Politics took centre stage for the 2025 edition of the annual Calgary Pride Parade, as both politicians and protests were front and centre for the parade route.

That came as more companies pulled out of sponsoring Calgary Pride for 2025, but with greater support from community groups and non-profits.

Leading the parade this year were teachers, who used the parade platform as a way to demonstrate against the Alberta government’s decision to ban books in schools for the fast upcoming school year.

Among those protesters was teacher Jordan Henkel, who said that the government brought vicious words to teachers and to education, and that, in return, they were protesting.

“These are children, and these are people that need our protection fundamentally, from the time that they go into school to the time that they leave our government standing and looking to ban books, and you can say it’s not a book ban, call it whatever you want,” he said.

“Asking for materials that will teach our kids what is right and what is wrong in the future being removed from libraries is vicious, and I still can’t comprehend why they feel they need to do this.”

Henkel wore a t-shirt referencing a comment made by Premier Danielle Smith about a leaked Edmonton Public School Board book ban list being vicious compliance.

He said the parade was an opportunity to stand up for the LGBTQ2S+ community as allies, and as a way to protest the initial selection of books decried by Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides which were largely works addressing LGBTQ2S+ subject matter and lived experiences.

“If a government wants to ban certain books, come out and say. I’m sure that people, if they come out and said, ‘we want to ban this book,’ we can address that. But they’re leaving it so generic for everybody that this is what happens. It becomes a giant blanket that people don’t understand because they’re too afraid to use their proper words,” said Henkel.

“These are people that are easily targeted, that should never, ever feel that they are targeted. We need to stand with our peers. I don’t care if you’re LGBTQ, I don’t care what race you are. I will stand with you, and I will be an ally. I will help support you as best I can.”

Politicians get involved with parade indirectly and directly

Although the blanket ban on political party participation in the Calgary Pride Parade continued for 2025, numerous municipal and provisional politicians and political candidates marched alongside social service agencies and parade entrants.

Parade participants included numerous members of the Alberta NDP who marched with Skipping Stone, city councillors who marched with the City of Calgary and CMLC entries, political candidates from the Calgary Party, including DJ Kelly and Heather McRae as a group, and independent candidates Jeromy Farkas with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Jeff Davison with the Man Van.

Alberta NDP MLA Janice Irwin said that there were not just attacks on the LGBTQ2S+ community abroad but at home in Alberta, and that necessitated politicians to march in solidarity.

“We’ve got a UCP government that continues to attack members of our community, and particularly the trans community, as we saw with their suite of legislation last year. And so we’re going to continue to fight,” she said.

“This year, we’re going to be marching with Skipping Stone, which is an amazing organization fighting for trans rights, and particularly trans youth, and so we’re just really excited to be here and to keep spreading love in the face of face of hate.”

Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who had her own entry in the parade, said that the parade served two very important purposes for the LGBTQ2S+ community.

“It is a celebration, and it is a reminder that we must stand together. We have to be vigilant, making sure that all the freedoms we have fought for for decades are still alive and well, and everyone that’s here representing today understands that we are better where we are an inclusive city,” she said.

Representation maters

Mayor Gondek said having council members present for the parade was an important way to send a signal of inclusion.

“It is important for us to send a very clear signal to the people we represent that anyone who chooses to call this city home deserves to be treated with love and respect, and they will succeed and prosper here, no matter who they love, no matter where they come from,” she said.

Stepping aside from politics, but still being representative of an inclusive culture at the City of Calgary, was the Calgary Fire Department, who again marched in the parade as they have for many years.

“This is not a political statement at all. This is just about doing the right thing from my perspective, which is why I support it, and the Calgary Fire Department supports it,” said Calgary Fire Department Chief Steve Dongworth.

“The community has a lot of respect for the fire department. So I think for us to be sending that message is very important. That’s where we sit in terms of our beliefs.”

He said that meant reinforcing the message that service for Calgarians comes regardless of their race, creed, or beliefs.

“We provide equitable service to everyone in this community, you know, right through from the people who are, you know, without homes in the core, whether they’re from the LGBT community, whether they’re from a community of a different culture, we serve equally,” he said.

“The reality is this city is becoming more and more diverse, and that affects our hiring as well. We’re seeing more and more folks joining our organization, and we have to make sure our organization is one that welcomes that. That’s some work we’re doing as well, but today is just another opportunity to make a statement around where we sit.”

Photos from the 2025 Calgary Pride Parade