Love Medicine -Opening Reception and Performance by Chelazon Leroux

Please join us for the opening reception of Love Medicine on Thursday, June 11th, 2026, at 7 PM, and it will feature a performance by Drag Queen artist, Chelazon Leroux (Dene).

Love Medicine, curated by Métis art historian Dr. Michelle McGeough, aims to create a space of recognition and community, offering an artistic embrace in response to the historical traumas inflicted by the settler nation-state on 2Spirit/Indigiqueer bodies. This exhibition is founded on the belief that love, expressed through artistic acts, is a powerful force for healing and affirmation. It features approximately 22 Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ artists whose works touch on various time periods and regions, and explore love as healing, community and belonging, affirmation and embrace, and resilience and identity.

Chelazon Leroux is Layten Byhette’s stage name. Chelazon (she/he/they) is a Toronto-based Two-Spirit Dene First Nations multidisciplinary artist. Chelazon’s artistic pursuits include drag, stand-up comedy, and social media content creation. Chelazon uses her Indigenous identity—as a status member of Buffalo River Dene Nation (Treaty 10) and family ties to Fond Du Lac First Nation (Treaty 8)—as the foundation for her creative works. Chelazon is best known for her Auntie persona and TikTok posts, as well as being a competitor on Season 3 of Canada’s Drag Race. Chelazon uses her social media influence to educate and entertain audiences worldwide on the beauty and experience of Indigenous identity.

This evening event is also coordinated and organized to honor and celebrate Queen City Pride Week. Please see their website for details of other events they are coordinating. https://queencitypride.ca/

Event Schedule

7:00 Reception: Catering provided by Crave and Giroux Catering.

Cash bar provided by Crave.

7:30 Opening remarks by John Hampton & Queen City Pride Representative Dylan Block

Guest Curator: Michelle McGeough, Love Medicine

7:45 pm Special Performance by Chelazon Leroux

8:45 pm – 9:45 pm Preview of Love Medicine Exhibition