Mapping Edmonton’s Queer History

Edmonton has a long history of queer activism, businesses and people. But like many queer stories, it’s been pushed to the margins. 

Now, that’s changing.

At Adverb, we believe that great storytelling can change the world. That’s why we’re proud to donate our time to the Edmonton Queer History Project—a non-profit research centre that’s interviewing primary sources, digging through the archives and documenting the queer history of our city. 

We’ve supported the project for a couple years now. We’ve had some big wins on social. We’ve made a difference. 

But this summer, we got to do something amazing.

After years of research, the project put together a list of historical locations in Old Strathcona that had ties to the queer community in Edmonton. They wanted to create a walking tour map. 

So, we worked closely with them to design it. Inspired by the researchers behind the project, the map uses archival photos, bright colours illustrations inspired by doodles in the margin to tell a story that defines the neighbourhood. 

As we worked on the project, I was struck by how many recognizable places in the area had such a deep history of queer activism. How many times have I walked past the gazebo in MacIntyre Park without knowing that it was the starting location of the city’s first Pride Parade in 1991? 

We’re living in a time when the safety and rights of our 2SLGBTQ+ friends and neighbours are under attack. That’s why telling these stories is so important. Because queer history isn’t one of silence—it’s one of bravery, activism and progress.

You can find the maps in a bunch of businesses along Whyte Ave this summer. I hope you’ll pick one up and give it a read—and check out the walking tour. I’m incredibly proud of it.