rain or Shine! Featuring music by Evalyn Parry, The Funky Mamas & more!"
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.7.]

2005, May 29 (Sunday) * Pride 2005: Clay Pride Reception

An exhibition of sculptural work by R. Bruce Flowers (which the 2005 Pride Guide refers to as Clay Pride) is scheduled to run from May 27 to September 4 at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo. An opening reception co-hosted by tri-Pride was given on Sunday, May 29, 2005 from 2:00 - 4:30 PM, with the artist on site to discuss his work. The reception was catered by The Duke Street Muse.
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, pp.10-11.]

2005, May 31 (Tuesday) * Pride 2005: Lesbo Bingo

An evening of Lesbo Bingo was held at the Walper Terrace Pub on Tuesday, May 31, 8:00 - 10:00 PM. "Why yell out 'BINGO'? When you could be yelling out 'LESBO'. Bring your dabbers and your lucky troll doll for a fun and relaxed evening of LESBO mayhem. Special Guest Caller & Fabulous Prizes."
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.13.]

2005, June 2 (Thursday) * Pride 2005: Miss Tri-Pride Pageant

"Miss Tri-Pride Pageant 2005/2006. Be there as we crown Miss Tri-Pride at our very first pageant." This event was hosted by Miss Drew, and held on Thursday, June 2 beginning at 10:30 PM at Club Renaissance in Kitchener.
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.15.]

2005, June 2 (Thursday) - June 8 (Wednesday) * Echo: Tartan Pride

Tartan Pride This article by Declan Kelly is based primarily on an interview with Dave Olesen, Chair of tri-Pride's Pride Day Committee. It opens by saying that “This year's celebrations mark Tri-Pride's tenth anniversary and will be headlined musically by Ashley McIsaac.” Olesen also mentioned that shock value was not part of the local celebrations.
[source: Echo - The Tri-Cities Weekly Alternative, 2005, June 2 (Thursday) - June 8 (Wednesday), p. 6.]

2005, June 3 (Friday) * Pride 2005: Pride Fire

The annual bonfire arranged by GLOW and tri-Pride was scheduled to be held at Columbia Lake from 9 PM - midnight. The event featured a bonfire, a drumming circle, and campfire foods.
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.17.]

2005, June 4 (Saturday) * Pride 2005: Anniversary Parties

Two anniversary parties were held on Saturday evening: one at Club Renaissance in Kitchener, and one at The Robin's Nest in Cambridge. The description reads: "Join us Saturday June 4th 2005 to celebrate 10 years of PRIDE in our community. Decades of Dance: Come out and dance to the hits of the 1970's 1980's 1990's & 2000's."
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.19.]

2005, June 5 (Sunday) * Pride 2005: Roos Island Festivities

The afternoon featured a PFLAG BBQ, a vendor and information area (including a poster display of the history of local Pride celebrations), a silent auction, a supervised children's activities area, a beer garden by Club Renaissance. The stage show schedule included Miss Drew, Tri-Pride Community Awards, Swamperella, Charlena Russell, Miss Tri-Pride, The Backstabbers Country String Band, Mr. and Miss Renaissance, WombBoom, The Strap-Ons, and Ashley MacIsaac.
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.21 & p.23.]

2005, June 5 (Sunday) * Pride 2005: Tri-Pride Community Awards

During the afternoon of the Roos Island Festivities, Tri-PrideCommunity Awards were presented to the following: Jim Parrott, Friends of Dorothy Bowling League, and CCj/Clearline (run by Cedric Puddy).
[source: Pride Guide May 28 - June 5, 2005, p.23 & p.31.]

2005, June 6 (Monday) * The Record: Pride Day draws record crowd

Pride Day draws record crowd This article by Terry Pender (Record staff) begins with remarks drawn from an interview with Jim Parrott, who is incorrectly identified as being the individual who organized the first local Pride event in 1995. [That event was organized by a handful of other people; Parrott was involved the next year when a formal organizing committee was established.] Parrott refers to the fact that he married his companion William Pensaert and they have been walking hand-in-hand for the past several years. He also refers to work that he was doing on documenting the history of the local community by creating a “queer archives” [NOTE: As it happened, this archival work was not made public until 6 years later, with the unveiling of the Grand River Rainbow Historical Project in March of 2011.] The article goes on to mention experiences of a couple of drag performers at the events, and some remarks by local activist Ron Welker. The article closes with some words from the the Chair of the tri-Pride Community Association about the amount of work that it took the group of 9 people to put the celebration together.
[source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 2005, June 6 (Monday), pp.A1-A2.]

2005, September * OK2BME: Preparatory Work

At some point, KW Counselling and Family & Children Services put in a joint proposal to get funding for this innovative program. John Wilson was hired by KW Counselling in September 2005 to do preparatory work to start OK2BME. Dianne Wray was hired around the end of January 2007 to help John start and run the group. The OK2BME group began at the end of January 2007.
[source: Dianne Wray, a facilitator at OK2BME from 2007 to 2010.]