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A flotilla of rafts bearing rainbow flags on the Bow River, a hotel balcony drag show and a Pride History walk and brunch… These are just some of the events that are brightening Calgary streets this summer as part of the city’s annual Pride Week. But of course, with a global pandemic in full swing, this year’s festival is looking a little different. Calgary Pride has been hard at work for months adapting much of the programming for online delivery.

The summer holidays are drawing to a close. Routine and a stricter schedule await the entire family, and especially your child. Returning to school doesn’t necessarily have to be stressful, particularly during the pandemic. Here are some tips to help you get through this important transition smoothly.

For more than 20 years, the Fort McKay Wellness Center, a non-profit organization in Fort McKay, Alberta, has been helping children and youth in Indigenous communities and from low-income families. When COVID-19 became a global pandemic, the Center was forced to close its doors. Despite these challenges, they managed to keep in contact with the community through a variety of creative ways.

With summer in full swing, we are all looking for ways to beat the heat while having fun, and what better way than to go for a swim? This year there has been a rise in new backyard pool owners, and whether it’s inflatable or above ground we want to help you ‘S.P.L.A.S.H.’ into summer fun while keeping your family safe!

DIG is one of hundreds of non-profit organizations across the country that has received funding from the Canadian Red Cross through the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund.
This grant has allowed DIG to not only keep its gardens growing during COVID-19, but to expand operations, providing an opportunity for those facing food insecurity to access sustainable, local food during the pandemic.

A recent national survey of LGBTQI2S communities found a higher rate of reduced employment and higher rates of an anticipated negative impact on mental health as a result of COVID-19 when compared to the general public. With these stark findings in mind, UR Pride Centre for Sexuality & Gender Diversity formed a collaboration with OUTSaskatoon and Moose Jaw Pride to better serve their most vulnerable members across the province.

For a lot of us, this pandemic has changed how we experience day-to-day stress. People from across the country have been using our online Psychological First Aid courses to help find balance for themselves and better support those around them.
Here’s how Canadians have put the Psychological First Aid courses to work for them: 

Potentially reaching 1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians during COVID-19 is no mean feat. But, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is hoping to do just that, with funding received from the Canadian Red Cross, thanks to the Government of Canada. During this time when people can feel isolated, the UCC is using the funding to help bring people together.