A graphic from the Night Under the Stars Charity Gala and Silent Auction promotional material.--Photo courtesy Bedardesign
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat’s inaugural drag gala sold out as of July 30, blowing away organizers with the city’s level of enthusiasm.
The Aug. 24 event is being held by the the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch, a nonprofit organization and social association based out of Calgary that caters to the entire southern Alberta region. The court has been in operation for nearly 50 years, said Lawrence Hasiuk, both member of the ISCCA and the one of the organizers responsible for the event itself.
The organization fundraises for a variety of charities each year through events like this, with causes selected by an Empress who is crowned each April.
Hasiuk was the 15th Empress for the ISCCA, holding the title and ambassadorial role in 1991. However, the most recent Empress, who reigns under the name of Nina Tron-Sanoir, had given him a more involved title for the year.
“I was No. 15. I was the imperial crown princess for Empress 13, and I was also Miss Gay Calgary 1988 for the Olympics,” said Hasiuk. “But, each year, the Empress can choose a half-Empress. She can choose an in-town half and she can choose an out-of-town half.”
With Hasiuk selected for the in-town half, and another resident of Medicine Hat chosen to serve as the out-of-town half, it became clear to both that they needed to use the opportunity to bring an ISCCA event to the Gas City. While Medicine Hat may have a misleading reputation for being a more conservative area, said Hasiuk, there has been a massive outpouring of support for the court and their prospective event, which has left him amazed and more than a little emotional.
“We didn’t know how it would be received here in Medicine Hat,” said Hasiuk. “We definitely like to see (the city) as more progressive than outsiders think, but it can be a challenge when you bring in something different.”
He added that with the recent introduction of drag entertainment to more mainstream avenues, such as the popularity of the show RuPaul’s Drag Race, the art form has been brought more easily to smaller centres, and has likely helped gain interest for a full-fledged gala event both from the perspective of organizers and attendees.
The challenge after that was finding a venue, said Hasiuk, and they were delighted by the enthusiasm and support of Whiskey District, which will host the evening.
Hasiuk expressed delight as he spoke on the custom menu the establishment has made for the evening, full of both delicious and cheekily-named options to fit the theme and culture of the show, such as the ‘Sliding into your DMs’ sliders.
“The menu is absolutely amazing, and they really had a lot of fun with it,” said Hasiuk. “I think everyone will when they see it.”
With all the details in place, it was just a matter of seeing if the community itself would be interested, and Hasiuk admitted to more than one emotional moment seeing the level of interest and support coming from those looking to attend and those looking to offer support.
He spoke briefly on years past organizing in different communities, where while some people or businesses would be willing to support, they would ask to do so without their companies’ names attached for fear of backlash.
This was far from the case in setting up the “Night Under The Stars” Charity Gala and Silent Auction, with both big-name donations for the auction and people reaching out to personally to volunteer in any way they can. He speculated that if they had made it an open performance for any interested drag artists, the event may have needed to last two days.
“We do have a live auction as well. Super T Aviation in the city has put up something that we just had to do as a live actual auction. They have donated two helicopter tours of the city,” said Hasiuk. “I met up with Terri, and I was expecting maybe one, I know these are expensive. And she told me she was not only doing one, but two. I had to go and have a moment in my car after that. We’re just so overwhelmed by the support.”
Hasiuk said they have opened a few additional standing-room tickets for the event that might be purchased at the door after seeing the demand, but they are trying to ensure that the space will allow for performers to put on their best show.
Those attending can expect an evening of glamour and talent, from ISCCA royalty themselves, and the all-ages performance ranging everywhere from impressions to comedy and much more, culminating in an “evening they’ll never forget.”
It is his hope that the event might in fact mark the start of many annual charity galas from the ISCCA for years to come.
