Three Years and Growing
It is clichéd, but it’s true. There are times when I have to pinch myself to make sure I am awake. These moments come when someone tells me how much they have enjoyed something I wrote, when someone who I profiled comes to me and thanks me for doing a piece on them, or when I am on the phone with someone famous and can’t believe that I am getting to talk to them. It’s truly been a dream come true these past three years, and I have our readers who support our magazine, and its advertisers to thank for it.
I take a lot of pride in being part of this magazine. Our growth has been astronomical and the feedback we get is much appreciated. There were people who said we wouldn’t succeed – 3 years later we’re going strong and continue to find new stories to tell, revisit old friends and put a gay spin on some unexpected topics. If in those early months of the magazine’s life you had told me that we would be invited guests at events like ZooGala, or that this magazine would feature interviews with people like Bif Naked or Bret Hart, I would have thought you were crazy. But Bif was on our August 2005 cover, and this month features an interview with Bret, who apparently was quite gracious to speak with. We’ve gotten these interviews, and continue to do so because of the respect we have earned from our readers and the arts and entertainment community.
With everything we’ve experienced and achieved, we continue to evolve. We’re providing a much needed service to Calgary. However, our neighbors to the north are sorely lacking in the same type of media coverage. Our expansion to Edmonton brings a whole new series of stories to tell, places to go and experiences to be had. Welcome Edmonton, nice to meet you.
I can’t even begin to list all of the people who deserve to be thanked. But the top of the list is obviously Steve and Rob. I’ve gotten to experience so many cool things because they gave me the opportunity to work for the magazine, and they take my suggestions and requests and run with them. Press deadline is always a pretty crazy time for everyone involved in the magazine, and when I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off it would be easy to question why I go through this each and every month. Then I see the finished product and I remember why: because GayCalgary.com represents Calgary, its community, and each and every one of us. It is truly one of a kind.
Here’s to three amazing years, and to many, many more.
Yours truly,
Jason Clevett
Senior Writer


Still Dishing Advice
Dear Rob and Steve,
I just wanted to say thank you for the last three years of publication. Your dedication to reporting on our community here in Calgary, and more recently Edmonton as well, is outstanding. I am very proud to say that I write for your publication. I remember when you told me about this magazine idea during one of our shows at Detours, I offered jokingly to be your advice columnist. Then 2 weeks later you asked for my article I was floored and very honored (not to mention completely unprepared)!
So here we are three years later and I am still dishing advice, just as proud and honored to be a part of your legacy!
Keep it up - I can’t wait to see what the future years will bring! Congratulations to both of you and the rest of the crew here at GayCalgary.com.
Sincerely,
Nina Tron