Canada Post has released a lineup of stamps called Places of Pride . These stamps honour and recognize spaces across the country that Canada’s queer community fought for, and one of them has a Calgary connection.

Calgary’s first gay bar, Club Carousel, opened its doors on March 20, 1970 . During a time where it was deeply unsafe to be queer, the club provided a vital source of community for Calgary’s 2SLGBTQ+ population.

Underground beginnings

The 1st street building that would eventually be home to Club Carousel was constructed in 1905. In 1963, its basement became the Depression Coffee House , a local hub for chess, poetry, folk music, and performances.

In 1969, the building supported Calgary’s first chartered private gay members club, which was a pretty big deal. However, it

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