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<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Members of the List Serv - I am posting this on the list serv because I am shocked and saddened by this event. Addresses follow the story (that I have copied from FB) but if you want to write please follow the guidelines and protocols requested by Richie, Jay and Aaron. </SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">BORDELLO IS SHUTTERED <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">But the show will go on... <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">It is with great pain and sadness that Theatre Outré announces the closing of Bordello. Bordello, a performance venue for the registered non-profit theatre society, Theatre Outré, played host to numerous performances, shows and events over the past year in the heart of downtown Lethbridge. Starting modestly in the Whitney Building above the Owl Acoustic Lounge, the venue hosted world class theatrical events, including the world premiere production of Theatre Outré’s critically acclaimed international touring hit <I>UNSEX’d</I>, and the week long <I>Pretty, Witty & Gay Festival</I> that was funded, in part, by the City of Lethbridge through The Heart of the City grant. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">After such a successful year, we decided to move our operations to a bigger and better space at 517A 4<SUP>th</SUP> Avenue South, in the historic MacFarland Building. This new space, which had previously been a dance studio, was transformed, through many hours of volunteer help, as well as a substantial financial investment by us, into a small black box theatre with a colorful lobby. The end result was a fantastic and exciting venue equipped for future performances by Theatre Outré and other community arts groups and artists. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Unfortunately, in the span of just the past few days, ignorant and homophobic neighbouring tenants in the McFarland Buidling have made it clear in various ways that we are not welcome in their midst. Two hateful, hurtful and defamatory emails were sent to our landlord questioning our integrity based on moral grounds and challenging our co-existing alongside their businesses, including an insurance broker and a music school for children. These emails were sent by Dale Reimer, of Reimer Insurance, and Lydia Collin, from Lydia Collin School of Music. We at Theatre Outré had contemplated the possibility of noise complaints due to our operations but had decided our performance hours, being in direct contrast to the working hours of our neighbors, should not become a major issue. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">The naivety of our own concerns seem quaint now in retrospect, since the actual complaints lobbied against us in emails expressed hypothetical concerns about exposure to homosexual lifestyles, “transsexual endorsement,” child molestation, rape, indecent exposure and acquiring STDs from the building’s toilets. These ‘concerns’ and libelous accusations were inspired, apparently, by Theatre Outré’s website – <A href="http://www.theatreoutre.ca/"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">www.theatreoutre.ca</SPAN></A>. We invite those reading this to visit our website to judge for yourself what we consider an astronomical level of absurdity in the accusations claimed against us. Theatre Outré definitely and proudly proclaims a body positive and sex positive mandate through our work, designed to challenge gendered and sexual norms; however, equating our work with child molestation and other criminal activities, based on one’s own ideas of morality, without having experienced the space or meeting us personally is hurtful, discriminatory, painful and might even be laughable if the result had not been so damaging to our company. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">A petition is being circulated to tenants in the building by Lydia Collin in efforts to have us evicted. An unidentified “concerned” citizen has called the Mayor’s office to complain about our presence in downtown Lethbridge. As a result, a bureaucratic process, which we were close to finishing, was road-blocked and our venue, therefore, is no longer allowed to operate for the purposes of theatre performance until we receive approval from a city council. A fledgling theatre company, in our city, who is a registered society, receives grants from the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, received a grant from The City of Lethbridge, and who is on the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ website, is no longer a proper business and is now threatened with being called an ‘adult theatre’ which requires a City Council vote to operate its own space. This new definition of our space (which they were previously going to license as a ‘club’ with zero red tape) came about after the Mayor’s Office was notified and city hall employees visited our website. At Theatre Outré, we don’t know what the label ‘adult theatre’ means in respect to the work that we do. A year of being legitimized and celebrated as artists across Canada and internationally in cities including Calgary, Halifax, Lethbridge and Dublin has now been reduced to an adult theatre unworthy of operating without special permission because of one phone call to the mayor. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">The closure of Bordello has repercussions in a variety of Lethbridge communities. The following is just a sampling of events and groups we have hosted that are now in search of a new space for their cultural activities: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">The over 500 members of the Theatre Outré Society<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Drama Nutz Improv Troupe<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">New West Theatre<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Bad Wolf Productions<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Fourth Wave Freakz Zine<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">YQL Poetry<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Signal.Bin Electro-Acoustic Night<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">ThugWork Theatre<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in auto 61pt; TEXT-INDENT: -25pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">·</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Visiting performance artists from across the country such as VideoFag, DaPoPo Theatre, Gillian Clark and more<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">We are obviously angered, saddened and distraught by what has transpired and, rest assured, we are not going away. BUT, this does mean we do not have a venue for those fantastic events, and more, any longer. We have sincerely appreciated your support and your creativity and we hope that all our events can continue to flourish in some other way at some other place, even if it is not with us. We will keep everyone posted as to where to voice concerns and outrage over the systematic and unnecessary dismantling of our beloved Bordello. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">If you need someone to talk to about this, please call or email the following people: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Lydia Collin – <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 7"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A href="http://www.myc.com/teacher/lcollin"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none; mso-themecolor: text1">http://www.myc.com/teacher/lcollin</SPAN></A><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 6"> </SPAN><A href="http://www.lydiacollin.com/"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none; mso-themecolor: text1">http://www.lydiacollin.com/</SPAN></A> <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 9"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>403-634-5493 <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Dale Reimer – Reimer Insurance <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 5"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A href="http://www.reimerfin.com/"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none; mso-themecolor: text1">http://www.reimerfin.com/</SPAN></A> <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 9"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>403-327-6808 <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Mayor Chris Spearman <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 9"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A href="mailto:mayor@lethbridge.ca"><FONT color=#0000ff>mayor@lethbridge.ca</FONT></A> <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 10"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>403 320-3823 <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Should you choose to contact the above, we urge our members not to engage in name calling, accusations and threats. We urge you impress upon them what Bordello has meant to you, and what you and the community have lost because of their actions. Sincerity is our best weapon. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"> </P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Richie Wilcox </SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Jay Whitehead </SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; mso-themecolor: text1">Aaron Collier <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=bodytext style="MARGIN: auto 0in"></FONT></o:p> </P></DIV><SPAN style="WORD-WRAP: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wes D. Pearce</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Associate Dean (Undergraduate) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Faculty of Fine Arts </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>University of Regina</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>S4S 0A2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>306 585 5571</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>@wesdpearce</FONT></DIV></SPAN></BODY></HTML>