When

Friday, September 25, 2026 · 6:30 p.m.

Where

Weird Church · 2688 Penrith Avenue · Cumberland · British Columbia · Venue page

Organizer

Queer Centre Comox Valley

Cost

$27

Ages

16+

Link

Visit event website

"The Blue Taffeta Party Dress & Other Stories is a collection of 19 autobiographical stories from my childhood in a small, northern town, to my life as the principal of the high school I graduated from, in that same small town. These are my stories — as I remember them.” Set in a small northern town in the 1970s, this is more than a coming out story. It’s a raw, honest, and often wry journey through the psyche, the politics, and the pressures of a time that had little room for difference. "As a gay kid growing up in an era of silence and shame, my voice was misrepresented, undermined, even sensationalized by the dominant culture. Now, I’m setting the story straight — through moments of resilience, humour, heartbreak, and hope. This is a story about choosing authenticity over fear, joy over judgment, and community over isolation. It’s not just about coming out. It’s about coming into a life fully lived." Since retiring, Dennis Hawkins-Bogle has embraced a life rich with purpose, creativity, and community. A lifelong storyteller, his passion for writing was reignited after a transformative summer on Cortes Island. His work spans children’s tales, fantasy, comedy, memoir, and political and social commentary—but at its heart, his writing always centres love, compassion, and a refusal to let silenced voices remain unheard. In retirement, Dennis is never far from service—volunteering at the theatre, advocating for justice, or lending a hand in the community kitchen. He is, simply put, a remarkable human being who models what it means to live with meaning and heart. “The stories in The Blue Taffeta Party Dress are an intimate and honest portrayal of coming of age as a gay man in the 70s and 80s in rural BC. They are humorous and engaging; they show us snippets of life that make us think, feel, wonder, and laugh. Particularly poignant for me were the stories relating the author’s gradual discovery of his homosexuality in an information desert, and his return to his hometown as a professional man.” Kate Sulis Kimberely, BC About Dennis Hawkins-Bogle. I worked in education, as a school teacher and then a principal, for 34 years. I have the honour of being the principal of the most northerly school in BC, Denetia School in Lower Post, and the principal of the most northerly school in Canada, Ummimak School in Grise Fiord, Nunavut. Before going into education I trained as a professional actor at Studio 58 in Vancouver. I am married and live in Campbell River with my husband and our two cats. I keep busy in the literary and theatre communities in Campbell River. I am a writer, a playwright, an actor and a director." There will be a 15 minute intermission. Proceeds from the show will support Queer Centre Comox Valley.