They say there is strength in numbers, but in this case there is also strength in visibility, and with visibility there will be numbers.

The third annual Calgary Dyke March expects over 400 participants to join in this year’s event - double the number they had two years ago.

And the reason is simple, says Calgary Dyke March’s own Juliet Burgess; this year the dyke march will be much more visible as the group’s request to the mayor’s office garnered them the coveted 4th Street SW – a trendy street where the lilac festival thrives in May, coffee-clad Calgarians enjoy daily walks and eateries burst at the seams.

"As a new event, we were offered sub-par routes by the city: the first year we walked on the sidewalk of a lesser known part of Stephen Avenue to Century Gardens," Burgess explains. "The second year, we were allowed half of the street, and this year we were offered what we thought was a step backwards: the river walkway or the same half-street visibility on Stephen Avenue."

So the group decided to do something about it, and after suffering through some frustrating back and forth dialogue with the city, they decided to go straight to Mayor Naheed Nenshi himself, writing his office a letter with a simple request; visibility.

"They responded immediately and have been helpful ever since," Burgess says, adding they received their requested location. "Visibility is one of the three pillars of our event, so this location is very important for us and a step forward." (The other two pillars being community and respect.)

And although the march has been growing in numbers despite losing queer-friendly spaces in the city (including gay bars Sapien and Fab) Burgess says it’s more important than ever to support the gay community which can still thrive by hosting gay-friendly events.

"It’s so important for Calgary’s queer community to keep organizing events like this, especially now that we’re seeing a lull in dedicated queer spaces," Burgess says. "Events like this serve as a way to connect a small community of people and bring them together to discuss shared experiences. It reminds queer women that we are not alone in those experiences and frustrations."

Especially because queer women are marginalized in many aspects of life, even including in the gay community, Burgess adds.

"It’s a chance to bring together a community that doesn’t get many opportunities to do so. It’s also a chance to raise visibility about issues that uniquely affect queer women, like abuse, sexual health, sexism and racism."

Dyke marches have been around since 1981 in North America; Vancouver held the first documented march ever, followed by Toronto and then the US.  Nevertheless, it’s still relatively new for Calgary.

Although the event takes place during Calgary Pride week, it is not affiliated with Pride Calgary.  It happens on September 1st at noon.  More information can be found on their website.