FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3 2023, Moh’kinsstis (Calgary) – Calgary Pride would like to acknowledge the folks who supported and showed up in solidarity as friends of the program. Calgary Pride employees and volunteers were present at the event, and in partnership with the Calgary Public Library Staff, attempted to minimize disruptions and ensure a safe experience for participants. Ultimately, Calgary Police Service needed to be contacted to remove disruptors who were able to enter the room where the reading was taking place. As representatives of Calgary Pride we are dismayed that this was necessary to prevent further disruption to the event.
What happened last Saturday inside Seton Library was not a protest. It was an organized, targeted and intimidating disruption of a program in a space where small children were present.
Reading with Royalty caters to children aged 0-14 and presents an array of stories about self-expression and identity in the Calgary Public Library’s catalog. Since its inception five years ago, we have lived and breathed this initiative and understand that this program has been essential for kids and individuals belonging to the 2SLGTBQ+ community. The team at Calgary Pride is passionate to continue partnering with the Calgary Public Library.
We are reviewing and enhancing safety protocols to ensure a safe environment. In the meantime, we thank the Calgary Public Library staff, volunteers and community members for their efforts and for being present to ensure a positive experience for participants. All performers and staff complete training to ensure that events are kid-friendly and entertaining with a holistic set of books that focuses on identity and gender expression. The suggestion that it is anything else is categorically untrue and rooted in misinformation and intolerance.
In consultation with our community partners and to ensure safety, we are postponing our Reading with Royalty event at Southwood Library that was scheduled for Saturday, March 4. We apologize to the families who were excited to attend the upcoming event tomorrow. We look forward to welcoming you to future Reading with Royalty events.
Any questions or concerns related to the program can be directed to info@calgarypride.ca
About Calgary Pride
Calgary Pride is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization. Our mandate is to advance visibility and inclusion for Calgary’s gender and sexually diverse communities; to do this, we endeavour to build strong community partnerships, implement ongoing programs like Reading with Royalty, Queerly Festive, Evolve: Pride Amplified, and Calgary’s premier celebration of diversity, Calgary Pride Week, Parade & Festival.
Calgary Pride proudly serves Treaty 7, on the traditional territory of the Niitsitapi (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), Îyarhe Nakoda (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Wesley) and the Tsuut’ina. This land is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. This place, where the Elbow river meets the Bow, is known by many names to many people, including Mohkínstsis (Niitsitapi), Wincheesh-pah (Nakoda), Kootsisáw (Tsuu’tina), Otos-kwunee (Cree), and Calgary (English).
We thank the Indigenous communities of Turtle Island for both the historic and ongoing stewardship and protection of the land we collectively inhabit today. Many nations and people, Indigenous and non, are fortunate to call Moh’kinsstis and Treaty 7 territory our home. Acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol, which we honour as a step towards reconciliation and fulfilling our responsibilities as Treaty people. Working alongside all Nations, Indigenous and non, we strive to create safe spaces where everyone can live openly and authentically.
