We live in a city that is undergoing constant evolution, and the LGBT community is inundated with groups, bars, and organizations coming and going. It is difficult to remain a viable queer organization in Calgary for a year, let alone 25 years.  Calgary Outlink: Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity is a survivor.

Like any queer organization, Outlink has had its fair share of struggles and challenges, but has somehow overcome them and continued offering support to those that need them. This time around, they have made a few exciting changes to their organization for the people that utilize their services.

Throughout 2012, Outlink’s volunteer Executive Board has been slowly moving their offices from the original 16th Avenue SW location to its new location at the Old Y Centre. They are now permanently housed at the Old Y; not only do they have their own office there, but they also offer drop-in hours, peer support, and all programs out of this location.

Lynne Hood, President of Calgary Outlink took some time to talk to GayCalgary Magazine about the new location. "The cost of the 16th Ave house was too expensive for Outlink to continue renting. Looking around at options in an affordable price range was very difficult. Outlink is aware of the amazing work that is taking place within the Old Y Centre for Community Organizations as well as providing affordable rent which would help us sustain our programming and part time community support worker staff.  Outlink wants to be participating and involved with our community. Since many organizations are in the Old Y and use the space we felt that being there would provide more of a sense of community and easy ability to inform and refer people [to these organizations]."

The Old Y has historically been a central location for many queer organizations in the city, and currently houses Pride Calgary, TESA, ARGRA, Apollo, and is a meeting space for the Mosaic Youth Group. It is central, affordable, and historical.

This year is also an exciting time for Outlink, as they have hired a Community Support Worker onto their team, Britt Aberle, and have also taken over the "Out is OK" phone line, a crucial LGBT community service.

The "Out is OK" phone line offers confidential support and provides resources to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, queer, questioning, and asexual population. Up until April it was run by the Calgary Distress Centre, but is now run completely by Calgary Outlink. It does not provide crisis and suicide prevention any longer, but what it does provide is peer support by trained volunteers who have connections and experience within the community, something that has been lacking in previous years. To access the "Out is OK" line, call 1-877-OUT-IS-OK.

Regardless of all of the progress Calgary Outlink is making, they recognize that there is still a long way to go. "Outlink needs to focus on stability and sustainability. We need to work with our facilitators, volunteers and staff to continue our supports, resource knowledge base and maintain our community allies," Hood states. "In terms of growth, I would like to see the board work on fundraising and fun fundraising community events. I would like to see our Community Support Worker broaden our relationships with community social service agencies, Alberta health and mental health services and the Calgary Board of Education just to name a few."

To keep up the momentum, Hood is excited about the AGM in June of this year. The meeting will review what has taken place in the past year, and what the goals are for the one to come. "We will also open the floor to hear ideas from the community about how they would like to see Outlink for 2012/2013," adds Hood. This includes an opportunity for those interested to join the Board.