Now located in downtown Edmonton, the Pride Centre of Edmonton (PCE) has re-opened after having to close its doors in August of 2011, following an external fire at its former location.  The organization has signed a 10 year lease at their new location, which they hope will provide a sense of stability for the community they serve.  Not to mention, the new central location is close to transit, which should help with accessibility.

After being forced to close their old location the PCE started a fundraising campaign to acquire, renovate and re-open a new space. Initially they set a fundraising target of $20,000 but by the end of their campaign they had raised much more than that.

When asked about the success of the campaign Ashley Matchum, PCE Executive Director said, "We had outstanding community support. With the support of the community as well as the Edmonton Community Foundation and Stollery Community Foundation we were able to raise just over 31,000.00! The fundraiser was led by our board of directors who completed a mail campaign. The majority of our donors were able to donate on-line on Canada Helps."

The PCE is still in need of donations, which they are currently collecting online. Phase one of the three phase renovations are now complete and include a fully accessible space for people with disabilities, a dedicated space for youth and much more.

It is truly amazing how the community came together in Edmonton to keep their community space alive. The money was raised in only a matter of months, likely setting a new record for the LGBTQ community in Alberta.  Perhaps it is not surprising considering its importance to numerous segments of the Edmonton LGBTQ community.

Their services include a drop-in centre that is open Tuesday through Saturday, an extensive library collection, internet and computer access, information and resources, meeting space for community groups and events, counselling, a seniors group, a youth group, mens groups, womens groups, a Trans group, an HIV support group, free STI testing, community potlucks, craft nights, an art group and much more.  The Pride Centre also offers outreach where they provide public education and workshops for the community at large.  Complete information can be found on their website.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances in the future, the centre expects to call this location home for many years to come.

History of the PCE

The Pride Centre of Edmonton was founded in 1971 under the name of ‘Gay Alliance Towards Equity’ or GATE, making it the oldest and longest running LGBTQ organization in Alberta. GATE later joined forces with the ‘Edmonton Lesbian Feminists’ or ELF to establish the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton better known as the GLCCE. The board of directors of GLCCE voted to dissolve the organization in March of 2004 which became effective as of July 2004, yet directors and members saw a need for another organization to take over services and support that the GLCCE provided and so voted to create the Pride Centre of Edmonton. By August of 2004 the Pride Centre of Edmonton assumed the assets of the former GLCCE and in April 2005 the PCE moved from the old GLCCE offices to their 109th street location.

The move to this location was needed to accommodate the planned expansion of services. In 2006 the centre moved again to a new location, and just recently in 2011, the PCE was forced to move because of a fire.  The centre re-opened as of April 3, 2012.