MGC MR GAY CANADA
MGC 12 Alumni
Five delegates competed for the 2012 competition. The competition took place from Thursday, February 9th to Saturday, February 11th, which coincided with the annual GayWhistler's WinterPRIDE festival - Gay/Lesbian Ski/Snowboard Week.
Many of the competition events were held during WinterPRIDE events starting with the introduction of delegates at the WinterPRDIE Pool Party, presented by the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba at Meadow Park.
We are proud to announce the Winners of Mr Gay Canada 2012.
Thomas Egli - Mr. Gay Canada 2012 | Competed at Mr. Gay World Competition in Johannesburg, South Africa April 4-8, 2012 placing 5th Runner Up
Brian Webb - MGC's People Choice Winner 2012
Calan Breckon - MGC's Mr. Congeniality 2012
Thomas Egli
Mr. Gay Canada 2012
Profession/Occupation: Independent Environmental Consultant / International Tour Leader
I have been fortunate enough to be supported through life ‘s thrilling journey by friends and family. Growing up in Canada, I have also been supported by a society that aims to accept all its members, regardless of origin or orientation. Having traveled extensively through both the developed and developing world, I have seen that there are still many societies where being a homosexual is not only considered immoral, but it is a crime. I have met individuals in many areas who are afraid to be themselves because they live in places that are much less tolerant than the West. In the Middle East, parts of Africa, Asia, and in parts of the Americas, young people are continually being denied the right to free expression of self, which is a value that has almost come to be expected in most of Canada. My own experiences growing up and coming out on the Canadian Prairies reminds me that, although Canada has a positive reputation in regards to accepting homosexuality, some youth in this country are still having to face immense challenges in learning to be comfortable with themselves.
The Mr. Gay Canada competition is an opportunity for me to make the positive impact in the lives of youth needed in our country. I feel that, as a society, Canada is lacking positive role models for LGBT youth. Very few examples exist in mainstream sports, media, politics, and entertainment. Although changing, the high rate of violence against members of the community as well as alarming teen suicide rates are indications that much more can be done. Seeing role models who have achieved success in diverse fields will empower GLBT youth to face the challenges of growing up and further affect change in the world around them.
I remember the journey that I started as a young man to better understand who I am. When I exposed myself to the world of gay culture, I became immediately afraid that I couldn’t find the right mould into which I should fit. We all use stereotypes to easily organize what we see around us, but these categories are severely limiting. In time, I came to realize that there is no “typical” gay man and I didn’t have to fit into any pre-existing ideas of who I should be. This is the journey that I hope to share with others.
I am not what you would find in a glossy magazine, nor am I a porn star, but I represent the reality that being gay is a remarkable journey undertaken by people from all backgrounds.
Jeremy Long
Profession/Occupation: Youth Worker / Server
I work as a Youth Worker with street entrenched and gay youth at a drop in center and at a youth detox. I also work as a server at Oasis Ultra Lounge on Davie Street. I have had the privilege to be part of a team of amazing gay men at Oasis who accept me for who I am and have become great friends.
I have spent the last year improving myself athletically. I always strive to do better, feel better, and look better.
I feel like this opportunity to become Mr. Gay Canada will enable me to continue making a difference at a public level. I would like to inspire young gay men to be themselves and become strong, beautiful, successful, independent and happy gay men.
I have found a place in this community where I am respected and accepted. I have wonderful friends and I no longer feel afraid or ashamed to be gay. I feel privileged to live life as a gay man who has overcome discrimination, and adversity. I want to send a message to young gay men that they too can find acceptance, love and support. Everything they will endure will make them strong beautiful people.
I look forward to this year’s competition to show you how I will be your best choice for Mr. Gay Canada. I look forward to this opportunity to meet new people, and have some fun. I promise to represent Canada as a positive role model for young gay men. I want to be a light that young men see to give them hope and inspire them to be the best gay men they can be!
Ryan Clayton
Profession/Occupation: Lifeguard, Educator, Improviser
There are two parts to why I'd like to be a candidate. One, I would greatly like a chance to bring my involvement in my community to a wider stage to motivate others and inspire them to also be involved. I am from a small town where I did not have many opportunities to be a part of my community, yet I somehow managed to make my way to the big city and carve out the life I want to lead in the way I want to lead it. I've spent the time since moving to Vancouver working with schools across British Columbia to try to end homophobia, recently moving into working directly with the Provincial Government in trying to bring BC into line with other progressive provinces in terms of policy. I also enjoy being on stage and finding my voice, something I have managed to develop through being an improv comedian.
As a facilitator I spend most of my time speaking to high school students about homophobia, sexual orientation and gender identity. I've now spent years discussing with students the effects of saying "that's so gay", the issues surrounding suicide, myths and facts about GLBTQ persons, and issues around HIV/AIDS. I often share stories about my life growing up in a small town in BC to help talk about these issues. Go ahead, ask me!
Mr Gay Canada has two roles in my mind. On one hand, he represents Canada on a global stage as the leader in human rights that we are. We have rights such as adoption, marriage, partner benefits, and protection under the law. However, at home, Mr Gay Canada represents the leader in human rights we could be. We deserve the right to donate blood, to have our gender identities and expressions protected under the Charter, and to go to school safely. Mr Gay Canada should commit to making Canada even more of the global leader that we are today.
Brian Webb
People's Choice MGC12
Profession/Occupation: Marketing, Blogging
As an active and respected blogger with a wide reach across the LGBT online community, I am seeking to be Mr. Gay Canada to broaden my voice both within the LGBT and global community.
Growing up in the rural town of Armstrong, BC, I played an active roll in the local community, serving as a board member of the North Okanagan Gay & Lesbian Organization, and as a peer councilor at YouthGlo, an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth in the North Okanagan.
Since moving to Vancouver, BC, I have sought to maintain my involvement in the gay community by attending Pride festivals and events across North America. While satisfying my desire to travel it also allows me to learn about LGBT rights and organizations in other communities. Realizing not all jurisdictions are equal has demonstrated to me more work needs to be done to secure the basic human rights of gays, lesbians and trans- gendered people around the world.
Through the growth of social media, I have found there is a new venue, online, to be able to reach the LGBT and broader global community. Through my blog, www.mywebbsite.ca, I have found it to be a valuable tool to reach people and tell our stories. Lifestyle articles about food, drink, including the popular Cocktail of the Week, and travel are mixed with entertainment & nightlife, product reviews and healthy living features. Through my blog I have met and interviewed many new and favourite adult- entertainment performers, entertainers and members of the LGBT community, which keep people returning to www.mywebbsite.ca.
I strongly believe a healthy mind and body go hand in hand. While I strive to maintain my educational growth and activism to stimulate my mental health, I work equally hard to maintain my physical health. I am a member of Steve Nash Sports Club where I work out five days per week, and member of the Running Room. Over the past two years, I have participated in eight competitive running races including 10km, half and full marathon. Combining my passions of athleticism and social media, I am an official athlete spokesperson for the Underwear Affair and hold multiple media accreditations with BMO Marathons, Underwear Affair and Sun Run.
Calan Breckon
Mr. Congeniality MGC12
Profession/Occupation: NFP Executive Director
Well I would really like being a contestant because as an overall I think it would be a great experience, and isn't that what life is about, great experiences? I've learnt a lot of really fantastic lessons through my life and hope to share that knowledge I have with others. I also think Mr. Gay Canada could be a great partnership for the non- profit organization I run, The Diversity Project, and give even more power behind the in school presentations I organize. If I had been in school and had a figure like Mr. Gay Canada come to my school and give a presentation saying that it was OK to be myself I think it would have given me a lot more confidence to be who I was. When I speak to youth about bullying or homophobia I'm careful never to tell them that they are bad and it's wrong, I like to approach it more as giving them the tools to understand and come to their own realization that it's wrong and hurts people. I find it makes more of an impact when they are the ones who make the choice and it's not an adult telling them what to think because that never works with rebellious youth. At the end of the day I'm a person who wants to make a big difference in this world and anything I can do to get closer to that goal is great to me. Life is too short to not jump at any opportunities that come your way and Mr. Gay Canada is just one of those opportunities.
Rick Renaud
Profession/Occupation: Federal Government
To me the Mr. Gay Canada title is a way to give back to the GLBTQ community, to empower individuals and to make positive changes. I am not extraordinary, nor would I classify myself as the most well known or popular gay icon. However, I believe in standing up for the rights, privileges and freedoms of the LGBTQ community. I want to be the next Mr. Gay Canada to represent Canadian LGBTQ individuals in our country; to show them you can make positive changes, you can be out, and you do not have to conform to society's standards and be what they want you to be, that it's ok to be different. I want to be able to represent the community and show individuals you can be proud of whom you are and that you do not have to be the greatest looking person, the boy next door, or the typical jock - but rather that you can just be yourself. That life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself. By being the next Mr Gay Canada I can show the LGBTQ individuals and others in our country that you can make a difference no matter who you are. That not every LGBTQ is the stereotypical drama queen closeted and sleeps around. That we are human too we have feelings, wants, needs, and desires. Rather I want to be that voice for those who find it hard to speak out; I want to be the voice that stands up for those who sometime fear they cannot speak, fear they cannot be themselves, and overall want to be accepted in our society who still today has a lot of stereotypical views of the LGBTQ people. As Mr Gay Canada I envision an inclusive, diverse, and safe country which celebrates all its members regardless of their sexual or gender identity. A "safe" country which is free from hate, bullying, and discrimination, and from violence which is motivated by homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.