Echoes in Valour and Pride - The LGBT Purge: Stories of Betrayal, Courage, and Memory

Schedule

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025 at 06:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

280 Beechwood Ave. , Ottawa, ON, Canada, Ontario K1L 8A6 | Ottawa, ON

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Join us for a powerful evening of remembrance, resilience, and dialogue. We begin with a screening of the acclaimed documentary: The Fruit Machine: This film captures the harrowing truth of the “LGBT Purge,” where from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, 2SLGBTQI+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, and the federal public service were systematically discriminated against, interrogated, and often dismissed from service — a sanctioned practice that left lifelong scars. (Film will be in English with French subtitles)
Evening Program
6:00 PM – Welcome & Film Screening of The Fruit Machine
7:45 PM – Intermission with refreshments & light desserts (30 minutes)
8:15 PM – Panel Discussion
The Panel: Stories That Must Be Heard
The centrepiece of the evening will be a powerful discussion led by France Bergeron, author of Unwelcomed: Purged by the Church and the Canadian Armed Forces, veteran, Purge survivor, and representative of the Rainbow Veterans of Canada. This panel will bring forward personal testimonies of betrayal, courage, and memory, ensuring that the voices of survivors are heard and honoured. It is an important opportunity to engage directly with lived experiences of injustice, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of dignity.
This evening promises to be more than a screening - it is a call to witness, to listen, and to remember. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
Beechwood Cemetery, The National Military Cemetery is proud to partner with the Rainbow Veterans of Canada to host this evening.
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Échos de Vaillance et de Fierté – La Purge LGBT : Histoires de trahison, de courage et de mémoire
Lundi 10 novembre 2025
18 h 00
Centre commémoratif national Beechwood
Participez à une soirée marquante de mémoire, de résilience et de dialogue. Nous commencerons par la projection du documentaire acclamé : La Machine à fruits (The Fruit Machine) : Ce film met en lumière la vérité bouleversante de la « Purge LGBT », au cours de laquelle, des années 1950 au milieu des années 1990, les membres 2SLGBTQI+ des Forces armées canadiennes, de la GRC et de la fonction publique fédérale ont été systématiquement discriminés, interrogés et souvent congédiés — une pratique sanctionnée qui a laissé des cicatrices à vie. (Film présenté en anglais avec sous-titres français)
Programme de la soirée
18 h 00 – Mot de bienvenue et projection de The Fruit Machine
19 h 45 – Pause avec rafraîchissements et desserts légers (30 minutes)
20 h 15 – Table ronde
La Table ronde : Des récits qui doivent être entendus
Le point central de la soirée sera une discussion percutante animée par France Bergeron — autrice de Unwelcomed: Purged by the Church and the Canadian Armed Forces, vétérane, survivante de la Purge et représentante des Vétérans arc-en-ciel du Canada. Cette table ronde mettra de l’avant des témoignages personnels de trahison, de courage et de mémoire, assurant que les voix des survivants soient entendues et honorées.
C’est une occasion importante de s’engager directement avec des récits vécus d’injustice, de résilience et de quête continue de dignité. Cette soirée sera bien plus qu’une projection — c’est un appel à témoigner, à écouter et à se souvenir. L’entrée est gratuite et ouverte à toutes et à tous.
Le Cimetière Beechwood, Cimetière militaire national du Canada, est fier de s’associer aux Vétérans arc-en-ciel du Canada pour organiser cet événement.
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Where is it happening?

280 Beechwood Ave. , Ottawa, ON, Canada, Ontario K1L 8A6

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

National Military Cemetery

Host or Publisher National Military Cemetery

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