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2010 GALA Winners

Community Service Award Winners:

 

Scott T. Bell

A person who cares about his community and finds a way to contribute whether on the front lines or behind the scenes. Bridge City Chorus treasurer 1999 -2009 and a current board member. Member of the Bridge City Chorus for the past 18 years.

Member of Coalition for Human Equality (CHE) 1990 / 91 and 1991 / 92 (CHE focused on lobbying the SK government to add sexual orientation to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code). Wrote the legal arguments that formed part of a presentation to the Saskatchewan Minister of Justice arguing for inclusion of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.

Executive of the NDP Rainbow Pride Committee March 2008 to present. Gay & Lesbian Support Services / Gay & Lesbian Health Services phone line volunteer for several years. President of Gays and Lesbians at the U of S (GLUS) 1985 / 86 and 1986 / 87. Continued as an active member of GLUS 1988 to 1991. AIDS Saskatoon board member for three years in the early 1990s.

 

Roxy Diva (Mitch Morgans)

Has held 8 drag titles is Saskatchewan: Miss Diva's 1999 Miss Gay Saskatoon 2, Duchess 10 of Regina & All of Saskatchewan, Princess 11 of Regina & All of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Prairie Pride Diva, Duchess 16 of Regina & All of Saskatchewan, Empress 12, 17 & 18 of Regina & All of Saskatchewan. Her (his) involvement as those titles has help to raise well over $40,000 deserving charity in Saskatoon & Saskatchewan.

Member of the Diva's Gender Bender Players since its inception in 1998. Saskatchewan Prairie Pride Diva was created by Mitch and Chris of Headquarters to be a title of pride and travel and influence to bring back people to Saskatchewan, Saskatoon in specific. Former board member of The Regal Social Association of Regina. Has done several speaks around gender, drag and make-up applications for the general public and the queer community. Former board member of Saskatoon Diversity Network.

 

Rylan Ledene

Has facilitated the ACC’s Out & Proud (OPY) group for the past 2 year. Acted as a co-facilitator for OPY for 1 year and before that was a valued member of OPY, helping out for years. Continues to operate OPY throughout the summer months even when other groups are on hiatus. Took the phone line training and uses his skills in his facilitation of the group.

 

Kent Macaulay & Thom Knutson

Kent and Thom have been active and outstanding members of the LGBTTIQQA Community of Saskatoon for a number of years.

Thom works in Young Adult Services at the Saskatoon Public Library, where he is a tireless champion in keeping libraries inclusive to all. He is very keen at ensuring our libraries have strong collections of up-to-date queer-themed books and resources to support our out (or closeted) youth readers. He has also always provided a display with some of the latest queer books and movies at the Breaking the Silence Conference in Saskatoon, the Pride Community Fair, and the We Are Many Environmental Festival. Thom has participated as a committee member and presenter for Breaking the Silence, and on the planning committee for Camp fYrefly Saskatoon. He is currently serving as the Diversity Representative on the CUPE Saskatchewan executive.

Kent spends his weekdays being a public advocate as the Constituency Assistant in Frank Quennell's MLA office. In his spare time, he is an important organizational team member of the NDP Rainbow Pride Executive. He coordinates its Policy Committee, and works fervently to make sure LGBT issues are put forward at the annual provincial NDP conventions. With his guidance and support, the NDP Rainbow Pride has been successful in having the Saskatchewan NDP adopt progressive policies on transgendered health issues, homophobia in schools, among many other things. Kent also served a term on the board of the Gay and Lesbian Health Services of Saskatoon. He always has a smile on his face and a nice word for everyone he meets. He is a strong ambassador for the community.

Each of these men should qualify for the Community Service Award on an individual basis, but together, they are a dynamic pair, striving for equality and justice for all.

 

Special Merit Award

 

Bridge City Chorus

The Bridge City Chorus is a non-profit choral ensemble made up of people from the GLBT community and their allies and friends. For the past 19 years the Chorus has made music for the education, enjoyment and cultural enhancement of its members and audiences. Chorus concerts and fundraising dances have always been very popular and have become a mainstay in the Saskatoon GLBT community. The Chorus aims to create a positive and encouraging environment for its members and to make a positive contribution to the entire Saskatoon community.

The chorus performs a wide variety of musical genres. Some of their favourite scores are those that speak to the audience through laughter or tears.

The Bridge City Chorus performed its first concert in 1993. Historically, their season has started in September with weekly practices; usually performing a Mini-concert in November and two Concert & Dances in February and May respectively and a Sunday afternoon concert at St. Thomas Wesley United Church. The Chorus also performs during events -- such as the U of S Breaking the Silence Conference, World AIDS Day, and at St Thomas Wesley for their annual service celebrating diversity and their status as an Affirming Congregation.

This May, the Chorus will be traveling to Winnipeg to represent Saskatoon at the Canadian Unison Festival, a festival of choruses consisting of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, two spirited and straight (but happy) singers from across Canada. The Bridge City Chorus is looking forward to celebrating their successes in the GLBT and wider Saskatoon community with their 20th anniversary season in 2010/2011.