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Lucy and I went to Toronto Pride at the end of June and had a blast. The highlight of the weekend for me was, most definitely, the lesbian dance at Palais Royale Ballroom out on Lakeshore Boulevard. Palais Royale was originally opened in 1922 and quickly became one of Toronto's most famous dance halls. During the big band era, it showcased the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Glen Miller. Well fortunately for us, the ballroom has been restored to its original splendor and now offers its elegant, art deco fabulousness to lesbians on the Friday night of Pride in Toronto. They even had a red carpet rolled out in front when we arrived! The wooden dance floor is 'sprung' which means it's easier on the old knees...a feature I particularly appreciate. If you've never been there, I encourage you to think about heading down to Toronto next June so you can dance the night away in style. As a dyke who's been out for over 35 years, I've spent far too much time in dingy basement clubs. It was truly lovely to climb the stairs into a beautifully-decorated, lesbian fantasy space. If you'd like to have a look for yourself, go to www.palaisroyale.ca. The next morning started out grey and rainy, but by 2:00 pm. the sun was shining, hundreds of women were gathering on Church Street, and the sound of dykes on bikes could be heard as they revved their engines to lead the Toronto Dyke March. Lucy and I were craning our necks to see which contingent we wanted to join for the March when who should we spot amidst those formidable lezzie bikers...Laura and Angela from LIX! And they managed to get themselves interviewed by the Toronto Star! For video coverage of our gals, go to www.thestar.com/fpLarge/video/450435. LIX Chicks rock! Well we're back in Ottawa and revving up for our own Pride celebrations. Tickets for Proud Chicks Dance Party 4 went on sale at the LIX networking meeting on July 3rd and are now available at After Stonewall, mother tongue books and Venus Envy. Lakeside Gardens may not be the Palais Royale but the gals will be rocking and the fairy lights twinkling on Friday, August 22nd. Get your tickets early if you want to make sure you get in. We had to turn away women at the door last year (a real bummer if you've taken OC Transpo all the way out there!). And speaking about the LIX networking meeting, this month we were happy to welcome the lovely and talented, Lily Ohana, for her five-minute infomercial. Lily is a graduate of the Home Inspectors program at Algonquin College and owns her own home inspection company called HomeStat. She is proud to be an associate member of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors and the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors. Lily explained that a home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. Since buying a home can be the largest single investment that we ever make, it's important to minimize nasty surprises and unexpected problems before we buy. And that's where Lily's expertise comes in. The typical inspection takes about 3-4 hours. If you've never done a five-minute infomercial or if you did one but it was a long time ago, we encourage you to add your name to the list by contacting Lucy at (613) 231-4347 or at info@girlswanttoknow.com. Infomercials don't have to be business-related. Do you have an interesting hobby? Do you belong to an organization that you'd like to tell us about? How about volunteer work that's meaningful to you? We have spots available now. So have an excellent July everyone. If you still haven't joined the LIX Facebook page and you'd like to, here's what you do: I posted a couple of items recently that I hope all you LIX Facebook gals liked. "Which doctor" was a piece written by Ivan Coyote about her experience as an out dyke with chest hair going to a walk-in clinic in Ottawa. And "Heinz Deli Mayo TV Ad" is an hysterical video with a twist about one family's morning ritual. Talk to you next month...
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Upcoming
Events of Interest
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The 2008 edition of the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest will feature hundreds of performances on multiple stages located near the Ottawa River Parkway & Booth Street. See Joan Armatrading, Feist, Donna Summer, Cassandra Wilson and Jully Black along with many, many more fabulous performers. For information go to www.ottawabluesfest.ca.
Tuesday is free night for women! Join the dyke gang from 7:00 - 9:30 pm. All you need to pay for is your drinks! Kool! The players range from those trying to figure out which end of the cue stick to hold, to some really great players. Players of all skill levels are welcome and the good players are always willing to help with some coaching. Dooly's is located at 2277 Gladwin Crescent, just south of the Queensway and off St Laurent. Their web site is www.doolysottawa.com. You don't need to RSVP ... just show up if you want to join in the fun.
Based in Quebec, Politics of the Heart is a moving portrait of lesbian and gay families as well as a powerful story of how they organized out of conditions of violence and discrimination to win recognition of their relationships, families and parenting rights. As a result of their work the Quebec National Assembly voted unanimously to extend the same parenting rights to homoparental families as heterosexual parents in 2002. Woven into the story is also the landmark case in Quebec that broke the ban against same sex marriage, making Quebec the third province in Canada to recognize equal marriage. (68 min). Sponsored by LIX. Doors open at 7:00 pm; movie starts at 7:30. FREE admission; $5 suggested donation. Snacks for sale. Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street. For more information, visit the web site at http://DivergenceMovieNight.com.
TotoToo, Ottawa's gay and lesbian community theatre, proudly presents the smash hit play from Vancouver! Come and meet Brad Cartier Lewis and let him take you down memory lane and share with you some of the most interesting moments of his life… some you will (un)fortunately relate to. Single is Sexy! This is the perfect comedy for the summer months…light, funny and provocative…who wants to keep their clothes on when it’s that hot outside! Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly. 8:00 pm. Tickets are $20 and are available at After Stonewall or through the TotoToo web site at www.tototoo.ca.
Celebrating the spirit of women through music and nature. Red Roof Farm (RRF) is located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Kingston in Marlbank, Ontario. This idyllic setting features two days of live music with on-site camping amidst rolling fields and lush forest all surrounded by and accessible to beautiful Lime Lake. All women 19 years of age and older are welcome. For information about tickets, performers, directions, etc. visit www.redroofwomensfestival.ca.
With a lending library of designated dancers for all you wallflowers, and a dance card-booklet to set up dances in advance, Slowdance Night has all slow songs, all night long! Sway, turn and twirl your way through the hipster's alternative to speed-dating. It's high school with a happy ending, and it's queer, senior and couple-friendly too. Shanghai Restaurant, 651 Somerset St. W. (at Bronson). Doors open at 9:30; dance from 10:00 pm. - 2:00 am. $7 admission includes your dance card! If you're on Facebook, here is the event page to add to your calendar: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=31932334536&ref=ts. "Relive the prom without the angst." - the Canadian Press. "In an age where physical contact is a scarce commodity, an event that brings strangers safely together is long overdue." - The Montreal Gazette. Check out this short documentary that was made about Slowdance Nights: http://current.com/items/88986091_designated_slow_dancers. For more info on events, please go to www.slowdancenight.blogspot.com or join the Facebook group: "Slowdancers of the World Unite & Dance Slow".
Join friends from Kingston on their first annual gay-la cruise aboard the 1000 Island Cruise Line's Island Queen! You will be sure to enjoy the fun-filled evening as you embark on a 3 hour sunset cruise amongst the world famous 1000 Islands! Kingston's own Miss Tyffanie kicks off the evening accompanied with a special guest appearance! Enjoy the rest of the evening as the Island Queen is transformed into a floating gay night club with dancing to the beats of a DJ! On board you will find a selection of free appetizers, a cash bar & Martini lounge, and free wine tasting by Huff Wineries. The Island Queen departs at 8:00 pm. Early bird tickets for cruise only: purchase before June 30th, $52.50 plus taxes. July 1st to Cruise date $57.50 plus taxes. Tickets are available by calling either the Secret Garden Inn at (613) 531-9884 or the Abbey Manor Inn at (613) 545-0422. For further information, please go to www.staygaykingston.com.
The Ottawa Children's Aid Society is actively recruiting adoptive and foster parents in the LGBT community. They hold two information sessions a month. The first Thursday of every month is for LGBT people interested in adoption. The last Thursday of the month is for those interested in fostering. Sessions take place at the CAS offices, 1602 Telesat Court, Gloucester from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. If you're interested in attending, please RSVP to Anik at (613) 747-7800 x2857.
Meetings are held at Swizzles at 246B Queen Street (below the Green Papaya...entrance on the west side of the building) from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. You don't have to be self-employed and/or promoting a business to attend...at least half of the gals come to check out lesbian businesses and to socialize. If you have any interest in presenting a five-minute infomercial about your business/volunteer work/special interest group, etc. at one of the networking meetings, please contact Lucy at info@girlswanttoknow.com.
Pakenham Highlands Golf Club. The annual scramble tournament is the Out Golfing Group's largest event of the season. The success of last year's inaugural tournament has paved the way for more of the same this year. In fact, word of the success of last year's tournament has spread far and wide. There are already confirmed participants from Florida and Connecticut! More than triple the participants of last year have already registered...at this pace, the organizers anticipate that they may be sold out by the end of June. If you have not already registered for this year's extravaganza, and you think at this point you will want to join in the fun, register now (regardless if you have been able to confirm your team). Better to get your name in now, than to miss out on the chance to be part of this year's showcase event. Kerry suggests that you register right away and let Robert know that you are a LIX Chick...the teams can be arranged later. Call Robert Meagher, Coordinator of the Ottawa Out Golfing Group at (613) 237-0200 or send him an email at rmeagher@istar.ca. For more information about the Out Golfing Group, check out their web site at www.outgolfinggroup.com.
Wherever you fall on the spectra of sexuality and gender. Whatever your relationship to the LGBTQI community. Come out and join in for a time of exploration, reflection and celebration of gender and sexual diversity. Presented by the Welcoming Congregation Team, this annual Sunday service acts as the spiritual kick-off to Ottawa Pride. 10:30 am. First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Avenue, off Richmond, just east of Richmond and Woodroffe.
Get ready Ottawa for Capital Pride 2008: Live Your Pride! This year, the organizers are planning more events and more excitement as they launch a new logo and a new theme. Visit the web site often as they continue to add more events and information regarding Ottawa's most colourful event. For more information, go to www.capitalpride.ca.
This powerful film is a compilation of footage documenting the first ACT UP meeting in 1987 in New York City's Wall Street and continuing to 2002. Amateur video recording – at the demonstration level and from the private, behind-the-scenes meetings and training – reveals the astonishing camaraderie that united a politically enraged community, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or gender. This political group taught how to fight back against government complacency, to protest the high cost of pharmaceutical drugs, and to simply ask others, "Where is your rage?" (75 min). Doors open at 7:00 pm; movie starts at 7:30. FREE admission; $5 suggested donation. Snacks for sale. Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street. For more information, visit the web site at http://DivergenceMovieNight.com.
The Ron Kolbus Centre at Lakeside Gardens. Doors open at 9:00 pm. and the dancing continues until 1:00 am. This year we have chosen to give the largest portion of the proceeds to Pink Triangle Services. We will also be making a donation to Pride. The rest of the proceeds will go to the LIX 'kitty' (operating budget) to ensure that we can continue to bring you fun LIX events throughout the year! Tickets are available at After Stonewall, mother tongue books, and Venus Envy. Advance tickets are $15; $20 for tickets at the door. Please keep in mind that this dance sells out every year so if you want to guarantee yourself admission, buy your tickets in advance.
Ottawa queers and allies are invited to shake their booty for a PTS (Pink Triangle Services) fundraiser...Queer Grooves and Dance Moves, a youth-led and organized dance-off fundraising event organized by Pink Triangle Youth (PTY) – the longest running for-youth-by-youth support group, the first GLBTTQ youth group in Canada and PTS flagship program. Show your support for PTS and Ottawa’s GLBTTQ community by getting involved as a spectator, by pledging for a dancer you know, by collecting pledges or by signing up as part of a dance team. Location: Britannia Park @ the Pier. 2:00 - 7:00 pm. All ages. Free admission ($5 requested minimum donation). For more information on showing your support, contact the event coordinators at
The fifth annual celebration of Queer diversity in the Seaway Valley! Come to Lamoureux Park on Saturday, August 30th for Community Day. The opening ceremony begins at Noon and will include the raising of the rainbow flag at the intersection of Pitt and Water Streets. Then there'll be loads of live, family friendly entertainment from 1:00 pm at the Cornwall Lions Club Bandshell, the city's premier outdoor entertainment venue. The highlight of the day comes at 8:00 pm when The B-Girlz, (www.b-girlz.com) Canada's most fabulous queer musical comedy troupe, take to the stage as this year's headliners. There will also be vendors, info booths and many other activities all day and into the evening. Best of all, admission is free! The annual Pride Gala takes place on the evening of Sunday, August 31st at Army/Navy/Air Force Veterans' Club #342, 14 Marlborough Street North. The evening begins at 7:00 pm with a wine & cheese and silent auction. Then the party gets into full gear when dancing begins at 9:00 pm. There will be door prizes, the ever-popular 50/50 draw, and the organizers will be announcing the winners of the annual rainbow quilt raffle. Alain Merizzi, one of Cornwall's hottest DJ's, will be on hand to spin discs all night long! Be sure not to miss it! Many details will be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival so stay tuned to the Facebook page as the countdown progresses.
Vancouver B.C. Coast Plaza Hotel. The organizers are expecting about 200 lesbians and dykes, ages 50+ years, from across Canada and the U.S. to converge on Vancouver September 4-7. As well, younger friends, partners and lovers are very welcome. Women under 50 are an important part of the conference. The program is spilling over with stimulating and thought-provoking workshops, presentations, outdoor activities, socials, meals and entertainment...and there’s still more to come! Registration information and conference details can be found at http://www.soundsandfuries.com/BOLD.html. Please check the website occasionally for program updates.
Women For Sobriety is a self-help recovery program for women that can be used with or without a 12-step program. Meetings are strictly confidential and anonymous. Any woman with a sincere desire to start dealing with her addiction is welcome. Meetings run from 7:00 - 8:15 pm. at the headquarters of the Christmas Exchange Program at 1390 Prince of Wales, 4th floor. The office building is in behind the Chateau Royale apartments and has a Chinese restaurant on the first floor. Turn west at the lights between Dynes Road and Meadowlands Drive East. Parking is free. Tim Horton's is on the south side. For more information, call (613) 220-3588 or send an email to w.f.s.in.Ottawa@gmail.com.
A safe space for LBTQ women of all ages and all stages of coming out. Meetings are held at the PTS offices, 251 Bank Street, Suite 301. 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Check out Women's Night on Facebook, call (613) 563-4818 or send an email to ptswomen@yahoo.ca.
The "Keep it Simple" group of Al-Anon meets every Sunday evening at 7:30 pm. at the Jack Purcell Community Centre on Elgin Street. Millions of people are affected by the excessive drinking of someone close to them. If you fall into this category and are looking for a safe LGBTQ space to get help and support, this meeting is for you. For more information call (613) 860-3431 or go to the web site at www.al-anon.alateen.on.ca.
...is a large, vibrant organization that organizes a wide variety of recreational and social activities for lesbians in the National Capital Region. Recent activities have included hiking, cycling, dining out, movie nights, pool, dog-walking, darts nights, picnics, camping weekends, indoor rock climbing, dances, games nights, gathering/potlucks etc.. etc.. For more details, visit their web site at www.lesbianoutdoorgroup.ca.
...brings together lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) public servants from all departments of the federal government. According to the mandate, the Network provides LGBT federal public servants with opportunities to develop professional communication networks, meet for social events, provide support to colleagues in the workplace, share information about experiences, and raise awareness regarding LGBT issues. For more information and to see the calendar of events, please visit their web site at www.publicservicepride.ca.
...is an Ottawa-based women's literary fundraising magazine...that will donate its proceeds back into various events and charities in the community. The creators are looking for interested subscribers as well as women who wish to submit writing, photography or artwork for upcoming issues. The yearly subscription rate is $18. Find details on advertising, sponsorship, subscriptions, submitting work and more at www.mwdesign.ca/TheVoice.
. ...takes place on the first Sunday of each month at the Church of the Ascension, 253 Echo Drive, Ottawa at 7:00 pm. Integrity Ottawa is a gathering of gay men, lesbians and straight friends living in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. They are interested in supporting the lives of LGBTTQ people in the Anglican Church of Canada and abroad in the wider Anglican Communion. For more information, check out: www.ottawa.integritycanada.org.
...regularly holds workshops of interest to women. To see what's happening, check out the web site at www.venusenvy.ca. Venus Envy is located at 320 Lisgar Street.
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So...there you go! For more information about the LIX network, check out our web site at www.girlswanttoknow.com, send us an email at info@girlswanttoknow.com or chat with one of us at a networking meeting at Swizzles. Cheers, |
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Holy festivals and parties! Ottawa and area is hopping this summer! The Jazz Festival, Canada Day, Bluesfest, the Red Roof Women's Music Festival, 'Out on the Queen' in Kingston, Capital Pride, the LIX Proud Chicks Dance Party, Cornwall Pride. I can hardly keep up. We live in a city where the winters can be so grueling that even the ski bunnies are 'fit to be tied' by mid-February! I find it downright hellish...my favourite winter sport is reading. So I look forward to the summer with great enthusiasm. Not that I start roller-blading or jogging or anything strenuous like that...reading's my favourite summer sport too...but I get to do it outside! 
Lily encourages her clients to be present and follow her around as she does her work. That way, you can ask questions and raise any concerns that you have about the property. Lily also provides you with a detailed report which includes a description of every system, its components, recommendations for action and reference material. So whether you're buying an older home or a newly-built house, or looking for an pre-listing inspection before you put your house on the market, consider contacting Lily at (613) 963-0772. She has a great web site at 
Lesbian
Information Xchange community-based, not-for-profit network of lesbians exchanging information |