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Volunteers are vital to the success of our organization, and we are grateful for the hundreds of hours our volunteers dedicate to the work of the Canadian Pride Historical Society. This volunteer spotlight is for Natasha Comand, our amazing Senior Education Coordinator. Read more about Natasha's volunteer experience below. What are 3 words to describe the CPHS? Three words to describe the CPHS are "impactful", "mission-driven", and "empowering". What do you like the most a

National Volunteer Week runs from April 19 to 25, 2026. It is a time to recognize the people who give their time to strengthen communities across Canada. From cultural organizations to social services, volunteers play a central role in keeping programs active and accessible.

Each year, around the spring equinox, communities across Canada celebrate and raise awareness of 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous and Two-Spirit People. Observed on or near March 20, this day highlights the leadership, resilience, and cultural significance of Indigenous people who identify as Two-Spirit, as well as their place within the broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

This volunteer spotlight is for Cris Lacuna, one of our amazing Content Coordinators. Read more about Cris’ volunteer experience below.

Language has always shaped how Canadians see gender. For transgender and gender-diverse people, finding the right words has been an ongoing act of visibility and survival. Before “transgender” entered everyday use, Canadian media and legal records often used medical or sensationalized terms. In the 1960s and 1970s, “transsexual” and “sex change” were the most common […]

Every October, purple takes over. Landmarks across Canada are lit in violet hues.School halls fill with purple shirts and ribbons. For one day, a single colour links millionsin a quiet act of solidarity. This year, Spirit Day falls on October 16. In 2010, Brittany McMillan, a high school student in British Columbia, read about aseries […]

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a time to pause, reflect and learn about the legacy of Canada’s residential school system. For the Canadian Pride Historical Society, it’s also an opportunity to recognize a history that is often overlooked: the deep connection between Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through the role […]

In the winter of 1971, a small but determined group of activists in Ottawa stepped intothe cold air outside Parliament Hill to demand a new vision for Canada. Known as theWe Demand Rally, it was the country’s first large-scale demonstration for gay rights.While the crowd numbered fewer than 200, the event marked the beginning of […]

The choice of date for Women’s Equality Day commemorates the signing of the 19thamendment on August 26th, 1920, a landmark addition to the American constitution that prohibitedfederal and state governments from restricting the right to vote based on sex. While this was amassive achievement only made possible by the work of dedicated activists, it is […]

In August 1973, something quietly remarkable happened across Canada. For the first time, LGBT communities in cities like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal organized a coordinated week of events that would later be known as Canada’s first Pride Week. It didn’t look like the large, colourful parades we often see today. There were no floats, no […]

Since 2012, International Non-Binary People’s Day has been celebrated every year on July 14th—the date chosen for its placement at the halfway mark between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day. The day—and Non-Binary Awareness Week, which begins on the preceding Monday—is a time for us to recognize, celebrate, and uplift non-binary folks around the […]

This year, Non-Binary Awareness Week takes place from July 14 to 20, 2025. It is a time to highlight the experiences of non-binary people, challenge misconceptions, and encourage greater understanding across communities. While the term non-binary has become more familiar in recent years, the experiences and identities of non-binary people are not new.

You might have seen June 26 called “LGBT Equality Day” in some articles or social posts and there’s a reason for that. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. That ruling (Obergefell v. Hodges) was a major moment in global LGBTQ+ history, and it’s often recognized as […]

On May 30th this year, we commemorate the forty-fourth anniversary of the Pisces Bathhouse Raid, a planned operation by Edmonton’s legal system to arrest Gay men in what was previously a safe space to gather and connect. The legacy of the raids has had an enduring and long-lasting effect on Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and we […]