Let’s Hear It for 2-Spirit!

By: Bill Reid Gallery

Saturday, August 8th, 2026

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Join us for an all-ages drag celebration featuring Ella Lamoureux, Ilona Verley, Jaylene Tyme, Thanks Jem, and Theo Rhetical. 

DJ O Show returns to keep the energy high, while invited 2-Spirit artists bring their work to a special community marketplace. Guests can also enjoy bannock and light refreshments throughout the evening.

The CBRC will be onsite with zines, educational materials, and resources about 2-Spirit identities, with a staff member available to connect with visitors and answer questions.

Bring your family and friends and get ready for an evening of glamour, joy, and unapologetic 2-Spirit expression and authenticity at the Gallery! 🪩

 🎟️ Tickets
$40 Regular Admission
$35 BRG Members and Indigenous Peoples

First time at a Drag Show? Here's What to Know: 

What do I do during a performance?
Have fun! Clap, cheer, and celebrate the performers! Drag is about energy and connection. Your enthusiasm fuels the show.
 
Can I give the performers money?
Absolutely! Tipping is a long-standing part of drag culture. If you're moved by a performance, feel free to offer cash tips directly into the performer’s hand or gently on the stage, always with respect. Please note that there are no ATMs or cash bars at the Gallery.
 
Is the event all ages?
Yes! This is a family-friendly event that celebrates diversity, creativity, and community.
 
How can I be respectful?
Honour the space by cheering for everyone, avoiding disruptive behaviour, and celebrating the performers’ identities and stories.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Photo by Quinton Cruickshanks

Ella Lamoureux (Call Me Mother Season 1 – Kaska Dena First Nation)

A Two-Spirit drag artist from the Yukon who has significantly contributed to the growth of the drag scene in Kelowna. She identifies as a member of the Kaska Dena First Nation and uses her platform to represent and advocate for Two-Spirit individuals. 

Photo by Ilona Verley

Ilona Verley (Canada's Drag Race season  1- Nlaka'pamux Nation)  

Star of Canada's Drag Race Season 1.  Ilona is a 2-Spirit Interior Salish drag artist known for her pastel looks and ethereal charm. 

Photo by Anika Syskakis
DJ O Show

Orene Askew, known as DJ O Show, is an Afro-Indigenous member of the Squamish Nation, inspirational speaker, educator, and award-winning DJ. She has performed for organizations including the Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions, opened for Kevin Hart and Russell Peters, and received the 2022 International Indigenous Hip Hop Award for DJ of the Year.

 

Photo by Fernando Cysneiros

Jaylene Tyme (Zagime Anishinabek First Nation, Kawacatoose First Nation and Mètis Nation Saskatchewan )

A celebrated Two-Spirit, sober Indigenous trans woman and Vancouver-based drag legend. A Sixties Scoop survivor with Saulteaux, Cree, and Métis heritage, she is well-known for her iconic celebrity impersonations and decades of community advocacy. She notably competed on Season 5 of Canada's Drag Race, where she was crowned Miss Congeniality.  

Photo by DAYNA

Theo Rhetical is a Two-Spirit drag king of Peepeekisis Cree and Métis ancestry. He notably won best makeup in the city at the 2025 Draggys awards and is a son of drag kings Heathen and Genesis- together they make up the Haus of Eden, the only all-king house in the city.  

Photo by Thanks Jem

Thanks Jem is an unapologetic Deninu K’ue First Nation, Two-Spirit, 420-enthusiast, cool mom! With more than a decade of creative ventures, from Text Me Live to Brat Pack, she’ll always be the Queen of the Rodeo by Orville Peck. 

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 

SUPPORTED BY

City of Vancouver

Contact Us

Please contact Aliya Boubard at aboubard@billreidgallery.ca if you have any questions.