The IT GETS BETTER PROJECT.

Do you know someone that has taken their life because of homophobia?  Do you ever wish that you had a chance to tell them that it gets better?  Dan Savage, host of The Savage Love Podcast series, has started a campaign encouraging all GLBT people to upload a video reassuring GLBT Youth that it indeed gets better.
It Gets Better Project

Candlelit Vigil @ UPEI

On Wednesday October 20th ARCPEI, along with the UPEI Rainbow Alliance, AIDS PEI and the UPEI Diversity Office will be holding a candlelit vigil to honor Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase, Asher Brown and Billy Lucas.  These 6 GLBT Youth recently took their own lives due to homophobic bullying.  The vigil will take place at 7 PM outside the main building on the UPEI Campus, or more simply known as the Quad.  Please come and show your support, and remember those of whom we've lost.

Party on Saturday

It's that time again. Summer is almost over so join us for one last summer party at The Wave. Parties will resume in September at our old location Mavor's where new admission prices will be $7. Hope to see you all there.

ARC Family Day

ARC has booked the Tea Hill Provincial Park for a family day on Monday, September 6. The park has a children's play area with swings and slides, and with a few buckets and shovels the beach is an excellent spot for sandcastle building. We are hosting this event in an attempt to provide the community with some diversity in which we can socialize and come together.
We will be providing some music and will have BBQ's on site so you... can bring along some food for your family and friends.
The event is open to all ages and we hope you all can attend, we will be planning a series volleyball games and there is room at the park to have a softball game if enough interest is shown. We hope to see you all at our First Annual Family Day at the Tea HIll Provincial Park.

ARC Board of Directors.

Help end HIV

Donate your $5 here

Party on Saturday

An Open Letter To The Community

ARCPEI is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing services to the GLBTQ community of Prince Edward Island, and is operated by a Board of Directors as well as a small group of dedicated volunteers. We operate without Government or private grants/sponsorship. The ARC Board of Directors is taking this opportunity to address and update the broader community on PEI in regards to our current and future endeavors, current financial status, and to put a general call out for volunteers and board members.

ARCPEI regularly hosts dance parties in a safe environment for community members, their friends and supporters, and we plan to continue these dances. Our numbers having been growing stronger and we’re pleased to be able to provide the dances for our community to come out, socialize, and dance. A lot of work takes place behind the scenes, including countless volunteer hours from both board members and volunteers to ensure we continue to have an appropriate venue to socialize and dance. This summer, our dance parties are being held at The Wave, located on the UPEI campus. This move was necessary as our regular venue (Mavors Studio #1, at the Confederation Centre of the Arts) is occupied by a stage show for the summer months. We will be returning to Mavor’s in the early fall. We realize there is a large portion of the community that has been neglected in recent years, and we’re taking steps to change that. As the GLTBQ community on Prince Edward Island diversifies and grows, we are moving forward to ensure we grow as well. We’re working towards offering events other than our regular dances. We have developed partnerships with several other organizations and will be hosting a Family Day at Tea Hill Park during the Labour Day Weekend. We’re also interested in starting a Youth and Adult Volleyball League in cooperation with Stratford Town Hall. In early September we will also be holding a Jukebox Night at the Delta with music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. In the fall we will be selling tickets for a fundraiser spaghetti dinner, various theme parties are scheduled throughout the year, as well as Halloween, Christmas and NYE parties.

As a not-for-profit entity, ARCPEI typically operates in a deficit situation throughout the year, with Pride Week supplementing regular earnings and allowing a surplus to cover regular overhead and operating costs associated with ARC activities. Pride 2010 on PEI was a success with some very well attended events. Sadly, the funds generated failed to cover the costs associated with putting on Pride 2010. After careful review of both past and present financial statements, and keeping in mind that our cover charge hasn’t changed for 12 years, the decision has been made to raise the price of cover to $7 dollars, beginning in September. This increase is necessary to ensure we continue being able to provide events and services for the community. As an aside, the dances are volunteer driven; the DJs, door staff and liaison are volunteers. Here is a brief breakdown of the costs associated with the operation of ARC and events:

- Security Staff
- SOCAN Fees (for the music we play)
- Venue Rental Fees
- Liability Insurance
- Equipment costs, including sound and lighting gear
- Office Space Rental
- Telephone Lines and Web hosting fees
- Printing and Advertising costs

We have two more dances scheduled at The Wave, and look forward to seeing everyone out at our new venue. We’ll be returning to Mavor’s in September with an increased door charge of $7. We’re now in the planning stages for Pride 2011 and are currently seeking interested volunteers to assist in various activities including finding sponsors, fundraising and planning of both Pride and ARCPEI events. Please feel free to visit out webpage at www.arcofpei.com, or check out our Facebook page (Abeqweit Rainbow Collective) for more information and to contact the board directly. We also welcome input from the community at large. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many past and present volunteers and board members who have contributed to our everyday operations and events over the years.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Sincerely, the ARCPEI Board of Directors

Wayde Lewis, Male Co-Chair
Jeff Fitzgerald – Treasurer
Eric McKearney – Events Coordinator
Alana Leard – Youth Coordinator
Rhonda Gallant – Pride Coordinator
GeorgaDawn Moase – Volunteer Coordinator
Chris Gallant – Administrative Officer

Haitus

Due to a technical difficulty with blogger.com I was not able to post any new topics in months. I missed quite a bit. (Carson Kressley on PEI for Regis & Kelly, a change of venue for dances and of course, Pride Week).

It's all good again, you can expect up-to-date information on all GLBT happenings here on PEI.

Volunteer Opportunities

A message from ARCPEI's Volunteer Coordinator Andrea Savidant:

"ARC Members,

My name is Andrea Savidant and I am a Volunteer Coordinator with ARC of PEI. I am sending out this message as a general call out. ARC is looking for volunteers for various different things.

I know you all love the dances at Mavors, I know I do! These dances would not be possible without the help of our volunteers! As you all know, Pride is just around the corner. Pride is another thing that would not be possible without a group of awesome volunteers. However, we are in constant need for more. That's where you come in! We are looking for people who want to help with such things as:

-- Setting up before dances
-- Tearing down after dances
-- Working the door
-- Pride
-- Floaters

If anything listed above sounds like something you'd be interested in doing, please feel free to contact me and we can get you started. If you have any questions about different volunteer positions, do not hesitate to ask. If you are interested in volunteering you can contact me at asavidant@upei.ca or you can visit ARCPEI's Volunteer Page.

Lets keep these dances going and make Pride beyond amazing! Come out and volunteer with ARC! "

Important Message From ARCPEI

It seems that there is a video circulating the internet of some people stealing a velvet rope from the Confed Center during one of the Party PEI Dances. A representative of the Confed Center says that if the rope is returned within one week that no criminal charges will be laid. I urge the guilty party to return the rope at once.

Mavors is probably the best venues that the GLBT community of Charlottetown have been fortunate enough to use for our functions, we'd like to keep it that way.

Fundraiser for GLBTQ Drop - In

AIDS PEI, ARC and Katimavik present a benefit concert that will open with a coffee house feel featuring some island poets such as Carol Little and singer-songwriters, then to finish off the night we are pleased to welcome to the stage, Boxer the horse, Raccoon Bandits and The Danks. This great evening will take place Friday, February 12th at the Confederation Center of the arts in studio 1. The coffee house portion of the evening will be from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The concert portion of the evening will be from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
This is an all age’s event so all are welcome!! All proceeds will be going to AIDS PEI and ARC to create a GBLTQ youth drop-in.
Suggested donation of $10 for adults $7 for youth.

Please come out and support this great cause! Hope to see you there!

Party Tonight.

Where did January go??? Come shake off the last of the January Blahs at Mavor's tonight from 9PM - 2AM.

Celebrate with Alexas

Everything Gay PEI wishes an early birthday to Miss Alexas Styles who turns "22" on Saturday, January 30th.
Alexas will be performing @ Alibi Lounge at 8PM. It's the perfect pre-party for Saturday's Party PEI Dance @ Mavor's.
We hope to see you there.



77 University Avenue
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4L1
(902) 629-1651

AIDS PEI Wine & Cheese Fundraiser.

You have been cordially invited to join AIDS PEI, Off Broadway and 42nd Street Lounge for a night of wine, cheese and desserts. This event will be taking place on January 28, 2010 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $20 for the ARC Board and ARC mailing list. This is a great price compared to the regular price of $50.

All the proceeds from this event will go to support people living with HIV/AIDS.
Tickets are available online at WWW.AIDSPEI.COM or by calling Alana Leard at 566-2437. Must be legal drinking age of 19 or over.

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day. Do you know your status?

Remember to get tested every six months.

World AIDS Day Website

AIDS PEI needs Videographers & Actors

AIDS PEI is seeking a videographer and 4-5 male/female/trans actors to create promotional and educational videos for our new website!

Tax-receipts available in-lieu of compensation for videographers.

Contact Mark Hanlon @ 566-2437 or e-mail mhanlon@aidspei.com.

Judy Shepard on Ellen

Judy Shepard, mother of the late Matthew Shepard visits Ellen to talk about her new book about the tragic loss of her son.



Visit The Matthew Shepard Foundation website.

ARCPEI looking for new Board Member

The Abegweit Rainbow Collective is currently seeking interested parties to sit on their 2009-2011 board of directors. Board members are expected to volunteer their time for a minimum of three hours per week on duties ranging from attending board meetings, volunteering at social events, networking with peers and other social networks and being a supporter and positive voice for the LBGT community in Prince Edward Island.

Interested parties should submit, in writing, a detailed letter of interest, listing any special skills and interest in the LBGT community.

Submissions can be sent to info@arcofpei.com or at the new office location at 375 University Avenue, Unit 2 (AIDS PEI office).

RENT @ City Cinema

City Cinema will be showing RENT this Thursday night as a fundraiser for the 2009 Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life. The film is being sponsored by Spectramedia, Beanz and Sony Pictures. Tickets cost $10 and will be available at AIDS PEI (375 University Ave) or at City Cinema on Thursday night. Doors open at 8:40PM.

Never seen the movie, or perhaps need a refresher? Here's the trailer.

Rent (2005)
by m0vietrailerpark

"Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes ..."

Hump Day @ City Cinema

Hump Day is the story of two high school buddies who reunite many years down the line. One is married and the other is a motorcycle advernturer. While attending a party the two hear of something called "Humpfest" which turns out to be an Adult Film Festival. The two make a drunken decision to enter a film of their own. But to be original they decide that they will be acting in their film, with each other.

I know, Straight guys pretending to be gay in porn isn't the most original idea in the world, but the film has been getting some great reviews.

"More full of story, laughs and genuine human emotion than a dozen studio movies." - David Carr, THE NEW YORK TIMES

"Phenomenally funny" - Dennis Dermody, PAPER MAGAZINE

It's playing at City Cinemas from August 28th - Sept 1st. Check the City Cinema Website for movie times.

Here's the trailer.