Trans* History of Ottawa Walking Tours

To note:

Sunday tours (March 30th + April 6th) will be ending with a discussion and tea at Boogie + Birdie (256 Elgin St)

Wednesday night tour (April 9th) will have an optional post-tour karaoke hangout at Swizzles Bar (246 Queen St)

All tours will feature members of the Public Queers Collective and a guest speaker knowledgable about Trans* history in Ottawa

What you'll learn:

• History of Ottawa's Trans* community
• Key players in Ottawa's Trans* history (Joanne Law, Rupert Raj)
• Stories of Trans* resistance, remembrance, and celebration

Where you'll go:

• 3km of walking along downtown Ottawa streets (Bank St, Somerset St, Elgin St)
• Murals, banners and lightboxes created by the Village Legacy Project
• Locations of protest and connection (Human Rights Monument, historical nightlife, commmunity resources)

What you'll need:

• Weather appropriate walking clothing (tour will go rain or shine - cancelled if significant storm, heat or cold)
• Water/snacks/things that will help support your energy for the two hours together
• Willingness to share, learn and connect with the tour group

If you have further questions about tour route, accessibilty needs or which cowboy hat to wear, please reach out to Morgan Mercury at [email protected].

About the Public Queers Collective:

The Public Queers Collective is a group of Carleton students interested in preserving queer history. The Trans* History Walk began as a class project for HIST2811: From Memories to Museums. We were asked to design a walking tour that highlighted an important part of 2SLGBTQ+ History in Centretown. We decided to focus on Trans* history because it is often overlooked and is a vital part of understanding 2SLGBTQ+ history and movements. Since working on this project we have been able to get more community members involved outside of our class, including some collaborative work with the Ottawa Trans Library. Trans* people have always been an important part of the Ottawa community and their stories deserve to be heard. We are very excited to have this walking tour come to life and share this history with all of you!

About your tour guide:

Howdy y'all! Thanks for stopping by and for your interest in attending this tour!

My name is Morgan Mercury, I am a local drag king who has been running Queer History of Ottawa walks, talks and bikes since April 2024. I am passionate about public education, working for over 7 years at various museums, tour companies and education institutions, and have an educational background in development policy. I'm so excited to share my love for my city, my community and for our queer elders and ancestors through these tours. Can't wait to meet you! <3

Host or Publisher Fairy Cowboy Tours