This August, as we approach Calgary Pride Week (August 31 – September 6), we’re sharing a few stories from Wood’s staff and clients about their personal connections to queerness.
A Discussion on Transgender Day of Visibility
Tune into this video to learn from Jesse, Zane, Umoja, and Jaden about their experiences being transgender, and how the rest of the world can work together to be better allies to the trans community.
Why Pride Week Matters to Me
My name is Lori Graham, the new People & Culture Manager for Wood’s Homes. As we prepare to celebrate Calgary Pride Week, I want to share why continuing to honor and participate in Pride is so important to me.
I have a daughter who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. She is married to her wife, and together they are raising two wonderful children. Seeing them build a loving family has shown me how powerful acceptance is, and how harmful it can be when acceptance is missing. Their courage and authenticity remind me every day why visibility and support matter.
As a People & Culture leader, educating our workforce about inclusion and respect is deeply personal. I want every employee, just like my daughter and her family, to feel safe, valued, and confident that they belong.
That is why Pride Week matters. Pride is not just a celebration; it is a commitment, a reminder that progress requires ongoing effort, open conversations, and intentional education. Pride Week reinforces that every employee, regardless of who they love or how they identify, deserves dignity, understanding, and unwavering support.
A Letter from a Wood’s Staff Member’s 11 Year-Old Son
The last few years I have had the opportunity to join Wood’s Homes with the celebration of pride month. During my experience I have seen the community come together to support each other no matter what your preferences may be.
With my opportunity I’ve enjoyed the sense of community, openness and joy that everyone must feel when attending pride fest. Everyone has the freedom to express themselves in how everybody see’s fit. I personally can’t wait for next year to celebrate with everyone.
Thank you for reading. If you would like to continue reading about Pride and why we choose to honour it here at Wood’s Homes, click here to be directed to another blog post.
To learn more about how you can get involved in local events during Calgary Pride Week, visit Calgary Pride’s website here.
Happy Pride!
