Gay Map Saskatoon

0: Homo Hike Route

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1: Headquarters Pub

2: Coffee Collective - 220 20th St

3: Farmer's Market

4: Centennial Auditiorium

5: Midtown Plaza

6: Saskatoon StarPhoenix

In the summer of 1975, the StarPhoenix refused to print a paid advertisement from Saskatoon Gay Action that summarized the position of the Saskatoon provincial election candidates on the issue of human rights legislation for homosexuals. Organized in part by U of S education Student, Doug Wilson and Political Science professor, Richard Nordahl, this was Saskatoon's first public gay demonstration with 21  picketers in attendance. The next day, the StarPhoenix published a front-page photograph of the gay activists (Korinek, 2003, p.6).

7: Knox United Church

"Over 700 attended The Christ Who Breaks the Boundaries of Prejudice, a University of Saskatchewan Special Lecture presented by retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong. The noted liberal theologian examined arguments used by religious people to discriminate and questioned whether they had a sound basis in Christian thought. This lecture at Knox United Church was the largest public event dealing with LG issues held in Saskatoon up to the date of this compilation [2005]."

Richards, 2005, p. 64. [“Spong said church has to break down its prejudices,” Saskatchewan Bulletin (STF), (April 16 2003) p. 2.]

8: Apollo Room at the Ritz Hotel - 118-21st St. E

The Apollo Room at the Ritz Hotel was a hang out for gay men from about 1971 until the hotel was sold in 1985. (Spence, 2004; [The Ritz remembered, Gens Hellquist, Perceptions P15, 1985:3]).



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9: King George Hotel

The Cove at the King George Hotel was an informal meeting place for gay men in the 1960s (Korinek, 2003). According to Wikimapia, the KG was built in 1910 with a terra cotta exterior which was covered with tile in a modernization project in 1964. The KG underwent further restoration in 2007 and reopened in 2009.


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10: 2nd Floor Lounge - Bessborough Hotel

The second floor lounge at the Bessborough Hotel was a long time gay hang out for men dating back to at least the 1960s (Korinek, 2003).

11: Gay Community Centre - 310 20th St E

As the numbers of people accessing services at the Gay Community Centre (GCC) increased from only a handful to nearly a thousand per year, the centre moved to this larger location under the presidency of Doug Wilson in spring, 1976 (Korinek, 2003, p. 13).

Unfortunately, the opening of the Gay Community Centre on March 28 was marred by 30 youths who attacked patrons (Richards, 2005, p.7).

In 1977, while working at the GCC Wilson and Kay Bierwieler began talks with gays and lesbians in Regina to form a provincial voice for Gay activism. These discussions "led to the establishment of the Saskatchewan Gay Coalition (SGC), an alliance of groups who wished to 'effect political, social and educational action to ensure full human rights for all gay men and lesbians in Saskatchewan.' The coalition aimed to be non-sexist and feminist. [...] The organization folded in 1982" (Richards, 2005, p.9).

The SGC actively encouraged the formation of gay and lesbian groups in both rural and urban locations. In their statement of purpose, the SGC noted: "we know that no single gay community can achieve liberation in isolation while others remain oppressed" (Korinek, 2003, p.13).

12: Gay Community Centre of Saskatoon - 245 3rd Ave S

"The GCCS celebrated the opening of its new rented premises in the basement at 245 – 3rd Avenue South. Alderman George Taylor attended the opening" (Richards, 2005, p.10).

After undergoing a name change to the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Saskatoon, in 1982 the GLCCS closed, in part "caused by the financial impact of fire, flood, problematic relationships with landlords, and the opening of a commercial gay disco in town" (Korinek, 2003, p.16).

In 1982 the library at the GLCCS was transferred to Gay and Lesbian Support Services.  "GLCCS continued to hold mixed and women’s dances at the
Hungarian Hall [on Ave. F] until the end of the year. The organization cleared its accumulated debts and disbanded in 1983 (Richards, 2005, p.5).

13: Gay and Lesbian Support Services - 217 - 116 3rd Ave S

"Gay and Lesbian Support Services (GLSS) opened in November [1981] and continued to operate until 1987. It provided telephone counseling/information, self-help groups, and a meeting space for LG organizations. The first office was at 217–116 3rd Avenue South (Ross Block). GLSS published a newsletter Gay Times during 1982" (Richards, 2005, p.13).


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14: After Midnight - 102 Ave B South

"The city’s first commercial gay club, After Midnight, was established at 102 Avenue B South (at 22nd Street) in late 1980. It was managed by David Allen and first operated as an after hours club. By 1982 it had been renamed Numbers and operated as a private members’ club. Numbers attracted a significant portion of the clientele of the Gay Community Centre, increasing the financial difficulties facing that organization" (Richards, 2005, p.12).

The registered name for Numbers was "22nd STREET MEN’S SOCIAL CLUB INC." (Spence, 2005, p.1).

In 1983, "gasoline was set alight at the front and back doors of Numbers club shortly after midnight. The club was safely evacuated and there was little damage to the building. Patrons chased down and apprehended a suspect [Donny Shy] who was later acquitted in a jury trial for arson. The presiding judge said that the defendant was a very lucky man" (Richards, 2005, p.15).

15: Numbers Relocates - 493A 2nd Avenue North

In 1983, "Numbers moved to 493A 2nd Avenue North and reopened with an appearance by Mr. Leather. The club was very popular among gay men" (Richards, 2005, p.15). Numbers was in this location for over a decade.

16: Numbers - 3rd Relocation - 110 - 220 3rd Ave S

In 1993, Numbers relocated to the Avenue Building after more than a decade at its previous location on 2nd Ave. In 1994, Numbers was renamed Diva's. (Richards, 2005, p.43).

17: National Film Board Office - 424 21st St E

"[Doug] Wilson's Saskatoon memorial service, held in the auditorium of the National Film Board offices, was standing-room only, as people lined the halls to pay their respects" (Korinek, 2003, p.18).

In September, 1992, at the age of 42, "gay rights activist Doug Wilson died with AIDS. In 1982 Wilson moved to Toronto where he worked as a race relations advisor to the Board of Education. In 1988 he became the first openly gay candidate from a major party to contest a federal election when he ran for the NDP in Toronto-Rosedale. He was a co-founder of Rites magazine and of AIDS Action Now" (Richards, 2005, p.36).