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 Ron’s 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.
Edmonton’s overlooked queer history
Edmonton has a big place in Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ history — but it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Now, there are people trying to change that. In recent years, projects highlighting Edmonton’s 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 Edmonton’s queer history and what’s so unique about our city’s 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.
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.
“Most 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,” Byers said.
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 […]
Queer History Month kicks off in the City of Edmonton
“Our queer history doesn’t 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,” said Ron Byers a queer historian. “Back 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 don’t understand that,” 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 […]
How Edmonton’s 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, Alberta’s first out, gay politician, to enter the city’s official vault. Yong said those records include thousands of photos and measure 13 kilometres in […]
Capturing And Sharing Edmonton’s Queer History
This Powerpoint style presentation brings the story of the work that has been done to bring the history of the 2SLGBTQ+ community to life over the last 35+ years. The presentation is about 30-35 minutes and can be done in person or virtually with an optional 20 – 25 minute […]
From Hiding to Acceptance: Uncovering Edmonton’s Queer History
“ I remember a time when there was no place in this town where I could go and come out as a gay man and have a beer with another gay man.” — A quote from Ron Byers, queer historian and founder of the Rainbow Story Hub
Edmonton’s Pride Celebration History
The First 21 years 1980 – 2001 Edmonton’s first recognized Pride event was a Picnic In The Park thought to be held at Camp Harris, home of the 49th Battalion, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Association. It was attended by about 75 people in 1980 to bring awareness to our community […]
Evolution of the Edmonton Queer History project hits the web and city streets
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/evolution-of-the-edmonton-queer-history-project-hits-the-web-and-city-streets From the audience, Ron Byers said the latest iteration of the project is particularly valuable to future generations who wouldn’t otherwise have access to the knowledge and experience of those who lived Edmonton’s queer history. “Because it’s all up here,” he said, pointing to his head. “It opens up […]
Aging with Pride — January 6, 2022
Aging with Pride — January 6, 2022 Ron Byers Ron will talk about local queer history and the clubs in Edmonton. He is a community leader and story teller. He is the founder of the Rainbow Story Hub / Edmonton Queer History program. Courtesy of the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group
Fire destroys downtown building that housed Milla Pub, Club 70
CTV News https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/fire-destroys-downtown-building-that-housed-milla-pub-club-70-1.5650073
Leah Way and Ron Byers – The History of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose – Part 1
The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose chats with Tales of the LGBTQ+ on their history. Watch as Empress 14, 30 and 36, Heir Apparent to Nicole The Great – Leah Way and Emperor 25 and Co-Regent Emperor 29 Ron Byers talk about the beginnings of our Court and […]
40 years later, Edmonton’s queer community looks back on the Pisces bathhouse raid
“They just did this raid in such a totally different manner from what they had done in previous raids in massage parlours, other common bawdy houses in the city, which were more straight-oriented,” Byers said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/lgbtq2s-edmonton-pisces-raid-1.6047015
40th anniversary of Pisces Health Spa raids – Edmonton Police Service
2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the Pisces Health Spa bathhouse raids by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). To acknowledge the trauma and impact of the raids, and to show their support to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Transgender, and Queer (2SLGBTQ+) community, the EPS is releasing a documentary-style […]
DTF – ETC at the Grindstone Theatre
Feb. 23, 2019 Live @ the Grindstone Theatre With hostess Connie Lingua & guests Ron Byers & Imani. Click the link below to view on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/connielinguadragqueencanada/videos/2246590378934458