It is #PrideMonth and this is the story of George Hislop, the unofficial mayor of the Toronto Gay Community.

George Hislop was born on June 3, 1927. He studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts. In 1958, he met his lifelong partner Ron Shearer.

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In 1971, Hislop co-founded the Community Homophile Association of Toronto, one of the earliest organizations for LGBTQ individuals in Canada.
On Aug. 28, 1971, he organized the We Demand march, the first gay rights demonstration on Parliament Hill.

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In 1980, Hislop ran for Toronto City Council. He received an endorsement from then-Mayor John Sewell.
Both Sewell & Hislop were subjected to harassment during the campaign & the Toronto Police Association openly campaigned against them both. Both Hislop & Sewell lost.

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In 1981, Hislop ran in the provincial election to protest the Toronto Bathhouse Raids. He was charged in those raids as part-owner of the Barracks Bathhouse. He finished fourth.
Throughout the 80s & 90s, he continued to advocate for the LGBTQ community

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His partner Shearer died in 1986. In 2003, Hislop was part of a class action lawsuit to make Canada Pension Plan benefits retroactive for same-sex couples prior to 1998. The lawsuit ended in victory in 2004.
Hislop died in 2005.
A park in Toronto is now named for him.

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More from @CraigBaird

Jun 24
Murray Sinclair was a Senator, judge and university chancellor.
But his greatest contribution was as chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the early-2010s.
This is the story of a lifelong champion of Indigenous rights.

🧵 1/12 The photo shows an individual with long, gray hair wearing a dark shirt adorned with a prominent red design featuring abstract, wing-like patterns. The person is also wearing a necklace with a round pendant and a few beads. The background is a plain, textured wall in a neutral color.
Murray Sinclair was born on Jan. 24, 1951 in Selkirk, Manitoba. Raised on the St. Peter's Reserve, he was his class valedictorian and Athlete of the Year at his high school in 1968.
He attended the University of Manitoba but left to care for his grandparents.

🧵 2/12 The photo is a black-and-white image of four children standing outdoors. The child on the far left wears a checkered shirt with overalls. The second child from the left is a girl in a polka-dotted dress with a collar. The third child, standing behind, wears a plaid shirt, and the child on the far right is dressed in a sweater and pants. The background shows a rural setting with trees and a fence. The photo appears aged, with visible scratches and wear.
In 1971, while working at the Selkirk Friendship Centre, he was elected vice president of the Manitoba Metis Federation. He was also the executive assistant to MLA Howard Pawley.
In 1976, Sinclair enrolled at the University of Winnipeg. He then attended law school.

🧵 3/12 The black-and-white photo shows a person wearing a tweed suit jacket over a vest and dress shirt, with a tie. The individual has their hand raised to their chin in a thoughtful pose. The background is plain and light-colored. The image has a classic, vintage appearance.
Read 13 tweets
Jun 24
Olga Kotelko may be the greatest athlete Canada has ever produced.
She held 30 world records and won over 750 gold medals. And she did it all from her 70s to 90s.
This is the story of this legendary athlete!

🧵 1/10 The photo depicts an elderly woman with gray hair participating in a shot put event. She is wearing a purple athletic shirt, black leggings, and white athletic shoes. She is in the middle of a throwing motion, holding a shot put ball in her right hand, with her left arm extended for balance. The setting appears to be an outdoor track and field area, with a dirt throwing circle and a grassy field in the background. The lighting suggests it might be taken during the evening or under artificial lights.
Olga Kotelko was born on March 2, 1919 in Smuts, Saskatchewan. When she was 22, she graduated from Saskatoon Normal School and taught at a one-room school near Vonda, Saskatchewan.
After her marriage broke up, she raised her two children.

🧵 2/10 The photo shows an elderly woman with gray hair, wearing glasses and a red jacket with the "McGill" logo, standing indoors. She is smiling and has her hands clasped in front of her. In front of her on a wooden table is a gold trophy with a star-topped figure, labeled "Athlete of the Year Master 2018 sponsored by SB1 Insurance Olga Kotelko." The background features a shelf with various medals, ribbons, and framed photos, indicating a collection of awards and memorabilia.
After she retired in 1984, she took up playing softball. At the age of 70, she made a double play. After she gave up her position to a 55-year-old, she started in track and field. She chose that because she had developed her running and throwing skills in softball.

🧵 3/10 The photo shows an elderly person mid-air, performing a long jump on an outdoor track and field. They are wearing a black athletic outfit and white sneakers. The scene is set against a sandy landing pit with a grassy field and a red track surface in the foreground. In the background, there are palm trees, a building, and a bright sun shining in a clear blue sky, suggesting it might be late afternoon or early evening.
Read 11 tweets
Jun 23
On June 23, 1611, Henry Hudson, his son and six others were put into a boat in Hudson Bay by mutineers and cast adrift. From that point, they disappeared from history.
So what happened to Henry Hudson?
Let's explore the mystery

🧵1/14 The image depicts a scene with three individuals on a wooden boat surrounded by icy waters and towering icebergs. The background features snow-covered mountains under a cloudy sky. One person is seated on the left, wearing a fur-lined garment and a red hat, appearing to be in contemplation or conversation with the others. Another individual, dressed in dark clothing, sits in the middle, holding the hand of a child who is seated on the floor of the boat. The child is dressed in warm, colorful clothing.
Henry Hudson was a celebrated explorer during the early-1600s.
In 1607 and 1608, he made two attempts to find the Northeast Passage. His explorations of North America laid the foundation for Dutch colonization of the present-day New York region.

🧵2/14 The image depicts a person dressed in historical attire, specifically from the Renaissance or Elizabethan era. The individual is wearing a dark, possibly black, doublet with buttons down the front and a large, white, ruffled collar, characteristic of the fashion during that period. The background is plain and neutral, which helps to focus attention on the attire.
In 1610, he began a new expedition to find the Northwest Passage. He became the first European to see Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay.
Entering Hudson Bay, he believed he had found the passage to the Pacific. He soon realized this was wrong but by then winter had set in.

🧵3/14 The image is a black and white illustration of a person wearing historical attire from the Renaissance or Elizabethan era. The individual is dressed in a dark doublet with buttons down the front and a large, ruffled, white collar, typical of the period's fashion. The illustration style is reminiscent of old engravings or woodcuts, giving it a classic, historical feel.
Read 15 tweets
Jun 22
On June 22, 1971, Joni Mitchell's magnum opus album, Blue, was released.
It is not only hailed as her best album, but one of the greatest albums ever made.
The album is celebrated to this day by critics and fans alike.
This is the story of Joni Mitchell's fourth album.

🧵 1/11 The photo is the cover art for the album "Blue" by Joni Mitchell. It features a close-up, blue-toned image of a person with long hair, captured in a contemplative pose with a cigarette near their mouth. The title "BLUE" and the artist's name "JONI MITCHELL" are prominently displayed in white text on the left side against the solid blue background.
The first three albums in Mitchell's career were acclaimed but by 1970 she needed a break from performing.
In the spring of 1970, she set off on vacation in Europe. While in Crete, she wrote some of the songs that appeared on Blue.

🧵 2/11 The photo is the cover art for the album "Clouds" by Joni Mitchell. It features an artistic illustration of a person with long, blonde hair holding a red flower. The background depicts a vibrant sunset or sunrise over a landscape with a lake, trees, and a distant building or castle. The title "Clouds" and the artist's name "Joni Mitchell" are written in black text on the left side, with a stereo logo and catalog number (RI 6341) in the top right corner. The artwork is signed "Joni Mitchell 1969" at the bottom.
Many of the songs on the album were inspired by personal experience including her relationships with Cary Raditz and Graham Nash. Both My Old Man and River are typically credited as being inspired by her troubled relationship with Nash.

🧵 3/11 The black-and-white photo shows Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash sitting close together, likely at a public event or concert. Joni Mitchell is holding an acoustic guitar, with long hair cascading over her shoulders, and is dressed in a dark, loose-fitting outfit. Graham Nash, beside her, has long hair and is wearing a vest over a shirt, with one arm resting around her. The background includes other people, suggesting a crowd or audience setting, typical of the 1960s or 1970s folk music scene.
Read 12 tweets
Jun 15
Tommy Prince was one of the most decorated soldiers in Canadian history through two different wars.
But after his war service finished, he was forgotten by the country he had served.
This is the story of Tommy Prince.

🧵 1/20 The black-and-white photo shows Tommy Prince in a military uniform. He is wearing a beret with an insignia and a jacket with a tie, featuring shoulder stripes and insignia indicating rank or service. The background is plain, emphasizing his formal military attire and composed demeanor.
Tommy Prince's ancestors had served in support of the Crown during the 1870 Red River Resistance, and his father Chief William Prince was a member of the Nile Expedition in 1885. Family members also served in the First World War.

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Tommy Prince was born on Oct. 25, 1915. Growing up, Prince was an excellent marksmen. He also developed tracking and stealth skills.
Prince's father taught him to shoot using a target the size of a playing card at 100 metres.

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Jun 14
Chief Dan George led an amazing life.
A gifted poet. An activist for his people. A movie star.
Remembered as the first Indigenous person to receive an Academy Award nomination, he was so much more than that.
This is his story.

🧵 1/16 The photo shows an individual with long, white hair, wearing a dark shirt and a patterned tie with a beaded medallion necklace. They are holding a carved wooden staff topped with a totem-like figure, featuring a face and outstretched wings, possibly representing an eagle or another significant symbol. The background is an outdoor setting with blurred greenery, suggesting a forest or wooded area. The overall composition suggests a cultural or ceremonial context, possibly related to Indigenous traditions.
Dan George was born Geswanouth Slahoot on the Burrard Reserve on July 24, 1899.
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From an early age, he went by the first name Daniel.

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After he was forced into Residential School at the age of five, his last name was changed to George.
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