Paul’s Place dedicated to supporting 2SLGBTQI+ community
A brand-new safe space is opening this month in Carman.
Paul’s Place is having its grand opening on Nov. 26 with a puzzling contest from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Owned by partners Pauline and Melissa Emerson-Froebe, Paul’s Place is a “safe queer space” for people of all sexual orientations to hang out.
Melissa has been making and selling tie dye clothing for years and as her business has gotten bigger, the couple has less room in their home to store the items. So, after finding success selling at Peace Lily Therapeutics’ weekly Wednesday market, they asked owner Mayghan McEachern if she would share the space.
“We’re business roommates,” Pauline said of the move.
So, at 11 1st Street South, Paul’s Place has been created. The space will include Melissa’s tie dye clothes, pride items, coffee, tea, tables and chairs, an Atari gaming system, numerous board games and puzzles. Anyone can go to Paul’s Place during opening hours and do nothing or everything there — at no charge.
“Sometimes people can’t afford to go hang out,” Pauline said. “That’s what Paul’s Place is for.”
Paul’s Place will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Though the space is free, there is a donation jar if people want to make a contribution. And in the future, there will be a membership to Paul’s Place, similar to a library membership.
Paul’s Place has been unofficially opened since the end of August, being a regular host of Pembina Valley Pride’s game night. It will continue to host those game nights, and the couple hopes their space can become a place for local 2SLGBTQI+ community members to come.
“We’ve been trying to create a space where people can gather that doesn’t necessarily involve alcohol or religion, sometimes even commerce,” said Pauline. “Sometimes people just need a space to be.”
Paul’s Place will be hosting movie nights, game nights and special events. Though those events will have a cover charge, Pauline and Melissa don’t want them to be cost prohibitive, so they’ll work to accommodate where they can.
On Nov. 26, for the grand opening, people can enter a puzzle contest in teams of four or less, the cost being $50 a team. Tie dyes will be available for purchase, games will be out for people to play and the Atari will be on.
At 8 p.m., Drag king Em Westwood will perform.
Paul’s Place is named after Pauline’s dad, Paul, a Homewood native whose chatty demenour and friendly spirit was the inspiration behind the safe space.
