- Words by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull
Bringing people together is Rudy Tomazic91裸聊视频檚 speciality. The Kelowna-based realtor and business owner does big, impactful things for his community but he does them in what91裸聊视频檚 become his signature way: quietly, behind the scenes.
91裸聊视频淭he thing I enjoy most is making people happy,91裸聊视频� Rudy says with a smile. 91裸聊视频淚 get a real charge out of that. I don91裸聊视频檛 need accolades; I just want to do it.91裸聊视频�
As the owner of Friends of Dorothy, the Okanagan91裸聊视频檚 first LGBT2Q+ cocktail lounge (now with a second location in Victoria), Rudy has created a fun and inclusive environment that embraces the very best of queer culture.
91裸聊视频淲e live in a world with too much judgment,91裸聊视频� Rudy says. 91裸聊视频淲e are judged on our clothing, our face, our hair and body size. Everything is judged. But when you walk into a queer-focused place, everyone is welcome and we91裸聊视频檙e not judging at all. We want you to come in and just have fun.91裸聊视频�
Friends of Dorothy or simply Dorothy91裸聊视频檚, as Rudy affectionately refers to it, is a place to grab a snack and a drink and take in a drag show. At least it was until COVID-19 restrictions put the kibosh on performances. But in true star fashion, Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 resident queens continue to show up for Rudy.
91裸聊视频淭he queens in Kelowna aren91裸聊视频檛 being paid to come in right now, but they do! They91裸聊视频檙e dressed in drag, they91裸聊视频檒l just sit on stage with the microphone and talk and heckle people,91裸聊视频� he chuckles. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e doing it not only to keep what we91裸聊视频檝e created alive but to make people laugh and feel good through these challenging times.91裸聊视频�
They91裸聊视频檙e also doing it as a show of respect and gratitude for the man who gave them a permanent stage.
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The appreciation for Rudy extends far beyond the LGBT2Q+ community. Together with business partner Nate Flavel, Rudy has turned an annual pop-up drag queen party into a significant fundraiser for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. Noir has sold out in each of its three years, allowing Rudy and Nate to donate upwards of $40,000 to the KGH Foundation.
91裸聊视频淓veryone needs a hospital, not just the LGBT2Q+ community. Everybody. There91裸聊视频檚 not a single person on the planet who isn91裸聊视频檛 going to need medical attention at some point in their lives,91裸聊视频� Rudy notes.
The proceeds from Noir have gone to support some of the region91裸聊视频檚 greatest needs for advancing health care. This includes JoeAnna91裸聊视频檚 House, as well as a campaign to offer complete cardiac services at KGH by bringing in electrophysiology. Proceeds from Noir also supported the We See You campaign, a fundraising effort in support of KGH staff and the areas of greatest need during the pandemic response.
91裸聊视频淩udy is very humble about his contributions to our community, but he is so generous,91裸聊视频� says Allison Ramchuk, Chief Development Officer for the KGH Foundation. 91裸聊视频淲e are so grateful for his gifts to support local health care, and his endless energy and creativity when it comes to fundraising. He91裸聊视频檚 a very special partner.91裸聊视频�
A second event called Diva will also be a fundraiser for the KGH Foundation once COVID-19 regulations are relaxed. Rudy is eying 2022 for the return of both drag shows.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just so humbled by the support. I91裸聊视频檓 the type of person who charges full steam ahead into a project or a business. I don91裸聊视频檛 really stop to think about a Plan B if it should fail. I only ever have a Plan A,91裸聊视频� he says, laughing.
Rudy91裸聊视频檚 drive and penchant for taking risks (he went ahead with plans to open a second restaurant in the midst of the pandemic) were instilled in childhood. It91裸聊视频檚 a self-taught survival mechanism that came from growing up in a family that he says never really supported his dreams.
91裸聊视频淪omeone was always telling me that I would never be able to do what I wanted. I was told this is the way it91裸聊视频檚 going to be and this is the way you91裸聊视频檙e going to do it. He wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer, but all I ever really wanted to do was make a difference.91裸聊视频�
Rudy can check the box on that dream. His philanthropy has helped and will continue to benefit an entire region. Through his real estate/development company and his two restaurants, Rudy is keeping dozens of people in Kelowna and Victoria employed, all while celebrating the LGBT2Q+ community and putting drag queens in the spotlight.
91裸聊视频淚 really couldn91裸聊视频檛 do any of this without the support of my three sons, close friends and, of course, the Friends of Dorothy teams in both Kelowna and Victoria. They91裸聊视频檝e all been right there with me on this journey. When you look at queer culture, we91裸聊视频檝e come a long way but we still have a long way to go.91裸聊视频�
Rudy is determined to keep pushing forward on that. His next dream is to take Dorothy91裸聊视频檚 nationwide.
91裸聊视频淚 want to build a staple for the LGBT2Q+ community. If you91裸聊视频檙e in Calgary, or Vancouver or Toronto and you91裸聊视频檙e looking for an LGBT2Q+ establishment, you91裸聊视频檒l see Dorothy91裸聊视频檚, and you91裸聊视频檒l know what you91裸聊视频檙e going to get! A place that welcomes everybody.91裸聊视频�
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Rudy admits he has struggled through this pandemic because it91裸聊视频檚 kept him from the thing he loves most in life91裸聊视频攂eing shoulder to shoulder with people.
91裸聊视频淎s humans, our nature is to be together. When I91裸聊视频檓 in the restaurant, I91裸聊视频檓 not just managing. I91裸聊视频檓 bussing tables, I91裸聊视频檓 doing dishes, helping prep, doing whatever is needed. I like to mingle, and I can91裸聊视频檛 do that right now, which is difficult for me because I just love to hear people91裸聊视频檚 stories.91裸聊视频�
Rudy is now focused on the future and the day he can invite the queens and all the entertainers back on stage to let the good times and the giving roll. Until then, he says, it91裸聊视频檚 on all of us to keep that diva magic alive.
91裸聊视频淢ore than ever we need to be kind and aligned. Together we will get through this.91裸聊视频�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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