Happy Pride from Off the Beaten Path!
- Karli Alm
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
At Off the Beaten Path Psychology and Wellness (OBP), we recognize that in the past, the profession of psychology has enacted and upheld harm on vulnerable populations like the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Up until 1973 the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from being designated a mental disorder in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) in 1990. (More history of Pride in Canada can be found here: https://www.queerevents.ca/canada/pride/history.)
While we have made progress and achieved more rights for 2SLGBTQ+ folks, there are still struggles that queer people face in their day to day lives, and a continued need to foster community and acceptance. Queer people experience higher rates of bullying, have higher rates of poor mental health and suicidality, and there continues to be stigma that impacts the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ folks (https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/free-to-be-me/federal-action-2slgbtqi-communities/facts-stats.html).
June is a month where local organizers and 2SLGBTQ+ community members and allies come together to celebrate love, honour our queer kin who fought for the rights we have today, and to continue to be activists for positive social change that advocate for the equality and equity of 2SLGBTQ+ folks.
OBP is committed to creating a welcoming and affirming space for all those in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. While therapy can be helpful to process and cope with the grief and trauma that Queer people go through, community engagement and peer support is a rich part of coping with the challenges that the 2SLGBTQ+ community faces and participating in queer joy.
If you are needing more connection and community, or if you are an ally wanting to support your queer neighbours and friends, consider attending a pride event or finding a queer event or organization. You can also wish your queer friends a happy pride and let them know they are loved. Below is a list of Pride events happening in and around Airdrie, Calgary, and Cochrane.
Upcoming Pride Events
June 20th, 2026.
Solidarity walk starts at 10:30am from Airdrie City Hall.
Pride in the Park 11:30-4:00pm in Nose Creek Park.
June 28th, 2026
Pride on the Lake; 10-4pm at John Peake Park
August 31st - September 6th, 2026
Various events across the city.
This blog was written by Karli Alm , R. Psych. | Off the Beaten Path Psychology and Wellness | Airdrie, Alberta
At Off the Beaten Path Psychology, we provide counselling and therapy services to individuals, couples, and families in Airdrie, Calgary, and Cochrane, Alberta. Our team supports anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, and trauma recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your mental health journey.