Les McAfee

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1951-1991

Born in Lestock, Saskatchewan on March 14, 1951. Worked for many years for the Progressive Conservative Party in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Moved to Ottawa in 1979 to become a Special Advisor to Hon. David MacDonald.

Les became co-owner of Shades Bar (1982-1986) with Bill McBurney, the first ever gay-owned bar in Ottawa. He helped found Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE, now Egale Canada) in 1986.

He unsuccessfully ran for Ottawa City Council in the 1988 election. After this defeat, he became the general manager of the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights, the first monument of its kind in the world.