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Gay Pride Flag Saskatchewan Resources for Sexual Diversity
Saskatchewan Resources for Sexual Diversity

Celebrating a History of Diversity:

Lesbian and Gay Life in Saskatchewan, 1971 - 2006
A Selected Annotated Chronology

The 1990s

1998

February Saskatoon
The Saskatoon Teachers Institute presented its first workshop on LG issues, including a panel of LG youth. The workshop was attended by eighty teachers, administrators and school board trustees.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 2 (March 18 1998) p. 9.]
February Regina
Provincial government employees were notified by the Public Service Commission that benefit plans had been amended effective September 30 1997 to give the same benefits to all unmarried persons in a long-term spousal relationship as were given to married employees and their spouses and children. SHRC Chief Commissioner Donna Scott noted, “it shows that there is recognition that denial of same-sex benefits is considered to be discriminatory on the basis of sexual orientation.”
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 3 (April 29 1998) p. 13.]
February 19 Saskatoon
GLHS celebrated the opening of new offices in the Avenue Building at 220 – 3rd Avenue South. The organization sponsored a concert at the Broadway Theatre with singers Heather Bishop and Kim Kuzak on February 20.
[Perceptions, v. 15 no. 18 (December 3 1997) p. 20.]
March 7 Saskatoon
Brian Rolfes and Brad Berg of Toronto celebrated a Holy Union ceremony at St. Andrew’s Chapel at the U of S. Guests included many NDP MLAs and cabinet members. Rolfes’ father was a former NDP cabinet minister and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 2 (March 18 1998) p. 19.]
March 21 Saskatoon
The U of S College of Education hosted the first Breaking the Silence-Gays and Lesbians in Our Schools conference. The conference became an annual event under the leadership of its founder Dr. Don Cochrane. Subsequent conferences (some noted below) featured several high profile speakers and attracted educators from across the Prairies. The first conference was closed by Minister of Education Pat Atkinson who offered her support to the delegates. The 1998 conference was attended as well by an official of REAL Women who claimed that schools should be teaching about the “cures for homosexuality” she knew were available.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 3 (April 29 1998) p. 19. / “Sask. Schools ill-prepared to deal with gay students,” SSP, (March 23 1998) p. A1. / Bernadette Richards, “Breaking Silence,” Saskatchewan Bulletin (STF), (April 1 1998) p. 3.]
March 21 Saskatoon
Delwin Vriend of Edmonton was the guest speaker at the fourth annual Doug Wilson Award presentation. Vriend was then awaiting the positive decision of the Supreme Court of Canada to his challenge to Alberta’s refusal to provide human rights protections to lesbians and gays.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 1 (January 21 1998) p. 13. / “Gay activist honored,” SSP, March 23 1998) p. A5.]
April Saskatoon
The Saskatoon YWCA announced Erin Scriven as their Young Woman to Watch at its annual Women of Distinction banquet. Scriven was cited for her work with LG organizations.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 3 (April 29 1998) p. 13.]
April 4
A policy convention of the Saskatchewan Party rejected a motion to abolish the SHRC. A resolution sponsor Reg Hoegel from Lloydminster said of the commission - “It’s primarily used by radical leftists and radical gay movements.”
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 3 (April 29 1998) p. 12. / “Proposal quashed,” SSP, (April 6 1998) p. A3.]
April 4 Saskatoon
Edmonton drag artist Darrin Hagen performed scenes from his play The Edmonton Queen-Not a Riverboat Story at Café Browse.
[Jenny Gabruch, “Drag taught queen how to be a man,” SSP, (April 4 1998) p. C5.]
April 20 Regina
SFL President Barb Byers and several trade unionists established an ad hoc working group to advance the rights of lesbians and gays in the workforce and in unions.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 4 (June 10 1998) p. 12.]
April 25 Saskatoon
The Imperial Court of Regina and AIDS Saskatoon presented a benefit show and dance at the Ukrainian Hall.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 2 (March 18 1998) p. 9.]
May 2 Regina
The Prairie Pride Chorus presented Camp Songs, a concert and dance with the Bridge City Chorus at the Regina Performing Arts Centre.
[SSN, (May 1998)]
May 13 Saskatoon
The SHRC decided that there was probable cause to believe that Hugh Owens and the StarPhoenix had violated the Human Rights Code by purchasing and printing an anti-homosexuality ad in 1997. Neither Owens nor the newspaper wished to negotiate a settlement with the complainants.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 4 (June 10 1998) p. 11. / “SP ad discriminated against gays, human rights commission rules,” (May 30 1998) p. A3.]
May 15 – 18 Edmonton
Both the Prairie Pride Chorus and the Bridge City Chorus attended the Canadian Gala Chorus Festival, a gathering of Canadian LGB choirs.
[SSN, (May 1998)]
May 27 – 30 Regina
Queer City Cinema 2, the city’s second gay film and video festival, featured an appearance by Toronto filmmaker and writer Bruce LaBruce.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 3 (April 29 1998) p. 2.]
June 28 – July 4 Saskatoon
The Saskatoon Pride Week included a variety night and awards ceremony and at dance both held at the Albert Community Centre.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 4 (June 10 1998) p. 10.]
July Prince Albert
The Prince Albert Right to Life Association circulated a petition supporting MP Tom Wappel’s private members’ bill that would restrict marriage to a single male and a single female. The group claimed to have gathered over 400 signatures.
[Lori Coolican, “Petition aims to define marriage,” Prince Albert Daily Herald, (July 10 1998) p. 3.]
July 24 – July 31 Regina
The city’s first full length Pride week featured the Q Ball dance, the Buffalo Gays Invasion (queers at the Regina exhibition), coffee houses, drag shows and Regina’s first community service awards. City Council refused to grant the Pride Committee a civic proclamation on the grounds that a 1990 bylaw gave the city discretionary power in issuing proclamations considered “of a sexual or politically sensitive nature.” Attempts by the mayor and some council members to amend the restrictive bylaw aroused opposition. At a September 21 council meeting presentations prompted a motion to prohibit the mayor from making any proclamations for anyone at any time. The vote on this motion was deferred to October 5. The Pride committee sought support from other community groups and staged a rally before the October meeting. The City Council eventually voted by a slim majority to preserve the practice of civic proclamations and to remove the obstacles to the official recognition of Pride Week.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 5 (July 29 1998) p. 10. / Perceptions, v. 16 no. 7 (October 28 1998) p. 9.]
July 25 Regina
Hugh Owens purchased an advertisement in the Leader-Post to run during Pride Week. The ad reprinted four Biblical verses traditionally used to condemn gays and lesbians. The newspaper defended publishing the ad on the grounds that it championed freedom of expression. Representatives of the Regina Pride Committee lodged human rights complaints against both Owens and the newspaper.
[Colleen Silverthorn, “Ad upsets gay group,” RLP, (July 27 1998) p. A3.]
July 31 - August 3 Ravenscrag
The Spring Valley Guest Ranch hosted its 10th anniversary gay Ranch Rendezvous in the Cypress Hills.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 3 (April 29 1998) p. 29.]
August 27 Saskatoon
CUPE Local 1975, representing over 1,800 employees at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, ratified a contract that recognized the rights of same-sex partners to spousal benefits.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 5 (September 16 1998) p. 12.]
October Regina
The Gay and Lesbian Community of Regina (GLCR) decided to move its facility back downtown after thirteen years in the warehouse district. It selected a building at 2070 Broad Street. The renovation of the building faced many obstacles and delays before it officially opened in the summer of 1999.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 7 (October 28 1998) p. 13.]
October 15 Edmonton
Representatives from Saskatchewan were among 60 delegates attending Working Out! West, Solidarity and Pride, a conference sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress.
[SSN, (December 1998)]
November 30 Saskatoon
City Council decided to unilaterally wrap up complaints about the city’s refusal to proclaim a Gay Pride Week in 1994. The Council agreed to donate $2,000 to the United Way to give to a group promoting non-discrimination against LG people. The money was accepted by GLHS. On December 5 the city placed an ad in the StarPhoenix declaring the city’s opposition to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
[Perceptions, v. 16 no. 8 (December 9 1998) p. 9. / “City hopes grant quells gay complaint,” SSP, (December 2 1998) p. A3.]

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