Mr. Gay Canada 2013

MGC 13 Alumni

Eight delegates competed for the 2013 competition from across Western Canada including: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. The Competition took place from Monday, February 4th to Thursday, February 8th, which coincided with the annual GayWhistler's WinterPRIDE festival - Gay/Lesbian Ski/Snowboard week. Special celebrity judges included RuPaul's All Star - Chad Michaels, Charlie David, Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, and other community dignitaries.

Danny Papadatos

Winner Mr. Gay Canada 2013

Winner MGC People's Choice

Profession/Occupation: Corporate training Manager for Boston Pizza (Saskatchewan)

Rylie Moore

1st Runner Up MGC13

Profession/Occupation: Graduate Student - Doctoral in Clinical Psychology

Hobbies/Interests: Music, cooking, theatre, meeting new people and good conversation.

Community Involvement: I've been on the Saskatoon Diversity Network planning PRIDE for Saskatoon for the last couple years as well as organized fundraisers to help and support the organization. I was also the co-chair for the RSAR in Saskatchewan that helped raise $25,000+ for LGBTQ charitable organizations in Saskatchewan in one year one organization being Campy Fyrefly.

Short Essay: For years as a queer youth I struggled with identity both within the community and within myself. I didn't know where I belonged or where would fit in. I came from a very traditional Greek upbringing and felt shame in the realization of who I was and the future I wanted for myself. Through trials and tribulations I learned life lessons that I would never want to have gone without as they have made me a person with pride, strength and independance. My life may not have been a fairy tale but it's sometimes more about taking where you've been and using it to help you get you where you need to go. I can proudly say today I am the man I want and wanted to be and with that being said I am beyond happy to be a contestant for Mr. Gay Canada.

Brandon Hamilton

Mr. Gay Vancouver

Profession/Occupation: Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor

Hobbies/Interests: Fitness & Health, Travel, Art & Music

Community Involvement: Bootcamp instructor/Health Advisor for Health Initiative for Men

Short Essay: I want to be Mr. Gay Canada because I’d like to contribute to the expansion of human rights for our communities and I want to encourage personal development through physical health to maximize our capabilities for personal empowerment. I’ve been living in a community where my homosexuality has been so widely accepted. This safety has enabled me to focus on my body, my career, my mental and spiritual well being. The combination of a strong and safe community and focus on personal development has been an integral part of my life.

I grew up in a small farming community where homophobia was rampant. I had few friends and little support even from my family. As I grew up into adulthood I moved to Vancouver; a city so safe, diverse and accepting. I escaped depression and was finally able to focus on improving myself so I could be successful in my own life and help others in their own lives. Today, I feel phenomenally lucky to live in a country with such progressive GBLTQ rights and a city where we can feel safe and valued. In the majority of the world this is not the case for our people and some are forced to focus on basic survival and safety instead of being able to bring quality to themselves and their communities. Through strong community connections and through the world’s social media tools, I will make this world a safer, more accepting place.

Three years ago as a pedestrian I got hit by a car running a red light. My treatment heavily involved going to the gym. Before this point I was not confident enough to do this and nobody had ever introduced me to this world of fitness. Now I’m a personal trainer at a strong community facility. This lifestyle change made me more physically able. It made me aware of what I put in my body, my energy levels and how I take care of myself. It taught me to love not only my mental and emotional self, but also my spiritual, and physical self. As Mr. Gay Canada and a personal trainer I will challenge people to treat themselves as a temple on every level. In my career every day and in this competition, I will challenge everyone to make positive holistic changes within our own lives. If we can be strong and confident in ourselves then we can prove that we are all humans worthy of equality and that we each have something unique of value to offer to our communities and to the world.

Cody Gurash

Profession/Occupation: Hair Stylist

Hobbies/Interests: Travel, Fitness, Reading, Music & Art

Community Involvement: Gay bachelor, fundraising for local charity's and organizations , supportive of LGBTQ events.

Short Essay: I have always been very involved within my community, through supporting causes within my city and working at 302 Lounge and Discotheque. I have always considered myself just an average person. I never truly realized the impact one person could make until I became the Gay Bachelor on a local radio station. This created some news, not only in my home city but also in the surrounding area and provinces. This led to other media, television and newsprint, picking up the story and giving it further exposure. It was an amazing experience to see that just by being myself I could have such a positive and large impact for the LGBTQ community, from the emails I received from supportive listeners to the people who used this experience to become more comfortable with themselves. This is why I have decided to take on the quest to become Mr. Gay Canada. To help and support the community that has given and shown me so much. The Gay Bachelor has given me only a taste of the difference I can make and I would love nothing more than to do so on a much larger scale. I hope from these experiences that I can show people that you can make a change and a positive difference by just being yourself. That you don't have to be a celebrity, and politician, or someone in a position of power to change the way the world is viewed or perceived.

Garret Schreyer

Profession/Occupation: Geologist tech

Hobbies/Interests: snowboarding, tinkering with all kinds of vehicles, working on my parents or brothers farm, mud bogging, biking, swimming, tough mudder, keeping active and on my feet, and hiking

Community Involvement: terry fox, clean up Thompson

Short Essay: As a gay individual its taken me years to feel accepted and not alienated from society, especially coming from a rural community with a large farming and religious family, where understanding myself and others understanding the LGBT community was limited. I believe as a young gay male that I've been blessed with the ability to persevere and stand up strong in voicing in whats right for all gay people. It has shaped me into who I am today, allowing me to step forth and come out as a proud gay individual. Today standing proud shoulder to shoulder, I hope I can help show my struggles and accomplishments to so many others with the journey of acceptance and perseverance to continue to move forward. I may not have all the experience like some but I do know I have the fundamentals and confidences to move forward and express my concerns and challenges for the LGBT community. This is my first Mr Gay Canada competition which has opened my eyes to a whole new world and has shown me I have a strong perseverance, self discipline and voice which has allowed me to see that I can do anything. I want to change the lives for so many not only the LGBT communities in Canada but in so many other countries all over the world.

Danny Papadatos (SK) - Winner of MGC13 with Whistler Mayor, Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, and 1st runner up Riley Moore (BC)

Hobbies/Interests: Education, Dance, Art, Fitness, Music and Travel

Community Involvement: Advocate [Gay Rights, Mental Health), Volunteer [MS campaign), UVic Positive Spaces Resource Person

Short Essay: Being Mr. Gay Canada will offer me an opportunity to be a role model for our community and future profession as a clinical psychologist. Moreover, this is a chance for me to give back to a community that has already enriched and supported me. Although we are fortunate to grow up in a country that celebrates diversity, LGBTQ individuals in Canada can still experience great hardship, especially when we come out to our friends, family, and greater community. During this time, LGBTQ youth often endure significant stress from bullying, fear of losing friends and family, and hate-filled violence from strangers, peers, and family. Having been an elite hockey player in a masculine-driven heteronormative society when I was forced to expose my sexuality as an adolescent, I understand that ‘coming out’ can be an extremely stressful event. Throughout this experience and my training as a clinical psychologist, I have begun to internalize a sense of advocacy for my beliefs, my community and its members, and my future profession. For the reasons already mentioned, LGBTQ individuals are at an increased risk of suffering from mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicide. These struggles make LGBTQ individuals worthy candidates for the support of mental health services; however, the stigma of receiving mental health services and the fear of reaching out leads to the further underutilization of services by this group of individuals. I understand the importance of promoting mental health services to a community to whom it would so greatly benefit. Speaking from personal experience as a recipient of mental health services, psychologists and other mental health professionals are able to offer support through difficult transitions, as well as nurture valuable coping skills that will remain throughout that individual’s life. I aspire to be a compassionate psychologist, friend, family, and community member who can make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ individuals.

Moving beyond my role as a mental health advocate for LGBTQ youth, the Mr. Gay Canada competition provides other important opportunities. Namely, I will be able to meet other inspiring candidates with whom I share a common desire: campaigning for the rights and well being of LGBTQ individuals. As human beings, we are greatly influenced by those surrounding us; therefore, it is crucial for our own self-development that we surround ourselves with individuals who inspire us. Furthermore, the Mr. Gay Canada competition is an opportunity to educate a vast audience. Each competitor will bring an important message, which will be passed to the audiences across the country and around the world. Word of mouth will carry our messages with a potency that will continue to affect change on a national and international stage. Lastly, the combination of interacting with other inspirational candidates and insight into other cultures will continue to strengthen me as a well-rounded, charismatic, and empathetic advocate for our community.

Josh Rimer

1st Runner Up Vancouver

Profession/Occupation: YouTube Personality and Marketer

Hobbies/Interests: Rollerblading, dancing, acting, social media, indie film, musical theatre, travel

Community Involvement: Promote lgbt causes/organizations/charities through YouTube videos on my own account and AGayCollab, reguarily attend events supporting Out In Schools

Short Essay: I would love to have the honour of being Mr Gay Canada and proudly representing the gay community of this great country! I believe that I am an ideal candidate because of my presence within and contribution to the community, my friendly nature and sense of humour, and because I’m already a role model for many gay men around the world through my YouTube videos.

I frequently attend events that benefit lgbt related organizations such as Out in Schools, Friends for Life, A Loving Spoonful, LOUD and Qmunity. I also donate to international gay charities like AllOut.org and share important pressing international issues through my social media accounts. As a member of the AGayCollab channel on YouTube, I create weekly videos that help closeted or curious gay men to see what it can be like to be out and proud of their sexuality. Through that channel and my own popular comedy videos I reach a vast audience all over the world and am often recognized when travelling as the funny, gay Canadian from YouTube!

Since moving to Vancouver five years ago on my own with no previous connections, I have managed to make my mark within the local business and gay community. I’m best known for being a YouTube personality and regularly get invited to speak at conferences and events to share my expertise in YouTube marketing. In addition to being a successful entrepreneur, I have been in a committed relationship for 3 years, so I am an example of two important yet often underrepresented parts of our community.

As someone who is very comfortable in his own skin and in front of large audiences I believe that I would be an excellent ambassador for Canada’s gay community. I would be able to bring awareness to the importance of being a contributing member of the community and acting as a role model for proud gay men. I know that we live in one of the best places in the world for being open with our sexuality and would take great pride in being a representative of that to rest of the world. As Mr Gay Canada I would use my vast online following to bring more exposure to the amazing and inspiring things that are happening within the gay community in Vancouver and the rest of Canada!

Mike Ireland

Mr. Gay Victoria

Profession/Occupation: Server/ Sales associate

Hobbies/Interests: Writing, Acting/Theatre, Camping, Films and Music

Community Involvement: Worked with Y.M.C.A youth groups for Queer/Questioning teens, Worked with School District 61 on ensuring proper homophobia combating tools were in every school and Feeding the homeless through a local church.

Short Essay: If I were chosen as Mr. Gay Canada I would use the opportunity to make a positive impact in our community both local and global. I would do this by sharing my personal journey of discovery. My goal is to empower others to who are straight, gay or in their own journey to find the strength of pride in who they are. I would like to do what I can to make it easier for those both in the community and those not quite yet ready to join.

I was fortunate to be welcomed with open arms and minimal judgment from my peers and family when I came out of the closet and entered the LGBTQ community. Although it was a struggle to come to terms with the fact that I am gay, I can now look back and admit that it was an amazing experience. The warm atmosphere that I found at home, at school and with those who I discovered were my friends inspired me to give back to my community through activism and volunteering. Through this, I met many amazing people and was privileged to hear some of their even more amazing stories. The stories were touching and real, and so many of them came with a mixture of joy and tragedy.

I discovered that my story was a rare and lucky one. This inspired me even more to be a positive role model to the people I knew, and to share with others that the LGBTQ community is a warm and accepting one. It is my hope that this will help someone else down the road.

Though I am young I have been privileged to meet people from all walks of life. Through my experience I developed a personal motto of "a stranger is a best friend you haven't met yet". This motto has served me very well in my life and has offered me many opportunities to change some peoples’ views on our community. My secret weapons are entirely in thanks to our community. Despite our differences or similarities, friendship and respect for one another are the most powerful bonds people can share. These virtues are our greatest weapons as a community and it thrives because of them.

If I were chosen to become the newest "Mr. Gay Canada" I would use my time and energy to deliver the message that through love and respect we can overcome so much and as a community we can only grow stronger. All it takes is a catalyst to begin change. Mr. Gay Canada has a duty to be that catalyst. I would share the hope with every person in our country's community that that it is their right to be as fortunate as I believe that I am. Perhaps they, too, will realize that they can be a catalyst for positive change in the world.

Jonathan Kindzierski

Mr. Gay Manitoba

Profession/Occupation: Student / Stage Manager / Bar Tender

Hobbies/Interests: Art & Theatre/Production, Travel, Fitness, Yoga, New Experiences, & lazy days spent in the park.

Community Involvement: I have been involved in various HIV related charities and organizations. In addition, I have also taken part in promotion, support and fundraising for LGBT organizations & events.

Short Essay: I have been incredibly fortunate in my personal life experiences. Growing up in an accepting environment of family and friends, I wish to make my positive experiences accessible to everyone, because such is not the case for everyone. This will be facilitated not just through my local LGBT Community, or Canada, but the International Community. Homophobia still exists. For some it is an epidemic. It can escalate to bullying, depression, and suicide. This is intolerable. I believe acceptance is fundamental. It is inalienable right for everyone. You should never be afraid to be yourself.

Mr. Gay Canada is not a beauty contest. It is a challenge. It provides opportunity to strive for positive change in the world. If voted for, I would have a responsibility to guarantee that be accomplished. To not only have the opportunity to be heard, but to encourage other to do so as well. We are all part of this community, and by realizing that we can speak with a much louder voice. Our strength is unity.

If granted the honour of Mr. Gay Canada, it would provide me with a platform. I will be that voice that refuses to be ignored. I will be a leader that others can rally behind, and use every opportunity made available to me. This position ensures that one day everyone can encounter their own positive experiences, as I have been so fortunate to have had.