Only Debi Leong, The Ultima Guardian Angel for all of Alberta, could put together a successful charity event in the middle of redneck country. It was at a bar in Turner Valley, once a bowling alley, now called…are you ready for this…COUGARS! The event was held to raise money for Charity (Children’s Wish Foundation) with the best of the best drag queens from across Canada!
Me wanting to enjoy myself meant I shouldn’t do the 1 hour drive out to Tranny Valley on my own, so I get my buddy Brad (Bradonna) to “drive miss Linda.” We kidnap GayCalgary’s Rob while hubby Steve’s in the big E, and go to the event in all of Alberta that Saturday night. Think about it: drag queens, small-town roughnecks, young chicks, and young twinkie boys with attitude – all in one bar at the same time!
By the time we arrived, the main hall was already packed with people: men and women, in some cases husbands and wives. Lori and the Cougars staff made sure they were taken care of, right at their tables, so that the guys wouldn’t have to worry about dropping their keys!
The first thing both Rob and I laughed about was that, in Calgary, we aren’t often graced by a show like this - hosted by Justine Tyme, with Eartha Quake, Dyna Myte, Bianca la Bouche, Empress Nina Tron, the infamous twins Laura and Tara, and the delicious Roxy Diva from Saskatchewan (more talent than Saskatoon and Regina together can handle).
With my rock and roll history I swear I can smell altercation at 500 paces…I’m thinking, where’s the back up? Who should it be but the man dog himself, Emperor Dion Boink. I look around some more and there’s Scott Holman making sure the girls are fine, and Cory keeping six…so, no worries.
Justine Tyme is simply the best! After working the room with incredible repartee, she opens with Reba. She immediately grabbed the entire room’s attention – and when I say entire room I really mean it! She dashes right through the room to the pool tables in the back…lying in the middle of the table, everyone had to pay attention!!
The crowd enjoyed Dolly, Cher, Liza, Bette and so much more. We all witnessed what high impact female illusionists and impersonators have to offer.
The gay community sometimes takes the art of charity fundraising for granted, especially when such amazing talent can be experienced for FREE! But the queens use this talent to make a difference in providing care, humanity and quality of life for their immediate community - maybe for their friends, their loved ones (past and present), in some cases even themselves. Regardless the reason, they pull it off!
Whether you are gay, straight, or straight-to-bed, children are the future! So it’s especially tragic when kids are stricken with terminal illness before they really get to live. Calgary’s court, the ISCCA, has been giving graciously to The Children’s Wish Fund for 29 years! This longstanding relationship is thanks to the determination of the infamous Barry “Ross” Doe who fought hard for charities to accept charity funds from the gay community, and the continuing generosity of every reign afterward.
In this case, they raised $3000, which gives making a difference a whole new meaning. But that’s just a view from a (cougar-licious) broad!
For more photos of the ball visit Facebook/Linda Eckess
