Sun shone down as the ceremonial raising marked the beginning of Pride festivities, which are set to shine on, despite the non-profit reporting a drop in funding compared to last year’s budget.

On Aug. 22, members of Calgary Pride’s board of directors, Indigenous leaders, and Mayor Jyoti Gondek assembled outside of Calgary city hall to welcome a week’s worth of Pride events with a flag hoisting.

Though Calgary Pride has entered its 35th year, the flag-raising tradition began just four years ago. Manager of sponsorships and fund development, Taylor Sandford, explained that the location is a nod toward how Mayor Gondek supports the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

“Pride is telling us that it’s OK to be who you are,” said Gondek.

“I am telling you, as the mayor of this city, you will be loved and respected and welcome in this city for exactly who you are.”

Shifting from place to presence, Sandford said that the ceremony seeks to honour reconciliation through Calgary Pride’s partnership with local Indigenous leaders and Elders.

“The significance of the event is really acknowledging and embodying the spirit of reconciliation,” she said.

“Bringing Indigenous two-spirit and Indigenous queer voices to the forefront helps us open up Pride week in a good way.”

Since 2021, members of Awoowakii — meaning two-spirit person in Blackfoot — from several First Nations residing on Treaty 7 have introduced the ceremony. Following a prayer, Warren Winnipeg defined what it means to be two-spirit in their opening remarks.

“We were taught that we live in a physical body, but Creator always acknowledges us by our spirit, not by our gender,” said Winnipeg. 

“It’s our spirit that has light, and it’s that light that helps us.”

For Indigenous and queer communities alike, Winnipeg said that both groups understand what it means to be oppressed, and that the reclaiming and creation of safe spaces is a goal they share. However, Winnipeg said that the work is not over. 

“There was a time when we had to really justify or really fight for who we are,” they said. 

“Right now, it’s really sad to see that we’re taking a step back again.”

Social conservatism spike impacts support, says Sandford

This year, according to a statement released to the media by Calgary Pride on Aug. 19, the non-profit organization has seen a more than $300,000 decline in sponsorships and grants, as well as a drop in registered volunteers.

In 2023, Calgary Pride reported its total income as being almost $950,000, with sponsorships and donations contributing to nearly 50 per cent of that number. 

Out of all of their expenses, festival and parade costs used up 63 per cent of their income.

Though last year’s report is not yet available, Sandford said that compared to 2024 this amounts to a 30 per cent loss in revenue. She said that cross-border politics, economic uncertainty, and corporate risk-aversion are likely why. 

“We have really been attributing this to the rollback of DEI in the U.S. trickling into Canada,” said Sandford.

“This is something that we’ve seen with other Pride organizations across Canada as well.”

The Toronto Pride Parade, which happened in June, reported losing around $900,000 in sponsorships, naming major corporations like Google, Nissan, and Home Depot as having pulled support. 

In early August, the Vancouver Pride Parade reported losing $400,000 — nearly half of its usual number — in corporate sponsorships, including Lululemon and Walmart. 

Both events credited the economy and a rise in American conservatism as having informed the revenue-pulling decisions, according to The Canadian Press.

Already, Sandford said that the drop in funds has caused Calgary Pride to postpone its Alphabet Mafia festival — a queer art exhibition — from this month to sometime in early 2026. She said that the growing number of unreliable sponsors led them to draft a new committee. 

“We already knew that this year we were potentially going to be rejecting some sponsors with that new approach and public consultation,” said Sandford. 

“It just became more evident that it was going to be compounded by the rollback on DEI.”

Nonetheless, she said that it is unlikely that the parade and festival will be significantly tainted by the drop in funds, and that Calgary Pride expects its off-season budget to remain about the same.

“It’s been a tough year, but we’re still moving forward with our events,” said Sandford.

Calgary Pride 2025 to carry on

Board co-chair and high school teacher, Riley Sogge, announced this year’s theme — bursting into bloom — during the flag raising ceremony with a personal anecdote of her gender affirming timeline.

“When I think about my transition journey, bursting into bloom seems like a stupendous description,” she said. 

“I bursted into the queer community by admitting to myself that I am a transgender woman…my existence, as a blooming, happy trans adult, has given parents and families of my queer students the hope that their children will be okay despite the adversities that they face.”

Despite continent-wide regressions in queer sponsorships, including the ones experienced by Calgary Pride, Sogge said she remains optimistic that this year’s event will flourish in full colour. 

“I am confident that things will be fully embraced once again,” she said.

“I think it’s just kind of a little bit of a low period right now, but I expect things to pick up in the coming years.”

Calgary Pride will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Prince’s Island Park, where visitors can enjoy an array of events, starting with The Trans and Dyke March and Stage Takeover at 3 p.m. That afternoon, adult-only performances will be followed by the Night Market, which is set to conclude at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 31, the annual Pride parade will start near the Studio Bell National Music Centre at 11 a.m. and march down 9 Avenue to 5 Street SW before congregating at Prince’s Island Park for an evening of entertainment. 

A full list of Calgary Pride’s parade and festival timeline is available on their website.