- Words by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull

Bringing people together is Rudy TomazicB次元官网网址檚 speciality. The Kelowna-based realtor and business owner does big, impactful things for his community but he does them in whatB次元官网网址檚 become his signature way: quietly, behind the scenes.

B次元官网网址淭he thing I enjoy most is making people happy,B次元官网网址� Rudy says with a smile. B次元官网网址淚 get a real charge out of that. I donB次元官网网址檛 need accolades; I just want to do it.B次元官网网址�

As the owner of Friends of Dorothy, the OkanaganB次元官网网址檚 first LGBT2Q+ cocktail lounge (now with a second location in Victoria), Rudy has created a fun and inclusive environment that embraces the very best of queer culture.

B次元官网网址淲e live in a world with too much judgment,B次元官网网址� Rudy says. B次元官网网址淲e are judged on our clothing, our face, our hair and body size. Everything is judged. But when you walk into a queer-focused place, everyone is welcome and weB次元官网网址檙e not judging at all. We want you to come in and just have fun.B次元官网网址�

Friends of Dorothy or simply DorothyB次元官网网址檚, as Rudy affectionately refers to it, is a place to grab a snack and a drink and take in a drag show. At least it was until COVID-19 restrictions put the kibosh on performances. But in true star fashion, KelownaB次元官网网址檚 resident queens continue to show up for Rudy.

B次元官网网址淭he queens in Kelowna arenB次元官网网址檛 being paid to come in right now, but they do! TheyB次元官网网址檙e dressed in drag, theyB次元官网网址檒l just sit on stage with the microphone and talk and heckle people,B次元官网网址� he chuckles. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e doing it not only to keep what weB次元官网网址檝e created alive but to make people laugh and feel good through these challenging times.B次元官网网址�

TheyB次元官网网址檙e also doing it as a show of respect and gratitude for the man who gave them a permanent stage.

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The appreciation for Rudy extends far beyond the LGBT2Q+ community. Together with business partner Nate Flavel, Rudy has turned an annual pop-up drag queen party into a significant fundraiser for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. Noir has sold out in each of its three years, allowing Rudy and Nate to donate upwards of $40,000 to the KGH Foundation.

B次元官网网址淓veryone needs a hospital, not just the LGBT2Q+ community. Everybody. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not a single person on the planet who isnB次元官网网址檛 going to need medical attention at some point in their lives,B次元官网网址� Rudy notes.

The proceeds from Noir have gone to support some of the regionB次元官网网址檚 greatest needs for advancing health care. This includes JoeAnnaB次元官网网址檚 House, as well as a campaign to offer complete cardiac services at KGH by bringing in electrophysiology. Proceeds from Noir also supported the We See You campaign, a fundraising effort in support of KGH staff and the areas of greatest need during the pandemic response.

B次元官网网址淩udy is very humble about his contributions to our community, but he is so generous,B次元官网网址� says Allison Ramchuk, Chief Development Officer for the KGH Foundation. B次元官网网址淲e are so grateful for his gifts to support local health care, and his endless energy and creativity when it comes to fundraising. HeB次元官网网址檚 a very special partner.B次元官网网址�

A second event called Diva will also be a fundraiser for the KGH Foundation once COVID-19 regulations are relaxed. Rudy is eying 2022 for the return of both drag shows.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just so humbled by the support. IB次元官网网址檓 the type of person who charges full steam ahead into a project or a business. I donB次元官网网址檛 really stop to think about a Plan B if it should fail. I only ever have a Plan A,B次元官网网址� he says, laughing.

RudyB次元官网网址檚 drive and penchant for taking risks (he went ahead with plans to open a second restaurant in the midst of the pandemic) were instilled in childhood. ItB次元官网网址檚 a self-taught survival mechanism that came from growing up in a family that he says never really supported his dreams.

B次元官网网址淪omeone was always telling me that I would never be able to do what I wanted. I was told this is the way itB次元官网网址檚 going to be and this is the way youB次元官网网址檙e going to do it. He wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer, but all I ever really wanted to do was make a difference.B次元官网网址�

Rudy can check the box on that dream. His philanthropy has helped and will continue to benefit an entire region. Through his real estate/development company and his two restaurants, Rudy is keeping dozens of people in Kelowna and Victoria employed, all while celebrating the LGBT2Q+ community and putting drag queens in the spotlight.

B次元官网网址淚 really couldnB次元官网网址檛 do any of this without the support of my three sons, close friends and, of course, the Friends of Dorothy teams in both Kelowna and Victoria. TheyB次元官网网址檝e all been right there with me on this journey. When you look at queer culture, weB次元官网网址檝e come a long way but we still have a long way to go.B次元官网网址�

Rudy is determined to keep pushing forward on that. His next dream is to take DorothyB次元官网网址檚 nationwide.

B次元官网网址淚 want to build a staple for the LGBT2Q+ community. If youB次元官网网址檙e in Calgary, or Vancouver or Toronto and youB次元官网网址檙e looking for an LGBT2Q+ establishment, youB次元官网网址檒l see DorothyB次元官网网址檚, and youB次元官网网址檒l know what youB次元官网网址檙e going to get! A place that welcomes everybody.B次元官网网址�

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Rudy admits he has struggled through this pandemic because itB次元官网网址檚 kept him from the thing he loves most in lifeB次元官网网址攂eing shoulder to shoulder with people.

B次元官网网址淎s humans, our nature is to be together. When IB次元官网网址檓 in the restaurant, IB次元官网网址檓 not just managing. IB次元官网网址檓 bussing tables, IB次元官网网址檓 doing dishes, helping prep, doing whatever is needed. I like to mingle, and I canB次元官网网址檛 do that right now, which is difficult for me because I just love to hear peopleB次元官网网址檚 stories.B次元官网网址�

Rudy is now focused on the future and the day he can invite the queens and all the entertainers back on stage to let the good times and the giving roll. Until then, he says, itB次元官网网址檚 on all of us to keep that diva magic alive.

B次元官网网址淢ore than ever we need to be kind and aligned. Together we will get through this.B次元官网网址�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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