Saskatoon truly shines during Pride Month! It’s a time to celebrate with loved ones and to honour those who paved the way for these moments of joy. I want to take a moment to highlight the work of someone who was important to the preservation of queer history, not just in this city and province, but across Canada too – Neil Richards.
Neil was born in Ontario and came to Saskatoon in 1971 for a position at the University of Saskatchewan Library. He was active in gay rights, liberation, and organizations since his arrival in the city. Neil was a very quiet, and private person, but combing through his archives at the University of Saskatchewan, the evidence is clear that he was an integral part of gay activism throughout the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s.
He actively participated in demonstrations, marches, public events, celebrations, and political organizing across the city and province. Importantly, he collected and preserved thousands of pieces of ephemera, including newspaper articles, magazines, letters, photographs, and much more, now housed in the Richards Collection at the University of Saskatchewan’s University Archives and Special Collections. Arguably one of the largest collections of its kind in Canada, it offers a rich and detailed record of 2SLGBTQAI+ life in the country, capturing everything from everyday minutiae to house parties, entertainment, conferences, protests against Anita Bryant’s anti-gay tour, and other major events spanning from the 1800s to the early 2000s.
Even in retirement, Neil remained dedicated to collecting and preserving 2SLGBTQAI+ history. I had the honour of meeting him in 2017 when I arrived at the University to conduct research in his archive. Over the course of several weeks of thoughtful conversations, we began planning a series of public history events, with the ultimate goal of recording oral histories from older community members and Elders. Sadly, Neil passed away in early 2018, leaving a massive hole in our community. He also left behind an extraordinary legacy of care, activism, and historical stewardship. His contributions continue to shape our understanding of queer life in the Prairies and serve as a foundation for future generations to learn from, build upon, and honour.
