A drag show with an emotional, urgent mission rose from the ashes last week in Jasper.

On November 22, when Jasper’s Michael Ormandy saw the wreckage from the Jasper wildfire for the first time since being evacuated four months earlier, he felt overwhelmed.

But the Executive Director of OUTJasper had a drag queen show to star in, and as they say in the biz, “the show must go on.” 

“It’s my community. I knew it was important to continue to do what I started all those years ago,” Ormandy said. 

As such, Ormandy’s queen personality, Toni Lester Van Blam, strode onto the stage for the 11th annual Fab-U-Lash fundraiser—coined Rising From the Ashes—at the Stand Easy November 23. 

The entertaining and heartfelt performance also featured Josh Jacobson as “Ginger Schnapps” and special guest Steven Sargent-Bachand as “Felicia Von Queef.”

Jacobson, who has been performing with Ormandy since the OUTJasper fundraising events started, lauded the Legion as a major supporter of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+) community.

“My first time [performing drag in Jasper] was at the Legion,” Jacobson said. “The environment is so relaxed and warm.”

The fundraiser is important for the LGBTQ2S+ community because it helps OUTJasper provide a safe space for youth who may have questions about gender identity and sexual orientation, Jacobson said. 

“[At OUTJasper] there’s someone to talk to, someone who can be there for people who have questions,” he said.

At the Legion, Toni Lester Van Blam, Ginger Schnapps and Felicia Von Queef performed a variety of songs, bouncing through the audience with attitude-shaking tunes and delivering contemplative melodies onstage. Local artists Katie Potter and Karly Ireland donated paintings, proceeds of which will go to Jasper wildfire victims through the Jasper Community Team’s wildfire fund.

Ormandy, a Jasper resident since 2012, travelled with his troupe from Edmonton to put on the show and the audience, including Karen Leonhardt, loved the interactive performances.

Lenohardt, who has been volunteering for the event since it started in 2013 as Divalicious, said it’s important to support those who are potentially vulnerable—a term which members of the LGBTQ2S+ community are increasingly at risk of being described as.

“We are seeing people’s rights around the world shrinking instead of growing. So it is important to show kids that they are valued and loved,” Lenohardt said.

Legion Manager Sue Henderson, who is also an OUTJasper board member, is emphatic that institutions such as the Legion support diversity. 

“We have to look out for each other,” she said. “Who you are is who you are.”

Details about the online art auction will be posted on OUTJasper’s Facebook page.

Joanne McQuarrie // info@thejasperlocal.com