For Pride month, SPECTRUM is excited to work with many great community partners to present a series of events and activities that both celebrate members of our 2SLGBTQ+ communities and promote equal rights and visibility. Remember, Pride is not just a party, it’s a protest.
Our second annual fundraising gala will take place on June 29, 2023! Get your tickets here!
If you enjoyed last year’s event, then you’ll love this year! We’ve moved to a larger venue and will be including dinner!
Our headliner is Martha Chaves, a Nicaraguan-Canadian comedian, actress, activist and playwright. She performs standup in English, Spanish, French and Italian. She is a regular in the comedy circuits in Canada, the United States and Latin America, at Just for Laughs and other major festivals, and on CBC Radio.
Our MC is Robert Watson, an award-winning playwright, performer, fragrance aficionado extraordinaire, and producer and host of Gay AF.
The show will also feature trans comedian Al Val (Just For Laughs, CBC, CTV), and Tamara Shevon (SOS Comedy Show. Beijing Improv Comedy Festival, NXNE, JFL42, and the Irritable & Confused Comedy Tour).
Dinner will be from B Elegant Catering, and the event will take place at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.
This event is presented by Co-operators Insurance, and also sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company of Canada, Stantec, and Staebler Insurance. Get your tickets here!
June 1, 2023 – 7:30pm – Over the Rainbow: A Judy Garland Tribute with Ori Dagan
Join us for an intimate concert featuring Ori Dagan‘s jazz quartet. Space in this performance is very limited and it will take place in the unique basement space at 165 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1A7 (the former Budd’s department store).
Help us kick-off Pride month and support Spectrum’s programming for local 2SLGBTQIA+ people. This event is sponsored by Lindy & Chris Brown.
Saturday June 3, 2023 – Book Sale – 12-4pm
Spectrum has been collecting donations of 2SLGBTQIA+ books for a decade and we have some duplicates that we’d like to make available to the community! Visit us on June 3rd between 12-4pm and pay what you can for the books you’d like!
Saturday June 3, 2023 – 6-10pm – TWB Brewing Beer Launch
We’re grateful to be working with TWB Brewing again this year on a new beer called EQUAL. Join us for the launch event which will be a PRIDE PATIO PARTY with DJ Jason Spanks!
On-site food will also be available for purchase. Everyone and anyone is welcome to join in on the fun!
Saturday June 3, 2023 – 7-8:30pm – Tri-City Improv event
We’re grateful to be the charitable partners for tonight’s Tri-City Improv event. Join us at Country Hills Community Centre (100 Rittenhouse Rd, Kitchener, ON N2E 2M9). Entry is a minimum $7 donation which will support Spectrum!
Friday June 9, 2023 7-9:30pm – Spinning Down the House
Come ride with pride at SPINCO Waterloo! They’ll be spinning to the beat with DJ M’Damn D of FIERCE! and werking it out with some of the tri-city’s best in drag: Kasha Czech, Tammy THE Brown and Baby Butcher. Stick around after the show to cool down with some drinks and to fuel up on snacks and chats with Bliss Counselling + Psychotherapy‘s sex-perts! This event is pay what you can – all proceeds will be donated to support Spectrum’s programs and services.
This event is sponsored by Bliss Counselling + Psychotherapy and SPINCO Waterloo
Booking goes Live for this event on Monday, May 29 @1PM
Register here – we can’t wait to see you! 
Saturday June 10, 2023 – tri-Pride Festival
The tri-Pride Summer Festival will take place on Saturday June 10th in Willow River Park (Victoria Park) and we will have a table there! Stop by to pick up some free swag including pronoun pins and copies of the Rainbow Pages!
Saturday June 10, 2023 9pm-1am – Queer Night Out Pride Dance
We’re looking forward to the Queer Night Out Pride Dance which will take place at THEMUSEUM.
You’ll be able to check out EQUAL, Spectrum’s collab beer with TWB!
Sunday June 11, 2023 – 10am-3pm – Family Pride at THEMUSEUM
Our Youth Under the Rainbow Program Coordinator will have a table at the Family Pride at THEMUSEUM. Come visit us to make some Pride suncatchers!
Wednesday June 14, 2023 – 7-8:30pm – A Celebration of 20 Years of Marriage Equality
This event will celebrate 20 years of marriage equality in Ontario. We’ll start with a short summary of the work that led to this momentous legal triumph. Most of the event will be devoted to stories from same-sex couples who took advantage of this opportunity.
Doors open at 6:30 and remarks begin at 7pm.
Thursday June 15, 2023 – 7-9pm – Trivia Night with Waterloo Brewing
We’re grateful to be working with Waterloo Brewing again this year on a new beer. Join us tonight to try it out and play some Pride month trivia with Quizmaster Steve.
Friday June 16, 2023 – Together in Pride Ride
Join us for a cycling event in Kitchener to help bring visibility to members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities for Pride Month, and attention to cycling in Kitchener for Bike Month. We’ll meet at 44 Gaukel for a 7km fun and casual ride. There will be prizes for the best pride-themed bike decorations or clothing!
Saturday June 17, 2023 1-4pm – Woolwich Pride
Spectrum will have a table at the inaugural Woolwich Pride on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Gibson Park (17 First St. W. in Elmira) from 1-4pm. This free, family-friendly event will include food, music, magic, face painting, bubbles, a bouncy castle, photo booth, braid bar, and fun activities coordinated by local sports/fitness organizations the whole family will enjoy. Local vendors and local organizations will also be participating for community access to useful services and products. You won’t want to miss it!
Sunday June 18, 2023 11am-4pm – Cowboys & Angels Cut-a-thon
Cowboys & Angels is doing a cut-a-thon with proceeds benefitting Spectrum and ACCKWA. If you’d like to book a haircut please call 519.579.9880. Walk-ins may be possible on the day depending upon capacity.
There will be drag performances by Melody Bijou, BOA, Vanity affair, Baby butcher, Miss conduct, Darcy Kace, Elixxer, Sasha Tease, and Miss Drew. There will also be Pit Crew members from Canada’s Drag Race, a BBQ, raffles, and more!
June 20, 2023 – 6:45-9pm – Speed Friending
Want to make some friends in a fun, casual outdoor setting? Come on downtown to our Speed Friending event, located on the glorious patio space of Cafe Pyrus!
Just like in speed dating, Speed Friending participants will rotate through multiple one-on-one conversations with each other throughout the evening, and then choose who they do and don’t want to keep in touch with! After the event, mutual matches will be sent each other’s contact information. Unlike speed dating, Speed Friending is about building platonic connections! It’s a great way to make some new friends and enjoy some #DTK vibes!
Saturday June 24, 2023 1-4pm – Robin’s Nest Revisited
The Robin’s Nest was a lesbian bar in Cambridge for 30+ years. Chris Vautour is making a documentary celebrating its history, focusing on the importance of lesbian spaces at a time when there was little visibility or representation in mainstream culture. Join us for an event at the site of The Robin’s Nest (26 Hobson Street) where we’ll ask those who remember the spot to share their stories with younger folks. At 4pm, those who are interested can head over to the Old Galt Bottle Company for an after party. Find all the details here.
Thursday June 29, 2023 6-9:30pm – Second Annual Fundraising Gala
Our second annual fundraising gala will take place on June 29, 2023! Get your tickets here!
Our headliner is Martha Chaves, our MC is Robert Watson, and the show will also feature trans comedian Al Val, and Tamara Shevon.
Dinner will be from B Elegant Catering, and the event will take place at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.
This event is presented by Co-operators Insurance, and also sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company of Canada, Stantec, and Staebler Insurance. Get your tickets here!
You can bid in our online silent auction whether you attend the gala or not! Check it out here.
Thank You to our Silent Auction Item Donors!
Catherine Harrington
Donald Ross
Jane Baggesen
Joscelyn Guindon
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Marlowe Grooming Tattoo & General
Scavenger Hunts by Let’s Roam
Shirley Levene