At the Gardens at Kensington Health, long-term care is more than a place to live – it’s home. And at home, everyone deserves to feel safe, seen, and celebrated.
That’s the spirit behind Gay Ol’ Time, a monthly drag performance series, led by Minhi Wang, local drag performer, passionate 2SLGBTQ+ advocate and recent Canada’s Drag Race finalist. Each month, residents, staff, and loved ones of the Gardens come together for an afternoon of music, dance, sequins, and more. Whether it’s their first time seeing a drag show, or one of many, the show is an important reminder to have fun and show up just as you are.
Over the past two months, Gay Ol’ Time has been featured by major Canadian news outlets, with national coverage that celebrates not just the performances, but the deeper message they carry: long-term care should be inclusive, affirming, and full of life.
Check out some of the recent media stories below.
NOW Toronto
Last month, NOW Toronto explored the deeper purpose behind Gay Ol’ Time: creating spaces in long-term care, rooted in authenticity and community. Minhi Wang reflected on how powerful it is to bring drag into long-term care settings, seeing it as laying the groundwork for more 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming spaces in senior care. Justine Humphries, Vice President, Strategy, People & Partnerships at Kensington Health, shared how the program has also become an educational opportunity too, inviting staff and loved ones to engage in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
🔗 Read the article here!
CBC News
Back in June, Kensington Health marked Pride Month with our annual celebration, and we were fortunate enough to not only be joined by staff, residents, loved ones, and community members, but the CBC too! Before kicking off the event, Wang quipped about hoping to have “a drag queen perform for me when I get old” while Adil Khalfan, President & CEO at Kensington Health, emphasized how “the beauty of Kensington has always been about…allowing [people] to be who they are.”
🔗 Watch the segment here! The coverage is also available in French here.
CTV Your Morning
At the end of July, Wang chatted with CTV Your Morning to talk about the program, spotlighting why joy, inclusion, and visibility matters so greatly in long-term care settings. As she reminds us, “residents live at [the Gardens] – so they should feel at home here.” And being home means being free to be exactly who you are.
🔗Watch the segment here (skip to 02:04:01)!
Why This Matters
Programs like Gay Ol’ Times are so important because they tell everyone this: you matter, you’re not invisible, and you deserve to be authentically yourself.
At the Gardens, inclusion isn’t a once-a-year event – it’s woven into the everyday. From staff training in diversity and trauma-informed care to vibrant programming that reflects the community's full spectrum of identities, Kensington Health is leading by example.
These shows are more than entertainment. They are moments of healing, affirmation, and joy. They remind us that everyone deserves a home where they can be themselves – no matter their age, orientation, or gender identity.
Learn more about the Gardens at Kensington Health here.
