Pride Month might officially be in June, but here at MacEwan, we celebrate year-round, from our own Pride Week in March to Queer History Month in October and every day in between.

While you’re gearing up to check out some Pride events this month, take a look back at a few of the people, events and exhibitions that made MacEwan such a welcoming place to be over the last year.

We welcomed Dr. Alessio Ponzio as the new director of the Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD). Dr. Ponzio is also an associate professor in the Faculty of Health and Community Studies and has a background in queer, gender and sexuality studies.

In October, Queer History Month was a time to engage and understand. Dr. Ponzio kicked off the month at Roundhouse, and CSGD partnered with Explore Edmonton to host events across the city.

Dr. JJ Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, hosted the first Canada-wide queer and trans studies conference right here on campus in October, focusing on queer joy. The topic also inspired Dr. Wright to pen a Conversation Canada article discussing queer joy and hockey culture in the show Heated Rivalry.

We checked in with CSGD Program Manager Jessica Scalzo, who shared her hopes for what students experience at the centre and what she loves most about Pride Week.

Pride Week took over campus in March. The week of celebrations featured everything from a zine-making workshop to performance art to a rainbow market.

Though Pride is largely a celebration today, it’s important to remember the historical oppression and struggles of the 2SLGTBQIA+ community. Throughout March, the John L. Haar Library hosted Faces of Exile: The Arrusi and the Policing of Gender and Sexuality in Fascist Italy – an exhibition focused on some of the men removed from their homes and communities due to their identities.