Royal City Rag, June 4 2008 – Out On The Shelf

Michele Collins and Christine Lafazonos from Out on the Shelf, the downtown queer resource centre, joined us in the first half of the show to talk about the wide range of activities the centre hosts, including the knitting circle “The Rainbow Knitters”. We also chatted about their involvement in Guelph Pride, their current initiative to get charitable status as well as their upcoming garage sale on June 14th at Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Avenue, Guelph from 8.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m. If you have things to donate, please e-mail collins.michele@gmail.com or call (519) 836-2958.

Brian Holstein was back in the studio in the second half with his monthly review of the goings on around City Hall. Brian waxed lyrically about traffic calming… speed bumps in the Exhibition Park area, and civic tax increases… speed bumps at City Council! He also found time to round on bullying big box developers at City Hall, people who use drive-thrus on smog days, and despicable people who steal plants and garden ornaments from the Guelph Enabling Garden. Really!

Brian’s trademark rant focused his caustic gaze on the local political blogosphere and specifically the neocon lowlifes who use blogs for political advantage without being brave enough to identify themselves. Politics as usual then! Fun, nevertheless.

Music:
Bruce Cockburn: “Beautiful Creatures” from “Life Short Call Now”. This track is also found on the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper benefit CD “At the Barricades Volume 1” available at Guelph’s Big Umbrella at the Guelph Farmers Market.
Tegan and Sara: “Proud” from “Under Feet Like Ours”
James Gordon: “Since This Is Just A Song” from “Nine Green Bottles”

The audio for this show is no longer available on the website.  If however you wish to hear it again, please contact us at info@royalcityrag.ca. Thank You.

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Royal City Rag, May 21 2008 – Guelph Pride, Arts And Culture

In the first half of the show, Rev. Barbara McDowell, from the Guelph Pride Committee joined us to talk about Guelph Pride 2008.

In the second half of the show, the Culture Vultures, Marie and Daniel, were back in the studio to talk up the Guelph art scene including nominations for the Premier’s awards for excellence in the arts from Guelph:  David Earle and the Guelph Jazz Festival! They also talked about the upcoming Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, May 29 – June 1. It promises to be a wonderful event.

Music:
Ian Dury “I wanna be straight” from “Reasons to be Cheerful, The Best of Ian Dury and the Blockheads”
Tom Robinson Band “Glad to be Gay” from “Power in the Darkness”
Ray Charles: “Messing Around” from “Ray: The Original Soundtrack”
Madadam and Noah 23: “Nebula”

The audio for this show is no longer available on the website.  If however you wish to hear it again, please contact us at info@royalcityrag.ca. Thank You.

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Guelph Pride 2008 – Celebrate Diversity

I received the following information from the Guelph Pride organizing committee. It would great to see as many people as possible out supporting the queer community as we celebrate diversity in Guelph.

Guelph Pride 2008 – Celebrate Diversity

On Monday May 26th, 2008 at Noon, Mayor Karen Farbridge will raise the rainbow flag at Guelph City Hall to announce the City of Guelph’s support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

 

Barbara McDowall of the Guelph Pride Committee notes that “while this is not the first time the flag has been raised at City Hall, it is an inclusive moment to have participation by the Mayor. It is a small step which speaks loudly to the queer community that we are citizens too. We know anecdotally that last year many in our community would detour past City Hall just to see the flag. It is a very emotional symbol.”

The flag will be passed (symbolically) to City Council at the kick off event for Guelph Pride week – “Concert Q” a concert by the Rainbow Chorus on Saturday May 24th at 8:00 p.m. at Harcourt United Church.

Other events planned as part of local Pride celebrations include:

• Pride comedy night with internationally known comedian Maggie Cassella and her show “Because I Said So” on Wednesday May 28th at 9:00 p.m. at the Ebar. Tickets are $21.00 and are available at the Bookshelf.
• Pride film screening on Thursday May 29th at 9:00 p.m. at the Bookshelf of “For the Bible Tells Me So”.
• Pride Party & dance on Saturday May 31st at 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Scottsdale
• Pride brunch on Sunday June 1st from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Diana Downtown.

Spokesperson McDowall extends an open invitation to all to join the Rainbow Community at the flag raising ceremony and to attend events during Pride week. She says “we welcome everyone to join us in our celebration!”

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