#FUNDRAISING: MINGLE WITH THE ARQUIVES

Toronto’s queer arts community is coming together on Thursday, November 12, 2026, for MINGLE with The ArQuives, a special fundraising event supporting the preservation of Canada’s trans histories. Presented by POZ-TO and POZPLANET Magazine, the free event will take place at The Well (487 Church Street, second floor) from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., featuring live comedy, music and a community raffle with prizes donated by Toronto businesses and supporters. Funds raised through raffle ticket sales and voluntary donations will contribute to the labour, data and storage costs of maintaining The ArQuives’ Trans Collections in 2027.

Hosted by longtime drag entertainer and HIV/AIDS activist Jade Elektra, with music by DJ Relentless, the evening will feature performances by comedians Bee Bertrand and Ava Val, acclaimed musician and writer Meryn Cadell, and jazz singer and storyteller Sistah Lois, all donating their talents in support of the cause. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a fundraising raffle featuring a variety of donated prizes, including restaurant gift certificates from The Lunch Lady, Bar Allegro, Lyla and Aburi Hana, alongside additional contributions from local businesses and community supporters.

Preserving Canada’s Trans Histories for Future Generations

Founded in 1973, The ArQuives is the world’s largest independent 2SLGBTQIA+ archive and the only one in Canada with a national collecting scope. For more than five decades, the Toronto-based organization has documented stories often overlooked by traditional institutions, preserving the lives, activism and cultural contributions of queer and trans lives in Canada.

Among its holdings, the Trans Collections provide an important record of trans and gender-diverse experiences through photographs, personal records, publications and other historical materials. These collections help ensure that the individuals and movements that have “Stigma tells each trans person they are false, harmful and without lineage,” said Tobaron Waxman, artist and Community Outreach Archivist for the Trans Collections at The ArQuives. “At The ArQuives, however, to develop the Trans Collections, it’s trans priorities, not stigma and sexism, that shape how we welcome donors and how their materials are described.”

Waxman also emphasized the role of the collections in fostering education, representation, and connections across generations.

“The ArQuives creates learning opportunities for students and scholars of all ages. Trans knowledge, the cultural work by trans and gender-diverse thinkers and activists, contributes to both scholarly growth in many fields and community well-being and celebrates trans futures. In this way, trans histories in Canada can be shared beyond their own orbit, and threads of generational connection grow. From the Trans Collections we learn about power, liberation and the sublime, through the lived lives of trans people. The Trans Collections are built from the ground up, to Canadian archival standards, in order to record trans histories and make them accessible to scholars, activists and trans futures.”

Maintaining these records requires ongoing investment in archival labour, data management, and storage. Through the November 12 fundraiser, MINGLE aims to make a significant contribution toward these costs in 2027, supporting The ArQuives’ continued work to safeguard these materials and make them accessible to future generations.

Toronto’s Queer Arts Community Takes the Stage

Held every second Thursday of the month at The Well in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village, MINGLE is a weekly fundraiser hosted by Jade Elektra, the drag persona of recording artist and HIV/AIDS activist Alphonso King Jr. Originally established as POZ-TO, a monthly gathering for people living with HIV, MINGLE has evolved into a community event supporting a different charitable organization each week.

With roots in New York City’s influential drag and ballroom scene, Jade relocated to Toronto in 2009 and went on to establish the POZ-TO Awards, honouring unsung heroes of HIV/AIDS advocacy. In 2019, Jade became the first drag performer to sing at Toronto’s AIDS Memorial at The 519, using her performance to raise awareness of the U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) message.

For the November 12 fundraiser, Jade will be joined by an accomplished lineup of performers donating their talents in support of The ArQuives. The evening will feature Bee Bertrand, a Toronto-based comedian recognized as one of Just for Laughs Montreal’s 2019 New Faces, known for his comedy exploring life as a transgender man, Meryn Cadell the acclaimed musician and writer behind the international hit The Sweater; Sistah Lois, a longtime jazz singer, storyteller and community activist and Ava Val, a John Candy Award-winning comedian with credits including Canada’s Got Talent and Roast Battle Canada.

An Evening of Entertainment and Community Fundraising

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with live performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. Each artist will present a six-minute performance, followed by music from DJ Relentless, the fundraising raffle and a final hour of happy hour before the event concludes at 10:00 p.m.

Guests can enjoy food from The Well’s menu throughout the evening, with the dance floor opening following the performances. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase, offering guests the opportunity to win a selection of donated prizes while contributing to the continued care and preservation of the Trans Collections.

MINGLE is free to attend and open to guests aged 19 and over. Attendees are encouraged to participate in the raffle or make voluntary donations in support of The ArQuives and its ongoing work preserving Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ histories.

Accessibility Note: The event will take place on the second floor of the venue, accessible by stairs only, with no elevator available. Livestream arrangements are pending confirmation. Guests are encouraged to follow The ArQuives on Instagram for updates regarding remote viewing options.

Event Details
Event: MINGLE with The ArQuives
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Performances: Beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: The Well, 487 Church Street, Second Floor, Toronto
Admission: Free, all are welcome
Presented by: POZ-TO and POZPLANET Magazine
Hosted by: Jade Elektra and Tobaron Waxman
In Support of: The ArQuives Trans Collections

For additional event information, visit arquives.ca/event/mingle-with-the-arquives/
Donations to the ArQuives can be made HERE.

About MINGLE
Presented by POZ-TO and POZPLANET Magazine, MINGLE is a monthly community gathering and fundraising event hosted by drag entertainer, recording artist and HIV/AIDS activist Jade Elektra (Alphonso King Jr.) at The Well in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village. Originally established as POZ-TO, a monthly social gathering for people living with HIV, the initiative evolved into MINGLE, expanding its focus on community connection, entertainment and charitable giving. Each second Thursday of the month, MINGLE supports a different charitable organization through live performances, music and fundraising activities. Rooted in inclusion and community advocacy, MINGLE welcomes Toronto’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies, with no admission fee.
About The ArQuives
Founded in 1973, The ArQuives is the world’s largest independent 2SLGBTQIA+ archive and Canada’s only 2SLGBTQIA+ archive with a national collecting scope. Based in Toronto, the organization is dedicated to collecting, preserving and providing public access to materials documenting the histories, experiences and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across Canada. Through its collections, public programming, research resources and educational initiatives, The ArQuives promotes greater awareness and understanding of 2SLGBTQIA+ histories and scholarship, ensuring these stories remain accessible to present and future generations.
For more information, visit www.arquives.ca.
Media Contacts

Tobaron Waxman
Community Outreach Archivist / Trans Collections
The Arquives
E. Tobaron@arquives.ca

Brynn Bouman-Howell
Senior Director
Milestones Public Relations
E. BrynnB@milestones-pr.com
Jenny Shin
President and CEO
Milestones Public Relations
E. Jshin@milestones-pr.com
T. 1-647-286-8584
The ArQuives
W. www.Arquives.ca
IG. @TheArquives