Pri eor

Grant Bachand
Team Member

ambda... ancient Greek for

homosexuality,” says Linda Allen, owner
and operator of Lambda Cabaret on Third
Ave, also known as Gala. Lambda is a place
I have recently been very interested in, not
only because it is one of the most visible
places in Prince George where the LGBT
community can go, but also for what it
represents.

Growing up in Prince George, the only
community I was very aware of was the
trades-focused, outdoor-loving crowd. Other
groups, such as the LGBTQ community,
were all but non-existent. So why am I
focusing on this one establishment? This
business is Prince George’s only place
where the main clientele is from the LBGTQ
community. Lambda, though popular with
the university and younger crowds, is not
very well known to older generations.

The fact that this establishment is one of the
few venues here in Prince George that caters
to groups other than the standard PG norm
is very disappointing to me. Prince George
has a great sense of community; however,

it does not seem to be as inclusive of a
community, at least not to all of its residents.

What do I mean by the PG norm? I see that
person as someone who tends to be white,
male and likes driving big trucks and playing
with things that go bang. Now, I know what
you're thinking: “not everyone in Prince
George is like that.” You are right. However,
when I look around, many people who
don’t fit this do still sympathize with the
PG “normals”. Those who do dare to be the
alternative tend to not be as welcome in the
community. Nowhere is this more apparent
than in Prince George’s LGBTQ community.

The LGBTQ community, I would say, has a
hard time breaking though the old school
mentality in Prince George. Though I would
say they are not alone, other-minded people

changing for the better

who look for culture and art rather than
guns and hiking seem to have a hard time
getting through too. It is a well-known
shortcoming of Prince George amongst its
young people; if you aren’t an outdoorsy
person, it can sometimes seem unbearable.
This is something many locals will refute
by saying “we have the Prince George Play
House, local restaurants, and coffee shops

coming out and building a community.
And with many organizations such as
Lambda expanding, the future does look
bright. LGBTQ people and others who
once felt left out of the city norm are now
having more options available to them.
This is a sign of growth and change, which

Culture 7

is very exciting for Prince George and
could lead to a larger community for all
people. I predict that if more organizations
like Lambda open up around our city,

we will soon see a community where
everyone feels like they are welcome.

for people who look for these things.”

_eiittn

Things have gotten better in these last 5 4
couple years. There does, though, still seem 4 anc S 4
to be an alarming amount of people in this 4 IN! §
community who harbor resentment toward 5 4
this change. I am not saying that if you like ee ad
these things you are a bad person, I am nS OCEANA
saying that if 1 hold a contrary point of view BEST APPETIZERS

hamber of Commerce

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or lifestyle I should not be worthless, or not

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worth the time of day, which is the way many New TRE EAR
people in Prince George are made to feel. cere ot eet
Nowhere is it more apparent that Prince ios

TFICATE OF
CER CELLENCE

2011, 2012 & 2013

George does not want to become more
diverse than in the resistance to build a
performing arts center. In 2007, the Prince
George Regional Performing Arts Centre aN
Society was formed. This group was tasked
by Initiatives Prince George to help in the
development of a performing arts center here

in Prince George. In 2011, the application NORTHERN BC

for funding unsuccessfully went before ocontes CHOKE AWARDS wt
Prince George City council. Since then, the 1 PLACE - sora a
momentum for this center has decreased, and

no real progress has been made since/2012.

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When it comes down to it,money is i. mie oon iat
always the nail in thecoffin for many RESTAURANT

of these culturalprojects. Is funding
there? Willtthere be enough of a demand
for this project? Though they.are the
right questions, the answers are often
ignored or under appreciated for what
they might mean to Prince George.

That being said, things ARE.changing.

Many of the artistic, musical, and LGBTQ
communities in Prince George are becoming
more visibleshere in town. They are

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