TORONTO - In the days leading up to Pride Month, a Toronto artist is honouring 2SLGBTQ+ history with a handcrafted window exhibit on Church Street that pays tribute to Canada’s first documented gay rights march.
Between now and June 8, pedestrians venturing through the Church–Wellesley Village can catch Christopher Rouleau’s recreation of an iconic banner reading, “Canada True North Strong and Queer.” The original sign was famously photographed leading the We Demand Rally in Ottawa during a rainy summer day in 1971.
The photo was taken by Jearld Frederick Moldenhauer.
Widely believed to no longer exist, the original banner was constructed of cutout letters sewn onto an old lace blanket.
To pay tribute to the materials used in the original construction, Rouleau recreated the banner using lace as a stencil on canvas. He then revived the original typography based on archival records before hand painting the text using enamel paint.
The banner is now on display at 558 Church St., a venue that showcases local artist’s work on a rotating basis.
Behind the banner, Rouleau printed a halftone photo of the historic march, so when passersby examine the work up close, they will notice the image is actually made up of a series of dots. The photo fills the back and left side of the venue’s interior walls, providing the window display “an almost 180-degree view as if you’re standing and looking at the march,” Rouleau described.
“In a way, you can feel you’re at this rainy march in 1971,” he said. “It’s a bit immersive — it’s supposed to take you back. Then when you come back to reality, it gives you a greater appreciation of what we’ve fought for.”
A passion for gay archives and art collide
A gay man himself, Rouleau has long been doing his own research at The ArQuives on Isabella Street — the largest independent 2SLGBTQ+ archives centre in the world.
He discovered that illustrious photo from the Ottawa march through these archives and felt he could bolster the famous message, he said.
“I couldn’t believe this photo was from 1971 — I felt like it could have been ten years ago,” Rouleau said. “It’s timeless in a way. The gay archives is a treasure chest of amazing, interesting, bizarre stuff that a lot of people just don’t know about.”
Several weeks ago, the curator of the arts space on Church Street asked Rouleau if he’d be interested in coordinating a project inside their windowfront during the weeks leading up to Pride.
Rouleau knew he wanted to do something in honour of the photo from the 1971 march, as he felt the over 50 year old message was still relevant today.
“There’s just so much political upheaval and queer rights being shifted and changed, and of course all the vitriol coming out of the States,” he said of the project’s timing.
Art aims to highlight visibility, promote education
Since his art installation was unveiled earlier this month, Rouleau has been blown away by the feedback he’s received from 2SLGBTQ+ members and allies.
He told TorontoToday many observers and critics of his work weren’t aware of Canada’s history with Pride parades and protests, and that the banner’s message from 1971 has provided locals with a proud homage to their community’s previous fights for equality.
“People tend to be more familiar with Stonewall and some of the first American marches, so most Canadians don’t know the first march here took place in Ottawa,” Rouleau said. “This photo seems to be getting its due now, so it’s been educational to varying degrees.”
When it comes to visibility, Rouleau argued there’s never been a greater time than the present for members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community — particularly those who are artists — to speak up and share their work.
“Queer artists should be creating art because it’s a very political, weird, crazy, divisive time, and that’s the best time for art to emerge,” he said. “It’s time to make more queer art.”
Of all the projects Rouleau has been involved in throughout his artistic career, to him, few stand above “Canada True North Strong and Queer.”
“This one is close to my heart,” he said. “The planets aligned and I felt the vision matched the outcome exactly. I have a feeling there may be another life for this project afterwards, and I hope this banner can live on for future generations of queer activists.”
Rouleau has had a busy year in Toronto, ancreated a window display of Andy Warhol-inspired Brillo Boxes to cheekily criticize Amazon last January.