In 2005, the Ottawa-Gatineau Lesbian Outdoor Group (LOG), marked their 10th year by stepping it up with a dinner-dance celebration. Five years later, with their 15th anniversary on the horizon, the gals have decided to hang up their dancing shoes for a more intimate affair.
They’re celebrating with fine food, good company and performances by Ottawa musicians Jill Zmud and Claudia Larouche.
It is an evening that two of the event organizers, Wendy Kwong and Cindy Sceviour, hope will highlight the values behind LOG’s mission — to create a place where friendships are forged in social settings.
“We wanted to create more of an intimate space where people can connect with songs and entertainment,” says Kwong. “To have the forum to be able to connect, whether you are young or old.”
Kwong feels that the concert is an opportunity to introduce new women to the group, to keep the enthusiasm of the older members going and to help make the group stronger, more energized and cohesive.
“That’s part of the planning of this event is really to speak out to the younger crowd and to invite them to participate and to create that bonding. And not to neglect the older crowd — the established guard — the women who have been there for the last 15 years,” says Kwong.
Sceviour, who has been a LOG member for 12 years and on the coordinating committee for seven, agrees with Kwong. She has seen membership fluctuate from year to year with older members taking a break and newer ones joining. For Sceviour, the Lets Get Intimate concert is also a way to give back to the community and to market the group to a wider audience.
“Besides us giving back to members for their loyalty, it is also to market and get other people aware of us and hopefully come to the event as well,” says Sceviour.
Lets Get Intimate is a small social affair with music from singer-songwriters who Kwong feels will highlight the intimacy of the evening.
Sceviour says that, in order for the club to keep continuing and growing, it is important to get new members in with new ideas and new thoughts. Kwong agrees.
“I would be extremely excited if we can get younger women involved in the club with some interesting ideas and great energy to complement the existing participants that are part of the club right now,” says Kwong.
Hiking is the most popular activity of LOG — although not by any means the only activity. As the warmer weather approaches activities can range from a friendly game of badminton, to urban walks between Ottawa and Hull, a book club for those with a taste for reading, social evening with guest speakers and, according to Sceviour and Kwong, no LOG activity would be complete without food.
“The prime ingredients in any LOG event,” says Kwong “are the people who are participating and food — not necessarily in that order — it’s like food first then everything follows.”
LOG’s 15th anniversary concert, Lets Get Intimate, rolls out Saturday, April 10 at St Brigids Centre for the Arts. 310 St, Patrick’s St. Doors open 7pm, concert 7.30pm. Cost: $5 in advance, $7 door. Tickets at Venus Envy, After Stonewall, Mother Tongue bookstore
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