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In 2002 Barry Gagliardi, Christine<br />
Backer, Ron Scheetz and his<br />
partner Johnathan Finlayson<br />
decided to open a leather bar,<br />
the Eagle. In both the gay and<br />
leather communities the ‘eagle’<br />
name is associated with leather<br />
internationally although it isn’t a<br />
franchise. Weekly changing fetish<br />
nights with themes from uniforms<br />
to leather made the bar popular.<br />
The bar also hosted a popular<br />
Mr. Leather competition annually.<br />
The Calgary Municipal Land<br />
Corporation had been trying to<br />
buy the building from the owner<br />
for a few years. When the building<br />
was finally purchased, the Eagle<br />
was notified that its lease would<br />
be terminated. The building has<br />
since been demolished and the<br />
lot sits vacant to this day.<br />
424 8TH AVE SE<br />
“I personally look back and<br />
go wow, what have we<br />
accomplished as a small<br />
business, and just some<br />
guys in the community.<br />
We as a small family<br />
have really rallied to do<br />
what we could. Without<br />
the support of the<br />
community and without<br />
the support of each other,<br />
a lot of things wouldn’t<br />
have happened. So all<br />
we can do is tip our hat<br />
to the community and<br />
say thanks, and we all<br />
go forward.”<br />
—Johnathan Finlayson,<br />
Gay Calgary, 2006<br />
THE EAGLE<br />
43
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