SASKATOON - A Saskatoon festival considered to be the first celebration of queer culture in Western Canada, is being commemorated in a new postage stamp.
The festival Metamorphosis is illustrated in one of four stamps unveiled by Canada Post this month, that highlight pivotal sites in the LGBTQ2S+ rights movement.
“It’s a beautiful way to be recognized,” said Terry Summers as she stared down at the commemorative stamp, which vibrantly depicts activists and festival goers surrounded by rainbows and wheat sheafs.
“I think the artist did a great job of portraying the symbolism of prairie gay activism.”
Saskatoon activists including the Saskatchewan Gay Coalition, first hosted Metamorphosis in 1978. The inaugural festival attracted more than 200 people from across the Prairies for the four-day event held over Thanksgiving long weekend.
“Metamorphosis helped people feel safe and find their community and just be who they were,” said Summers, who attended the festival many times.
The arts and culture festival put on concerts, gatherings, workshops and a feast.
Saskatoon quickly became a focal point for LGBTQ2S+ rights and inspired queer activism across the country, she said.
In its early years, attendees would take part in a march and rally at Saskatoon’s city hall, which made national headlines.
“We had a big impact, not only here in Saskatchewan, but across the country. There was a lot of leading-edge political action work being done here,” Summers told CTV News.
Transforming queer culture
For many attendees including Jean Dudley, Metamorphosis was an escape during a time when it was not always safe to be open about sexuality. Many were forced to live two separate lives – privately and publicly.
“It was really scary because we could lose our jobs,” said Dudley, who was a teacher. “It was a very different time.”
Dudley said she felt lonely hiding part of herself, but Metamorphosis transformed how queer culture was celebrated.
“Groups from Edmonton and Winnipeg came every year. The same people brought new people, so it really expanded our world,” she said.
“More political activity could take place because instead of being a loner, now you were part of a group.”
Today’s Pride festival is a different experience than Metamorphosis, Summers said, partly because many no longer live in fear.
She views Pride as a celebration focused on the moments and people who have paved the way for the LGBTQ2S+ community. It’s also a chance to make sure history does not repeat itself.
“We’re trying to make sure that we don’t take any steps backwards and have to continue fighting for rights that should be ours,” she said.
In many ways, Summers and Dudley are continuing the work that began at Metamorphosis. They are both part of the grassroots organization Spark Your Pride.
The group focuses on preserving and sharing the history of queer culture in Saskatchewan, which is why they say the Canada Post stamp is so impactful.
“To have a stamp that was recognized by the company, has just shown how all those years of hard work that we’ve put in really made a difference,” Dudley said.
The other three stamps pay tribute to Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium in Vancouver, The 519 community centre in Toronto, and The Turret in Halifax.
