With Pride in Calgary just around the corner, now more than ever there is an opportunity to explore queer-inclusive businesses that welcome everyone in Calgary.
SOCIAL CUT & SHAVE
Whether you need a new style for the summer or just want to look good and feel good, Social Cut & Shave provides a positive experience for everyone in Calgary. It has become a staple of the Beltline community after being open for nearly a decade.
“We want to focus on making people feel good, and we want to focus on making everyone feel included,” said Ed Perez, one of the founders of the Calgary shop.
Social Cut & Shave is one of the few barbershops in the city that offers gender-neutral pricing on their appointments.
“We just wanted a space where we can do good work, and everyone leaves happier than when they came in,” said Perez.
This is a go-to spot for anyone wanting a new haircut this summer.
OWL’S NEST BOOKS
If you’re looking for a new book to capture your interest and a new community of like-minded readers, Owl’s Nest Books is for you.
Owl’s Nest Books hosts the QUEEReads YYC Book Club that meets every second Monday of the month.
“We get to have this fantastic group, picking some amazing books that we get to recommend to all of Calgary on their behalf, and we get to help promote their book club and bring their community together,” said Ryan Smith, co-owner of Owl’s Nest Books.
There is no membership fee to join the book club, and drop-ins are more than welcome. It is a great way to connect with fellow readers and enjoy a story together in the Nest.
Members do get 10 per cent off of titles the group is reading together.
“Everyone is always welcome,” said Smith. “We love to try and match a book to everyone based on what they’re looking for.”
When picking up a new read, Owl’s Nest Books is a great place to check out.
RISING TIDES TAPROOM + VAMOS TACOS
Rising Tides is a perfect inclusive place to grab some chips and dip — the pico de gallo is killer — with its “Let’s Go Lager!”
With a purchase of the lager, you receive a $1 token. Slide it onto the bar to donate to the charity of your choice on the “giving wall.”
The bar also accepts nominations for charities to include on the giving wall on its website. Rising Tides is a proudly queer-inclusive taproom here in the Calgary, stating on its website that it is “a community where you actively shape the changing landscape of Calgary’s queer presence as well as connect with other 2SLGBTQIA+ folks from across the city.”
CIVIC TAVERN
If you prefer a pub setting, Civic Tavern is for you.
Built in 1911, it is one of the oldest buildings in Calgary, with a storied past as the Hop In Brew for over 24 years.
Civic Tavern hosts great events — its Drag H20 Patio Party is fun for everyone — that raise money for the Skipping Stone Foundation.
With 100 per cent local tap options and fresh pizza, there is something for everyone on a good night out with friends.
Keep an eye out on social media for Civic’s events during Pride in Calgary.
HEMLOCK TATTOO STUDIO
Wanting to celebrate Pride with some fresh ink? Hemlock Tattoo Studio is a great place to go to this summer.
When creating Hemlock Tattoo Studio back in 2020, the founders set out to make a trauma-informed and consent-driven practice.
“The first thing we did was sit down and we discussed what our shared values were, and one of the main things was for it to be an inclusive space for folks,” says Janeen Scott, one of the studio’s founders and co-owners.
In setting out to create this inclusive space, the founders of the studio began taking workshops on queer and trans-inclusivity in the workplace. “
It feels every day like we’re contributing to the community and participating in the community, which is really important to us,” says Scott.
If you’re looking for a welcoming, positive space for your next tattoo, Hemlock is the place to be.
