- Words by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull
Bringing people together is Rudy Tomazic香蕉视频直播檚 speciality. The Kelowna-based realtor and business owner does big, impactful things for his community but he does them in what香蕉视频直播檚 become his signature way: quietly, behind the scenes.
香蕉视频直播淭he thing I enjoy most is making people happy,香蕉视频直播� Rudy says with a smile. 香蕉视频直播淚 get a real charge out of that. I don香蕉视频直播檛 need accolades; I just want to do it.香蕉视频直播�
As the owner of Friends of Dorothy, the Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e live in a world with too much judgment,香蕉视频直播� Rudy says. 香蕉视频直播淲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 we香蕉视频直播檙e not judging at all. We want you to come in and just have fun.香蕉视频直播�
Friends of Dorothy or simply Dorothy香蕉视频直播檚, 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, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 resident queens continue to show up for Rudy.
香蕉视频直播淭he queens in Kelowna aren香蕉视频直播檛 being paid to come in right now, but they do! They香蕉视频直播檙e dressed in drag, they香蕉视频直播檒l just sit on stage with the microphone and talk and heckle people,香蕉视频直播� he chuckles. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e doing it not only to keep what we香蕉视频直播檝e created alive but to make people laugh and feel good through these challenging times.香蕉视频直播�
They香蕉视频直播檙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.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone needs a hospital, not just the LGBT2Q+ community. Everybody. There香蕉视频直播檚 not a single person on the planet who isn香蕉视频直播檛 going to need medical attention at some point in their lives,香蕉视频直播� Rudy notes.
The proceeds from Noir have gone to support some of the region香蕉视频直播檚 greatest needs for advancing health care. This includes JoeAnna香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淩udy is very humble about his contributions to our community, but he is so generous,香蕉视频直播� says Allison Ramchuk, Chief Development Officer for the KGH Foundation. 香蕉视频直播淲e are so grateful for his gifts to support local health care, and his endless energy and creativity when it comes to fundraising. He香蕉视频直播檚 a very special partner.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just so humbled by the support. I香蕉视频直播檓 the type of person who charges full steam ahead into a project or a business. I don香蕉视频直播檛 really stop to think about a Plan B if it should fail. I only ever have a Plan A,香蕉视频直播� he says, laughing.
Rudy香蕉视频直播檚 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. It香蕉视频直播檚 a self-taught survival mechanism that came from growing up in a family that he says never really supported his dreams.
香蕉视频直播淪omeone was always telling me that I would never be able to do what I wanted. I was told this is the way it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be and this is the way you香蕉视频直播檙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.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 really couldn香蕉视频直播檛 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. They香蕉视频直播檝e all been right there with me on this journey. When you look at queer culture, we香蕉视频直播檝e come a long way but we still have a long way to go.香蕉视频直播�
Rudy is determined to keep pushing forward on that. His next dream is to take Dorothy香蕉视频直播檚 nationwide.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to build a staple for the LGBT2Q+ community. If you香蕉视频直播檙e in Calgary, or Vancouver or Toronto and you香蕉视频直播檙e looking for an LGBT2Q+ establishment, you香蕉视频直播檒l see Dorothy香蕉视频直播檚, and you香蕉视频直播檒l know what you香蕉视频直播檙e going to get! A place that welcomes everybody.香蕉视频直播�
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Rudy admits he has struggled through this pandemic because it香蕉视频直播檚 kept him from the thing he loves most in life香蕉视频直播攂eing shoulder to shoulder with people.
香蕉视频直播淎s humans, our nature is to be together. When I香蕉视频直播檓 in the restaurant, I香蕉视频直播檓 not just managing. I香蕉视频直播檓 bussing tables, I香蕉视频直播檓 doing dishes, helping prep, doing whatever is needed. I like to mingle, and I can香蕉视频直播檛 do that right now, which is difficult for me because I just love to hear people香蕉视频直播檚 stories.香蕉视频直播�
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, it香蕉视频直播檚 on all of us to keep that diva magic alive.
香蕉视频直播淢ore than ever we need to be kind and aligned. Together we will get through this.香蕉视频直播�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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