Celebrating Pride Month at Avenue Living: Community, Inclusion & Impact

Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity, foster inclusion, and recognize the many contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

At Avenue Living, we believe everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected, and at home. Creating communities where people feel safe, valued, and supported is at the heart of what we do because housing is for everyone.

This Pride Month, we are proud to continue supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community through initiatives that promote belonging, visibility, and inclusivity across our communities.

As part of this commitment, Avenue Living will donate $5,000 to Egale Canada, a leading organization dedicated to advancing equality and improving the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people through research, education, advocacy, and awareness. Through their work, Egale helps create a future where everyone can live authentically and reach their full potential.

We are honoured to support their mission and encourage everyone to learn more about their work and consider making a contribution. You can learn more about Egale Canada and donate here.

This June, Avenue Living properties will also display "You Are All Welcome Here" stickers at building entrances as a visible reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and respected where they live.

Photo credit: Avenue Living

The artwork was created by Lance Cardinal, a Two-Spirit Indigenous artist from Bigstone Cree Nation, and reflects themes of belonging, inclusion, visibility, and community through a unique Two-Spirit Indigenous perspective. The design was intentionally created to evoke the feeling of an existing community welcoming people into the space around them.

Featuring people of diverse skin tones and gender-neutral imagery, the artwork reflects traditional Indigenous understandings of identity while celebrating the diversity that strengthens our communities. Indigenous cultural elements, including feathers, drums, and ribbon skirts, are woven throughout the design and represent community, connection, and belonging. While inspired by Lance's lived experience and perspective, the artwork carries a universal message that people of all backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and experiences deserve to feel safe and welcome.

The design also incorporates symbols of love, acceptance, and Pride. One figure carries a flag representing love and acceptance for all people, while another proudly carries the Inclusive Progress Pride Flag, reinforcing that Avenue Living communities are welcoming spaces for members of the entire 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Two braided figures stand together at the forefront of the artwork with their hands joined, representing connection, support, and belonging. A Two-Spirit performer is also featured in the design, extending a welcoming wave to all who enter.

Photo and artist credit: Lance Cardinal

Adding another meaningful layer to the artwork, the message "You Are All Welcome Here" appears in Cree and Cree syllabics, translated from Lance's Treaty 8 Sakaw Cree territory. Together, these elements reflect the spirit of the artwork and reinforce a message that sits at the heart of our communities: everyone is welcome here.

At Avenue Living, community is at the heart of who we are. We are committed to creating welcoming spaces where residents can feel comfortable being themselves and connected to the communities around them.

This Pride Month, and every month, we celebrate the diversity that makes our communities stronger and remain committed to fostering places where everyone feels they belong.

Happy Pride!