2“Community One Presents an Evening at Integral House” takes place on Saturday, November 19, 2016, and it will be the last publicly available event before the sale of the famous Integral House. Community One is one of many charitable organizations receiving proceeds from the sale, per the wishes of its owner and creator James Stewart, the late long-time LGBT activist, mathematician, and textbook magnate.

This will be a night not to be missed, and will be attended by many notable Canadians, including Hilary Farr of “Love It Or List It”, musician Simone Denny, designer David Dixon, and many more. The one-of-a-kind evening celebrates 36 years of important work the Foundation has achieved, including funding the beginnings of LGBT institutions like The 519 and Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, and will be hosted by 2015 California Comedian of the Year, Carla Collins. Feature performances include Opera Atelier, Community One Foundation Rainbow Grant recipient Tessa Godden, and popular Toronto drag acts Sofonda Cox and Donnarama.

I caught up with Carla Collins on the phone from California.

How are you doing?

I am doing very well. The weather is awesome here in California, pretty much most of the time. We can use some rain, but then when it rains everyone panics.

As much as I don’t want to go there, how is the political climate is the USA?

I have two hours of material on that, because you must laugh at it, so you don’t cry about it. Listen it’s not a pretty picture, people have doubts about both candidates, and personally I don’t know how you can compare Hillary to Trump. She had a long career as a public servant, and during these many years you are bound to have made some not so popular decisions. Myself personally, I just want to give Hillary a makeover against her will.

Let’s talk about the Community One event, are you excited to be hosting this?

I usually say I am not gay, but I am gay adjacent, so I love doing this in the gay community. I have done Prides, AIDS Walks, many other fundraisers, and I was even a regular at the Flying Beaver Pubaret. Back to this event, yes I am VERY excited, and it’s going to be quite unique. Community One is a very important organization in the community, and the venue the event is happening at is going to be fantastic.

What is the program for the night, and what can attendees expect?

There are some fabulous drag performances, there’s opera, and there’s me, so how can it not be a great night. I will be doing some comedy to keep everyone laughing of course. Oh, there is also dancing. I promise you this is not going to be a sit down stuffy affair, this is going to be fun. RBC is the big sponsor, and tickets are still left which are reasonably priced for what you are getting, which a relaxed, fun vibe. What I am most excited about though is bringing attention to Community One and all the great work they do.

Let’s talk about you for a few. What’s new and exciting?

I am starting season two of my web series “Carla Collins Comes Clean”. If you haven’t seen it you can catch it on my YouTube channel. Basically I am in a tub talking about issues and things, and there are surprises. That’s all that I am going to tell you, so you’ll have to check it out. https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlaCollinsComedy

You are “California Comic of the Year 2015”, tell me all about that?

I am not one for awards, as much as I believe in them, and in people being celebrated for doing a good job. This award was from the Southern California Motion Picture Council. They came to some of my shows, and I guess they liked them.

More on Carla can be found on her website – http://www.carlacollins.com

A private VIP reception and home tour conducted by one of the home’s architects, Bridget Shim of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, will be held for donors and supporters at 6:00 p.m. Public access to the event opens at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $125 at http://bit.ly/c1integral

Proceeds from tickets will go towards the many grants awarded by the Community One Foundation. http://communityone.ca

Integral House
194 Roxborough Drive, Toronto, ON M4W 1X8

About the Author

Antoine has on numerous occasions said that everything he does is “a love letter to the LGBTQ community”. and he truly loves this community. A 29 years’ media and marketing leader, Antoine is the publisher of theBUZZ, The Pink Pages Directory, PinkPlayMags, and a magazine for Durham Region families called The Local Biz Magazine, and is the host of talk show “On the Couch”. On his off time he is usually involved in community organizations and causes. In his blog for theBUZZ he chats with artists, event producers, creative people, and other interesting personalities in the community.