Calgary Outlink

There are a few spots left to register to get STI testing done at our Lavender Teatime event tomorrow! Spots for drop-in testing will depend on availability with the nurse, so we encourage folks to register beforehand!

Our Lavender Teatime group is collaborating with Safeworks Outreach through Alberta Health Services to offer free STI testing on Monday, June 22nd from 5:30-8pm at The Calgary Rainbow Room ( #400-750 11 St SW)! Additionally, we will have a chill hangout space with snacks, colouring, and peer support available with our wonderful group facilitator/resident gay big sister Kiley!

Please register at https://www.calgaryoutlink.ca/event/lavender-teatime-presents-your-big-gay-sister-wants-you-to-get-sti-tested/

If you do not wish to get tested, you can still attend our hangout space! Registration is not required to attend the hangout space.

[ID: Announcement for the Lavender Teatime event "Your Big Gay Sister Wants You To Get STI Tested!". The text reads, “Wanting to have a safe, fun, flirty, scorchin’ sapphic summer? Welcome to our Scorchin’ Sapphic Summer at Lavender Teatime! To start the summer off, our Lavender Teatime group is collaborating with Safeworks Outreach through Alberta Health Services to offer free STI testing! Additionally, we will have a chill hangout space in the Board Room with snacks, colouring, and peer support available with our wonderful group facilitator/resident gay big sister Kiley! Registration required. June 22nd, 2026. 5:30-8pm. The Rainbow Room, 750 11 St SW #400” The graphic has a purple background with white text, and a squirrel holding a purpose teacup with the Outlink logo above its tail. /end ID]

Here is our Programming Schedule for this week!!! Get all of your information here about what groups and special events we are running this week as well as when and where they are meeting!!

Also, this is the major debut of our new kind of style for our posts in the future!!! Feel free to give us feedback on what you think!!! :)

Drag Me to Cowboys is back in Calgary and we couldn't be more excited!!! If you use YYCOUTLINK at checkout when buying your tickets you get a discount AND a portion of your ticket price goes directly to supporting us at Calgary Outlink!! We hope you are excited for this event because we know we are!!!

Wanting to have a safe, fun, flirty, scorchin’ sapphic summer? Welcome to our Scorchin’ Sapphic Summer at Lavender Teatime! To start the summer off, our Lavender Teatime group is collaborating with Safeworks Outreach through Alberta Health Services to offer free STI testing on Monday, June 22nd from 5:30-8pm at The Calgary Rainbow Room ( #400-750 11 St SW)! Additionally, we will have a chill hangout space with snacks, colouring, and peer support available with our wonderful group facilitator/resident gay big sister Kiley!

Spots are limited and registration is highly recommended if you would like to get tested. We will have very limited spots for drop-ins to get tested, and may not be able to accommodate all drop-ins depending on how many there are.

Please register via the link in the bio.
If you do not wish to get tested, you can still attend our hangout space!

STI Testing Info:
Testing will be conducted by a Safeworks Nurse and take place in a private space with chairs and a couch. This will include bloodwork and potentially a swab and urine test depending on what kind of tests you need and wish to get done. All-gender washrooms are available.

Please bring Photo ID and/or your Alberta Healthcare Card if you have them. If you do not have them, you can still get tested! Your name and s*x marker do not need to match the name you use with us or how you identify.

We are excited to work with End of the Rainbow Foundation on making our lending library accessible again very soon within The Rainbow Room!! More updates should be coming very soon!!!! 💜💜

Join us for a fun evening outside with some games and activities, like frisbee and badminton! We will meet at the Outlink office then head over to Cowboys Park next door together. We will have activities and games, but feel free to bring your own too! If it rains we will play games and do crafts inside.

The Outlink office is located at #400 - 750 11 St SW inside The Calgary Rainbow Room. Please visit calgaryoutlink.ca/venue/the-rainbow-room/ for more information around accessibility and how to get there!

Our Inside Out youth group is for 2SLGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 13-18 along with their friends, families, and close supporters. We aim to create fun, affirming, and friendly spaces for q***r and trans youth!

[ID: Announcement for Inside Out youth group meeting that reads "Join us for a fun evening outside with some games and activities, like frisbee and badminton! We will meet at the Outlink office then head over to Cowboys Park next door together. We will have activities and games, but feel free to bring your own too! If it rains we will play games and do crafts inside". There are pictures of a badminton racquet, a birdie, and a frisbee. The background is red with various shapes and patterns. /endID]

The You Matter Support & Resource Line will be closing early tonight, Tuesday, May 19th, at 7:00 PM for volunteer training purposes. The line will resume normal operating hours tomorrow.

If you’re in need of support while we’re away, please reach out to the following resources:

Trans Lifeline: 1-877- 330-6366 (this number is for trans and nonbinary folks specifically, but if you wish to contact the Family and Friends Line call the main number and ask for the Family and Friends Line)

Interligne (24/7): 1-888-505-1010 (help and information for gender and s*xual diverse people in Canada - offered in French and English)

Distress Centre (24/7): 403-266-4357

Kids Help Phone (24/7): 1-800-668-6868 or http://kidshelpphone.ca

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7): 1-855-242-3310 or chat at http://hopeforwellness.ca

Alberta's One Line for Sexual Violence (call/text): 1-866-403-8000 or chat at https://aasas.ca

Alberta Addiction and Mental Health Helpline (24/7): 1-866-332-2322

Family Violence Information Line (24/7): 310-1818

Mental Health Helpline (24/7): 1-877-303-2642

211 - general resource and referral line

[ID: Notice of temporary closure for Calgary Outlink’s You Matter Support & Resource Line. The notice reads that the line will be closed early on Tuesday, May 19th at 7pm. There is a cartoon graphic in the bottom left corner and green and white abstract shapes in front of a blue background. /end ID]

Outlink will be closed on Monday, May 18th for the stat holiday. The staff team will not be available to answer phone calls or emails, but we will be back on Tuesday, May 19th during regular business hours. The You Matter Support & Resource Line will still be available in the evening (5:00 - 8:00 PM).

[ID: Office closure notice from Calgary Outlink. It reads, “Out of office - Monday, May 18th,” with Outlink’s logo beside the text. The background is yellow, with various colored shapes surrounding the text. In the bottom right corner is a cartoon graphic of a person with long hair. They are using a laptop. /end ID]

Looking for a little extra support and community connection? Applications to be a mentee in our 2SLGBTQ+ Peer Mentorship Program are now open!

This program is for anyone 13+ (no age limit) who identifies as 2SLGBTQ+ or is questioning and is looking for one-on-one connection and support with a volunteer mentor. The program round will run from August to December.

To apply, please visit calgaryoutlink.ca/mentorship to fill out the form. The application deadline is Monday, June 1st. If you need assistance in filling out the form, please feel free to reach out to our office number at (403) 234-8973.

More information about the program can be found on the mentorship page on our website.

[ID: Announcement for Calgary Outlink’s mentorship program. The text reads, “Mentee applications are open! Apply to join Calgary Outlink’s 2SLGBTQ+ Mentorship Program if you’re in need of extra community support and connection from a peer mentor! Apply now at calgaryoutlink.ca/mentorship.” There is a graphic of two cartoon people dancing, with their feet and arms raised. /end ID]