Brunswick Four:
Queer Resistance Then & Now
A Conversation with Lamar Van Dyke and Adrienne Rosen
In 1974, four lesbians stood their ground in a Toronto bar and sparked a movement. Known as the Brunswick Four, their arrest and public resistance became a defining moment in Canadian queer history.
Join us for an extraordinary evening with Lamar Van Dyke and Adrienne Rosen, two of the original Brunswick Four, as they reflect on the uprising that helped ignite the modern queer rights movement in Canada. From police brutality to public outcry, their story is one of solidarity, survival, and unapologetic resistance.
This powerful conversation will explore the legacy of the Brunswick Four, what’s changed and what hasn’t for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across Canada. Presented in partnership with Day of Pink, the event invites a new generation to carry forward the fire of queer activism.
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Adrienne Rosen (she/They) is a trailblazing entrepreneur, feminist activist, and community leader whose remarkable journey spans decades of activism, business innovation, and advocacy. As President and CEO of First International Courier Systems, a pioneering medical logistics company she co-founded in 1984, Adrienne has been at the forefront of global biotech and biopharma transportation solutions.
Adrienne’s activism began in the early 1970s as a fearless advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and women’s equality. She participated in landmark actions such as the Brunswick Four protest, which catalyzed change in police treatment of the queer community in Canada. Her dedication to justice has remained a cornerstone of her life and work.
Her entrepreneurial journey includes establishing a messenger service to empower single mothers and later launching a groundbreaking air courier system. In 1983, Adrienne became the first woman sponsored by Yamaha to ride a motorcycle around the world, an exhilarating year-long adventure that further cemented her spirit of determination and resilience.
Committed to lifelong learning, Adrienne earned a BA in Philosophy from York University, an MA in Philosophy of Education from OISE, and a doctorate from the University of South Africa. Her academic achievements reflect her intellectual curiosity and commitment to personal growth.
Adrienne’s life has been marked by both profound joy and tragedy. She and her wife of nearly 38 years, Myra, have raised two remarkable daughters, Alana and Sally. Following the heartbreaking loss of Alana to an accidental fentanyl overdose, Adrienne has become a passionate advocate for harm reduction and mental health awareness.
Adrienne continues to inspire through her activism, leadership, and unwavering commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable world.
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Lamar Van Dyke is a legendary activist, artist, and provocateur who has spent decades breaking boundaries and confronting injustice.
Born in Canada, Lamar first rose to national attention in 1974 as one of the Brunswick Four, a group of lesbian activists arrested in Toronto for resisting police harassment, an event that catalyzed the modern queer rights movement in Canada.
Fiercely unapologetic and radically visionary, Lamar has been at the forefront of lesbian feminist organizing, punk aesthetics, and queer revolt. In the 1980s, she was an early member of the Van Dykes, a lesbian separatist motorbike gang that crisscrossed North America reclaiming space and rewriting the rules. Her life and activism have inspired generations of queer rebels and continue to challenge systems of power through raw truth, performance, and embodied resistance.
Join us at Lux Cinema for an inspiring evening of storytelling, conversation, and connection as part of the Banff Pride Speaker Series.
Tickets are free, but seating is limited. Advance registration is strongly encouraged to guarantee your spot. We welcome donations at the time of booking or at the door to support the ongoing work of the Banff Pride Society.
This is your chance to hear powerful voices, deepen your understanding of 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences, and be part of meaningful dialogue in the heart of the Rockies.
Reserve now to secure your seat. Everyone is welcome.
ACCESSIBILITY
Banff Pride strives to create accessible and inclusive spaces. Learn more, banffpride.ca/accessibility
Lux Cinema is wheelchair accessible, including washrooms and seating areas
Gender-neutral washrooms are available onsite.
ASL interpretation and/or captioning may be offered with advance request.
For accessibility accommodations, please contact: community@banffpride.ca
Support this event by volunteering in the following roles:
Guest check-in & registration support
Seating ushers and accessibility support
Merchandise or info booth staffing
Photographer