Get Social - Join us on:
Queer West Fest - 2006 Photo Album
From 2001 to 2005, Michael F. Paré organized and managed
various festivals calling them: Pride Toronto West and Parkdale Pride Party,
in 2006 Michael renamed Queer West Fest and made it, a non Pride festival.
Organizers decided to break way from the Parkdale Community Health Centre
and start their own Parkdale Pride Party which renamed Queer West Fest. It took place on Saturday June 10th 2006,
coordinated by Gay West Community Network,proudly sponsored by Xtra newspaper,
and QueerPlanet. It was full day of activities planned starting with the annual
Pride Ride at noon followed by a Community Fair with over 20 participating organizations.Mix
and Mingle Community Fair provided an opportunity to visit various community
organizations offering services such as travel, health, lifestyle, sports, literature
and more. The Dance Party was aimed at bringing various members of the community
together to celebrate the beginning of summer. Unfortunately this dessimated
the Parkdale Health Centre's annual Pride event for staff and friends. Paré
has been work tirelessly to unite the two groups again.
Gay Toronto's - Queer West Village holds the 2nd largest series of LGBT
parties in the city. The queer festival is organized by Gay West Community
Network a centre serving the LGBTTIQ community for nearly 10 years. Queer
West Fest Committee is a non-profit, volunteer based organization, not associated
with Pride Toronto Organization. 15 years ago, there was not much happening
in the queer west end of our city. "Things were flat for several years.
But now we are getting bigger and better organized " .said Parkdale Pride
volunteer Bryen Dunn" Unlike Pride Toronto, which is a huge stage-managed
national tourist attraction. Parkdale Pride Party and Fair started out
as a series of small queer neighbourhood events, inclusive, democratic, outrageous
- and positively revolutionary. What no Pride parade? The Committee thought
a variety of Pride parties throughout the village and a Marketplace Fair is
more in tune with our community needs. In 2005 there were 20 queer festival
related events. In 2006 there were over 35.
Mission Statement
Parkdale Queer West Festival Committee believes that providing a safe
and nurturing environment for individuals, groups and organizations is the key
to keeping our community alive and vibrant. It is our goal to foster individual
empowerment and to give everyone a better sense of the queer community spirit
in Toronto's queer west village neighbourhoods. We do this by organizing and
sponsoring community activities and by increasing public awareness and understanding
of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer lives. In the spirit of Stonewall,
Parkdale Queer West Festival Committee welcomes the participation of
all, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV status, national
origin, physical, mental or developmental ability, race, religion or sexual
orientation. Only by standing together can we make a difference.
The
Queer Village in Toronto West is comprised of four diverse neighbourhoods,
Dupont, High Park, Trinity Bellwoods and Parkdale (founded
in 1878) considered by many to be the heart of the village. Gay Pride is
our day to say, “We’re here. We’re proud of who we are. We’re
celebrating ourselves, no matter what the rest of you think.” Visit our
2006 Queer
West Photo Library
Gay West has the only exclusive gay,
lesbian and straight gay friendly website in the queer west end of
the City of Toronto. Go West Where the Skies are Blue
(Torontoist
Pride Review)
Saturday June 17, 2006 - The Gay West Community Network would like
to thank everyone who helped to make our Parkdale Queer West Party a great success. The attendance numbers ( close to 400) were far greater
than we had expected for both the Community Fair and the Dance Party. As well,
we were impressed by the amount of positive comments we received from many who
attended, including our local MP Peggy Nash who said:
"The Parkdale Queer West party also took place Saturday night June 10.
There was a community fair and dance for the Parkdale- High Park LGBT community.
I had a chance to meet many community members and to say hello to old friends.
I would like to thank the organizers for the opportunity to help launch this
celebration of our LGBT community. I am sure this will become a must-attend
event and I look forward to joining you to celebrate Parkdale queer festival
again next year." - Until then, take care. Peggy
Nash Member of Parliament. Parkdale-High Park.
The Community Fair took place from 7PM to 9PM at the Rhino Bar (1249
Queen St W) and featured over
twenty queer and queer-friendly organizations from within the west end of
the city. Services for Seniors to young adults ranged from travel, health, lifestyle,
sports, literature and more. The
Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Corporation also showed their support
by having a booth at the event. It was a great networking opportunity to showcase
what products and services each organization has to offer. The photo to the
right was taken night of the fair by Ryan Hayward from Babbleweb (fair participant)
and Bryen Dunn, a fair organizer (light yellow t-shirt and ball cap) with Michael
F. Paré , founder of Gay West Community Network (unofficial Mayor of The
Queer West Village), busy checking out one of the community tables.
At 10PM the doors reopened and the Dance Party began till 3 AM. The
“DJ an Hour” open format went over well with the few hundred people
who attended. Music ranged from rock and roll to hip hop and electro-house.
The most significant point of the evening was seeing everyone have a great time,
male and female, gay and straight, queer seniors to young gay and lesbian adults.
There were no boundaries or definitions, just a fun party atmosphere.
The official name for the festival was changed after a committee debate,
by Gay West founder, Michael F. Paré and Bryen Dunn in June 2006. Henceforth
to be know as Queer West Fest and would become, non pride event. Everyone, including
the media seems quite interested...and positive about what Gay West Community
Network was doing with Queer West Fest...changing the name (dropping the word
Pride from festival name) really peaked alot of interest.
Media Sponsors: Xtra,
Queer Planet and TX Productions
The Details: Sat June 10th - Rhino Bar Upstairs, 1249 Queen
St W - $5 after 10PM
Review Xtra Gay and Lesbian newspaper - Chris Jai Centeno
/ Toronto / Thursday, June 08, 2006 - Parkdale
Located beyond Shaw (of course, some say beyond the tracks), Parkdale has grown
into something of a Church St W. It seems to be having two Prides this year.
Gay West Village Toronto hosted its first Queer West Party and Fair on Sat,
Jun 10, at the Rhino (1249 Queen St W). There will be a community fair from
7pm to 9 pm with vendors and a public forum with activists and community groups.
From 9 pm, there was a dance party with a lineup of Toronto entertainers ranging
from DJ TK to Scandelles front femme Sasha Van Bon Bon.
Showing Toronto pride in creating new & exciting gay and lesbian Queer Festivals
About the Festivals: Overview
| Festival
2005 |
Festival 2006 |
Festival 2007 | Festival
2008 | Festival
2009 |
Festival 2010
About our Film Festivals: Overview
|
Film Festival 2008 |
Film Festival 2009 |
Film Festival 2010
Around the Village:
Contact Us | Accommodations
| Nightlife
|
History Queer Festivals Toronto |
Press Room | Sponsors
| Travel
Info | Queer
West Village Links: International
Queer Arts Festivals
Copyright 2010 Gay West Community Network Inc.
Get Social - Join us on:
Queer West Fest - 2006 Photo Album
From 2001 to 2005, Michael F. Paré organized and managed various festivals calling them: Pride Toronto West and Parkdale Pride Party, in 2006 Michael renamed Queer West Fest and made it, a non Pride festival.
Organizers decided to break way from the Parkdale Community Health Centre and start their own Parkdale Pride Party which renamed Queer West Fest. It took place on Saturday June 10th 2006, coordinated by Gay West Community Network,proudly sponsored by Xtra newspaper, and QueerPlanet. It was full day of activities planned starting with the annual Pride Ride at noon followed by a Community Fair with over 20 participating organizations.Mix and Mingle Community Fair provided an opportunity to visit various community organizations offering services such as travel, health, lifestyle, sports, literature and more. The Dance Party was aimed at bringing various members of the community together to celebrate the beginning of summer. Unfortunately this dessimated the Parkdale Health Centre's annual Pride event for staff and friends. Paré has been work tirelessly to unite the two groups again.
Gay Toronto's - Queer West Village holds the 2nd largest series of LGBT parties in the city. The queer festival is organized by Gay West Community Network a centre serving the LGBTTIQ community for nearly 10 years. Queer West Fest Committee is a non-profit, volunteer based organization, not associated with Pride Toronto Organization. 15 years ago, there was not much happening in the queer west end of our city. "Things were flat for several years. But now we are getting bigger and better organized " .said Parkdale Pride volunteer Bryen Dunn" Unlike Pride Toronto, which is a huge stage-managed national tourist attraction. Parkdale Pride Party and Fair started out as a series of small queer neighbourhood events, inclusive, democratic, outrageous - and positively revolutionary. What no Pride parade? The Committee thought a variety of Pride parties throughout the village and a Marketplace Fair is more in tune with our community needs. In 2005 there were 20 queer festival related events. In 2006 there were over 35.
Parkdale Queer West Festival Committee believes that providing a safe and nurturing environment for individuals, groups and organizations is the key to keeping our community alive and vibrant. It is our goal to foster individual empowerment and to give everyone a better sense of the queer community spirit in Toronto's queer west village neighbourhoods. We do this by organizing and sponsoring community activities and by increasing public awareness and understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer lives. In the spirit of Stonewall, Parkdale Queer West Festival Committee welcomes the participation of all, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV status, national origin, physical, mental or developmental ability, race, religion or sexual orientation. Only by standing together can we make a difference.
The Queer Village in Toronto West is comprised of four diverse neighbourhoods, Dupont, High Park, Trinity Bellwoods and Parkdale (founded in 1878) considered by many to be the heart of the village. Gay Pride is our day to say, “We’re here. We’re proud of who we are. We’re celebrating ourselves, no matter what the rest of you think.” Visit our 2006 Queer West Photo Library
Gay West has the only exclusive gay, lesbian and straight gay friendly website in the queer west end of the City of Toronto. Go West Where the Skies are Blue (Torontoist Pride Review)
Saturday June 17, 2006 - The Gay West Community Network would like to thank everyone who helped to make our Parkdale Queer West Party a great success. The attendance numbers ( close to 400) were far greater than we had expected for both the Community Fair and the Dance Party. As well, we were impressed by the amount of positive comments we received from many who attended, including our local MP Peggy Nash who said:
"The Parkdale Queer West party also took place Saturday night June 10. There was a community fair and dance for the Parkdale- High Park LGBT community. I had a chance to meet many community members and to say hello to old friends. I would like to thank the organizers for the opportunity to help launch this celebration of our LGBT community. I am sure this will become a must-attend event and I look forward to joining you to celebrate Parkdale queer festival again next year." - Until then, take care. Peggy Nash Member of Parliament. Parkdale-High Park.
The Community Fair took place from 7PM to 9PM at the Rhino Bar (1249 Queen St W) and featured over twenty queer and queer-friendly organizations from within the west end of the city. Services for Seniors to young adults ranged from travel, health, lifestyle, sports, literature and more. The Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Corporation also showed their support by having a booth at the event. It was a great networking opportunity to showcase what products and services each organization has to offer. The photo to the right was taken night of the fair by Ryan Hayward from Babbleweb (fair participant) and Bryen Dunn, a fair organizer (light yellow t-shirt and ball cap) with Michael F. Paré , founder of Gay West Community Network (unofficial Mayor of The Queer West Village), busy checking out one of the community tables.
At 10PM the doors reopened and the Dance Party began till 3 AM. The “DJ an Hour” open format went over well with the few hundred people who attended. Music ranged from rock and roll to hip hop and electro-house. The most significant point of the evening was seeing everyone have a great time, male and female, gay and straight, queer seniors to young gay and lesbian adults. There were no boundaries or definitions, just a fun party atmosphere.
The official name for the festival was changed after a committee debate, by Gay West founder, Michael F. Paré and Bryen Dunn in June 2006. Henceforth to be know as Queer West Fest and would become, non pride event. Everyone, including the media seems quite interested...and positive about what Gay West Community Network was doing with Queer West Fest...changing the name (dropping the word Pride from festival name) really peaked alot of interest.
Media Sponsors: Xtra, Queer Planet and TX Productions
The Details: Sat June 10th - Rhino Bar Upstairs, 1249 Queen St W - $5 after 10PM
Review Xtra Gay and Lesbian newspaper - Chris Jai Centeno / Toronto / Thursday, June 08, 2006 - Parkdale
Located beyond Shaw (of course, some say beyond the tracks), Parkdale has grown into something of a Church St W. It seems to be having two Prides this year.
Gay West Village Toronto hosted its first Queer West Party and Fair on Sat, Jun 10, at the Rhino (1249 Queen St W). There will be a community fair from 7pm to 9 pm with vendors and a public forum with activists and community groups.
From 9 pm, there was a dance party with a lineup of Toronto entertainers ranging from DJ TK to Scandelles front femme Sasha Van Bon Bon.
Showing Toronto pride in creating new & exciting gay and lesbian Queer Festivals
About the Festivals: Overview | Festival 2005 | Festival 2006 | Festival 2007 | Festival 2008 | Festival 2009 | Festival 2010
About our Film Festivals: Overview | Film Festival 2008 | Film Festival 2009 | Film Festival 2010
Around the Village: Contact Us | Accommodations | Nightlife | History Queer Festivals Toronto | Press Room | Sponsors | Travel Info | Queer West Village Links: International Queer Arts Festivals
Copyright 2010 Gay West Community Network Inc.