Edmonton Queer History Project

The Edmonton Queer History Project, then known as the Queer History Project, began in 2015 as an interactive multi-media art exhibit to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Edmonton Pride Festival. Dr. Kristopher Wells organized the project with funding support from the Edmonton Community Foundation and Dr. Michelle Lavoie curated an exhibit, called We Are Here: Queer History Project, detailing decades of Edmonton's 2SLGBTQ+ community member stories at the Art Gallery of Alberta, which ran from 5 June until 21 June 2015. Open calls for contributions of personal memorabilia and stories for the exhibit went out in January, 2015, to ensure individual experiences were centred. Additionally, recording equipment was available for community members to add their stories to the project during the exhibit's run. The exhibit featured 21 interviews recorded with community leaders like Michael Phair as well as posters, photographs, and other ephemera. After its run at the Art Gallery of Alberta, We Are Here: Queer History Project became a travelling exhibition, visiting small towns in rural Alberta. ==Current work==

Following We Are Here: Queer History Project, the Project's members collated their research efforts into more accessible formats. In March 2022, EQHP launched a new website including a historical timeline of Edmonton's Pride Festival, a podcast called From Here to Queer, walking tours, and a map with 27 locations of historical significance to the local 2SLGBTQ+ community. Original members of the EQHP team include Dr. Kristopher Wells, Dr. Michelle Lavoie, Darrin Hagen, Michael Phair, Rob Browatzke, Kyler Chittick, Japkaran Saroya, and Paige Simpson. EQHP's work continues with the introduction of a community map tagging project, #EQHPStories, and a new podcast, produced in partnership with the Edmonton Community Foundation, entitled Vriend Versus Alberta, marking the 25th anniversary of Vriend v Alberta. Launched in 2023, #EQHPStories is an interactive map of Edmonton which community members are able to add pins to locations across the city and add their own stories. A collection of various local 2SLGBTQ+ magazines, newsletters, and other items is also being digitized and hosted on the Internet Archive for EQHP in collaboration with the MacEwan University Library and University of Alberta Library. Guided tours With support from the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, EQHP hosts free guided walking tours, as well as bus tours, that explore local queer history. Vriend Versus Alberta is the newest podcast from EQHP, produced in collaboration with the Edmonton Community Foundation, as a limited 10-part series. Also hosted by Darrin Hagen, Vriend Versus Alberta commemorates the 25th anniversary of landmark legal case for 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Canada, Vriend v Alberta. == Awards ==

In September 2022, the Edmonton Queer History Project was shortlisted for the Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Community Programming. This award is one of multiple Governor General's Awards, recognizing organizations that "represent remarkable and inspiring initiatives that encourage public engagement in Canadian history." ==References==