Pride Winnipeg

04| SEPTEMBER 4 -13 Councillor Shawn Nason Councillor Ross Eadie Councillor Kevin Klein Mynarski Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood Transcona HAPPY Councillor Kevin Klein PRIDE! 204.986.8087 snason@winnipeg.ca ShawnNasonTranscona shawnnason.ca 204.986.5232 kklein@winnipeg.ca KevinKleinWPG kevinklein.ca 204.986.5188 readie@winnipeg.ca Ross.Eadie rosseadie.ca A L O C A L H A V E N F O R 3 3 Y E A R S , C L U B 2 0 0 I S keeping the lights on The dance floor may be off-limits for now — and any options for cruising or mingling limited to those already sharing your table — but even amidst a global pandemic, the doors at Club 200 remain very much open. Now in its 33rd year of operations, the Garry Street main- stay is one of only two dedicated venues for LGBTTQA patrons le in Winnipeg, along with its dance-club cousin Fame, located just a few blocks to the south. For decades, Club 200 has played host to all manner of "old school" queer events, from drag balls and erotic bingos to community fundraisers and open mic nights for singer- songwriters and stand-up comics. And while guests will notice plenty of COVID-related changes in place — newly installed sneeze guards and touch- less bathroom fixtures, mandatory handwashing upon entry and requirements to remain seated — the current climate has only inspired management to find creative ways to at- tract and entertain its clientele. Certainly they've got a reserve of brand capital to build on, and no one knows the allure of the venue like owner Allen Morrison, who was first introduced to Club 200 by friends in 1992, aer arriving in Winnipeg from his hometown of Dryden, Ont. "It was the early 1990s, so not a super-friendly place to come out, in smalltown Northern Ontario," Morrison re- calls. "I came to Winnipeg, walked into Club 200 and fell in love. It was something I didn't really realize even existed, outside of Toronto or Vancouver. "I had no idea there was this thriving community all around me. It was quite an experience, for sure — life-changing." Morrison got his first job at the club cleaning up over the weekends, and later worked his way from busser to bartend- er to management, before taking over as owner in 2001. rough the years, he's faced the same challenges as other bars and nightclubs — from non-smoking bylaws that threat- ened revenues in 2004 to the proliferation of hook-up apps that have drastically changed the late-night landscape across all cultures. e club's ability to adapt has helped it remain vi- able, Morrison says, as has its place in the hearts of patrons from all points on the LGBTTQA spectrum. "Joel (partner Joel Sarbit) and I have always supported the community … and I think that really helps when times are tough — the community tends to come back and offer the same support that you put out there," he says. "We've never focused on just one segment of the popu- lation. We've always been a place where men and women, trans folks, everybody can come and mingle, and feel like they have a place here." Morrison had to close the club's doors on March 17 of this year, as concerns about the spread of COVID-19 rendered large gatherings a no-go. He says the decision was one of the hardest he's had to make, and admits he wasn't sure if or when he'd be able to open again. "I've been here for so long, it really felt like the end of something. So it was an emotional day," he recalls. "Because the club represents more than a drinking spot. Especially in the last few years, it's become more of a community centre Proud to be a Community Centre

• Cover