Stacey Brotzel sites down with Pride Promoter and Queer Historian – Ron Byers, to chat about the need for Pride, coming out, and some of the events that are coming up.
Edmonton’s Pride Month starts this weekend đłď¸âđ
Local Pride Promoter with Pride Edmonton sits down with 880 CHED’s Courtney Theriault on Friday May 30, 2026 to talk about Pride Month and the Pride festivities throughout the summer.
Pride in Edmonton seeks to amplify, not dictate
Pride festivities in Edmonton are gathered from the bottom up, not dominated by one top-level organizer, says the curator and historian who collects those celebrations of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Colin Gallant/Taproot Edmonton
âWeâre very unique,â said Ron Byers of Pride Edmonton, which gathers and shares events from myriad organizers, great and small. âIn most cities around the globe, they have one organization that celebrates Pride. Itâs made up of a group of people from the community, they get together, they plan a weekend or a week of fun and activities, and itâs all focused around that.â
CBC Listen – Two long-time drag queens on their activism
CBC Edmonton recently sat down with two of Edmonton’s long time drag queens to talk about Alberta’s oldest 2SLGBTQ+ organization – the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose. The segment aired on October 30, 2025. Click the link below to open in a new window. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-17-edmonton-am/clip/16178697-two-long-time-drag-queens-activism
Overcoming The Fear: HIV Stigma Among Healthcare Providers
This Positive Effects blog post shares Ronâs experience as part of a Digital Storytelling project led by the United Voices of HIV Alberta. The project was supported by REACH Nexus through the Positive Actions initiative, which aims to reduce HIV stigma by empowering local teams across Canada to develop and lead community-driven stigma reduction projects.
King Charles III Coronation Medal
On September 20, 2024 HIV Edmonton and the Canadian AIDS Society nominated Ron Byers to be a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to the HIV/AIDS movement in Canada.
On November 20, 2024 The Governor General of Canada awarded the medal to Ron Byers.
The presentation ceremony will take place on June 26 2025 at Edmonton City Hall where recipients will be presented with their medals by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – Salma Lakhani.
Edmontonâs overlooked queer history
Edmonton has a big place in Canadaâs 2SLGBTQ+ history â but it doesnât always get the credit it deserves. Now, there are people trying to change that. In recent years, projects highlighting Edmontonâs queer history and stories have gained traction, and there is work being done to preserve decades of activism and community for the next generation. Host Clare Bonnyman sits down with Ron Byers of the Rainbow Story Hub, to talk about Edmontonâs queer history and whatâs so unique about our cityâs story.
CBC RadioActive talks The Gay Straight Jacket
June 11, 2025
In 1981, the Pisces Health Spa in Edmonton was raided by Edmonton police, who arrested 60 gay men. It’s believed to be the largest mass arrest in the history of Alberta. This week, in honour of Pride, Metro Cinema is screening a CBC documentary from that year, called The Gay Straight Jacket. Ron Byers was a staff member at the Pisces but was not arrested that night. Now, he is a queer historian in Edmonton with the Rainbow Story Hub.
Pride Month Kicks Off in Edmonton
Pride Edmonton spokesperson Ron Byers says Pride Month is an opportunity to highlight the struggles and rights achieved by the LGBTQ+ community over the years .
“It’s an opportunity to share his journey ,” he said, adding that when he came out as gay in 1968, he could have been jailed then, but not now”.
“It’s a celebration of who we are as a community. It’s a time to celebrate and party”. A quote from Ron Byers , spokesperson for Pride Edmonton
Read and listen to the Radio-Canada story here:
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2168857/mois-fierte-edmonton-lgbtq
Guide To The Summer of Pride 2025
May 26, 2025
Dive into Edmonton’s vibrant Summer of Pride Ron Byers’ ultimate guide! With over 55 years of advocacy, Ron spotlights 50 events happening this June, from parades, parties, performances, and more. Celebrate love, unity, and community all season long in Edmonton.
We canât define ourselves in basements
âWe canât define ourselves in basementsâ: Popular Edmonton gay bar moving to Jasper Avenue
âThis will be the first time that weâve been so will be so visible in a structure thatâs big and prominent and welcoming. We canât define ourselves in basements or on second floors hidden away because weâve had to hide over the years,â
Edmonton to have 2 LGBTQ bars this summer as Evolution Wonderlounge begins move
For the first time in nearly a decade, Edmonton will have two gay bars this summer.
Evolution Wonderlounge will open a new location on Jasper Avenue and 115 Street, as its downtown location on 103 Street near 102 Avenue winds down operations.
Ron Byers, director of Rainbow Story Hub, says opening a queer bar on street level is a significant milestone.
âMost of them have been down in the basement or up on the second floor. Very few have been main floor. Part of that is because of the fear of being found out,â Byers said.
Evolution Wonderlounge gearing up for a ‘two gay bar summer’ with new location, owner says
Evolution Wonderlounge gearing up for a ‘two gay bar summer’ with new location, owner says.
Edmonton’s only gay bar is going to be out and proud in a new Jasper Avenue location this spring.
Overcoming the fear
The following story shares my experiences where HIV Stigma played a significant role in my medical care by practising family doctors. Sadly this story is still relevant today – even though my story takes place in the early 2010’s. I hope that by sharing my story it can help break […]
This Morning with Stacey Brotzel on 880 CHED
Had a chat with Stacey Brotzel on the Edmonton Gay Games Bid for the 2030 Gay Games. Sadly we did not make it into the top 3 but we will back to rebuilding our Bid for the 2034 Gay Games. You can view the Bid video on Explore Edmonton’s website here….
https://exploreedmonton.com/edmontongaygames
Queer History Month kicks off in the City of Edmonton
âOur queer history doesnât just date back to the 60s when we started becoming more visible; it actually dates back centuries but our opportunities to start telling those stories have only begun recently,â said Ron Byers a queer historian. âBack in the 60s when I came out, it was illegal to be a gay man. I could have been thrown in jail and most of the young folks today donât understand that,â said Byers.
Two Albertans appointed to Senate
August 31, 2024 Global News with Jaclyn Kucey Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced two Albertans have been appointed to the Senate: a corporate lawyer from Calgary and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ2 rights from Edmonton. As Jaclyn Kucey reports, the announcement has already caused a stir in the provincial […]
Guide To The Summer of Pride 2024
Every year, Edmonton celebrates the annual Summer Festival Season, which runs from May to the end of September. June is Pride Month, which has traditionally been when the 2SLGBTQIA+ community gathers in unity and spirit to celebrate. Pride celebrations are about honouring and affirming the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, commemorating the progress […]
A Full Summer of Pride in Edmonton
A Full Summer of Pride in Edmonton – A Vibrant & Inclusive Experience for 2SLGBTQIA+ Folks Interview with Stacey Brotzel and Daryl McIntyre at 7:05 AM on May 30, 2024 GUEST: Ron Byers – in studioTITLE: Pride PromoterPride Month 2024 – May 31 @ 8:00 am – June 30 @ […]
Pride Month about to get underway in Alberta as provincial policies loom
Ron Byers, promoter for Pride Edmonton, says the Alberta government has a chance to be part of the conversation.
âThe UCP government has an opportunity to be a part of our celebrations as a Pride community if theyâre wiling to come to the table with open minds for frank, honest, truthful conversations.
How Edmontonâs first community archivist builds better records
Edmonton created the community archivist position in part because queer historian Ron Byers lobbied the city to do so. He wanted records donated by Michael Phair, Albertaâs first out, gay politician, to enter the cityâs official vault. Yong said those records include thousands of photos and measure 13 kilometres in […]
We Are Survivors – Backroom Chatter
We Are Survivors – Backroom Chatter Podcast In this Premiere episode, non-other than Mr. Ron Byers, Rhoda B, long-time host of Drag Races and founding member of well, everything Gay in Edmonton, graciously donates time and powerful memories to make your host Michael McDonell, just sit in awe and wonder..
Explore Edmonton presents “SAY MORE”
Explore Edmonton presents “SAY MORE”
Immerse yourself in the unique journeys of Edmontonâs 2SLGBTQIA+ community leaders, storytellers, and business owners. Their voices inspire change and foster inclusivity. Don’t miss this inspiring documentary short created in partnership with Cory Johnn Films.
Guide to the Summer of Pride
2023 will see the largest number of Pride events the Edmonton has ever seen for the Summer of Pride! Over 36 organizations have put together more than 75 events in three dozen different venues around the city.
Partying with Ike & Tina in 1976
Seeing Tina Turner that night at the Edmonton Gardens in 1976 still remains one of the biggest highlights of my lifetime.
I was a young 21 year old when I had a chance to ârun away with the circusâ. I was asked to join a traveling drag show called the Fantasy Follies as their sound and lighting technician. What a chance to go way past my shyness and fears and live in hotel rooms travelling across Canada with a group of amazing Drag performers.