News and Stories

VIRL Hosts Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge Pop-Up Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nanaimo, BC – Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is deeply honoured to host Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge Pop-Up Exhibition, a poignant and powerful exhibit on loan from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

VIRL is proud to be the first organization in British Columbia and only the third in Canada to feature this important exhibition, which has been displayed at the Nanaimo Harbourfront and Campbell River branches earlier this winter.

“We are incredibly proud to bring this important exhibition to Vancouver Island,” said Jason Kuffler, Events & Promotions Officer for VIRL. “This is more than just an exhibit; it is a chance to reflect on a dark chapter of Canadian history while honouring the resilience of those who fought against discrimination. We are committed to making our library spaces inclusive for all and believe this exhibition is an essential step in educating our communities.”

The exhibition has already been incredibly popular, drawing many visitors who have found its powerful messages of resilience and justice to be deeply moving. There is still an opportunity to experience the exhibit at the Cowichan Branch, where it will be on display until March 22, 2025.

Current Touring Schedule

• Cowichan Branch (February 18 – March 22, 2025): Currently on display
  Address: 2687 James Street, Duncan, BC
  Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sunday – 12:30 PM to 4 PM.
• From Vancouver Island Regional Library, the exhibit will travel to the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Earlier this year, Love in a Dangerous Time was displayed at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch (December 9, 2024 – January 13, 2025) and the Campbell River Branch (January 13 – February 17, 2025). During its time at the Campbell River Branch, the exhibit featured a special speaking event with LGBT Purge survivor Lieutenant Colonel Steven Deschamps, who shared his personal story and reflections on his experiences during the LGBT Purge, engaging the community in meaningful dialogue.

As the exhibit continues its tour at the Cowichan Branch, VIRL is pleased to announce that LGBT Purge survivor Wayne Davis will be speaking on March 10, 2025, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Wayne Davis, a former RCMP officer, will share his personal experience of being forced out of the RCMP in 1986 as part of the LGBT Purge. Wayne had served with distinction in the RCMP, working in Duncan and Sidney, BC, before being forced to resign after his sexual orientation was discovered. This event will be a powerful opportunity for the community to hear firsthand from a survivor of this tragic chapter in Canadian history.

“The LGBT Purge was a widespread and devastating historical injustice in Canada. It impacted many thousands of lives. Still, awareness of this shameful period in Canadian history is not well known. The pop-up exhibit is helping to change that by sharing the stories of the Purge. As a purge survivor myself who was fired by the military in 1989 simply because I am a lesbian, I am so pleased that the exhibition is being shown in the VIRL system. Once you know this history, you also know that we can never let this history repeat itself”. Michelle Douglas, Executive Director of the LGBT Purge Fund.

Love in a Dangerous Time sheds light on the Canadian government’s campaign between the 1950s and 1990s that targeted thousands of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals working in the federal government, military, and RCMP. Many were interrogated and forced to resign, leaving their careers and lives irreparably damaged. Survivors of the LGBT Purge fought for justice, culminating in a 2018 settlement and the creation of The Purge Fund. The fund supported the partnership between the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and survivors to create this impactful travelling pop-up exhibition. The full exhibition, housed at the Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg, and the pop-up exhibition were curated by Dr. Scott de Groot.

The exhibition educates visitors on these decades of human rights violations, honours the resilience of those affected, and inspires action to protect the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals today and into the future.

Why This Exhibition Matters

As a place for inclusivity, dialogue, and learning, VIRL recognizes the importance of amplifying marginalized voices and fostering understanding. “This exhibition is an opportunity for reflection and education, allowing us to better understand the experiences of the 2SLGBTQI+ community and ensure that we continue to work toward a future of equality and respect for all,” added Kuffler.

For more information, please visit https://virl.bc.ca/event/love-in-a-dangerous-time-2/2025-03-07/ or LGBT Purge survivor Wayne Davis speaker event (March 10) at https://virl.bc.ca/event/cowichan-love-in-dangerous-times-speaker-event/.

About Vancouver Island Regional Library

Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is a public library system dedicated to offering access to resources, education, and community engagement to residents across Vancouver Island and the surrounding Gulf Islands. VIRL fosters inclusivity, learning, and connections in its diverse communities.

As a regional system, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) covers a vast geographic area, from Sooke and Sidney in the south to Port Hardy, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast. Our libraries service a mix of urban, rural, and remote communities across more than 42,000 square kilometres – working together to deliver exemplary services. These services include free access to dynamic programming and events, bookable meeting rooms, and 39 branches that are essential spaces in communities large and small. VIRL has the third-largest public library collection in BC, featuring downloadable e-books, audiobooks, digital news, streaming services, children’s materials, and much more.