09/21/2025
❕This post begins and ends beside a toilet—but what’s happening behind closed bathroom doors is just a canary in the coal mine. It reflects a much bigger issue: the very real harm being caused by our provincial government’s anti-trans misinformation, dressed up as legislation. It’s leading to increased violence, discrimination, and fear for trans Albertans.❕
Three and a half years ago, we opened our doors—fresh paint on the walls, neatly curated shelves. But as we grew, we were shaped by something much bigger than ourselves: our community.
It started with folks leaving extra books and games for others to enjoy. Then came the gifted plants—now part of our family, a living collection that thrives because of you. The art came next—meaningful, beautiful pieces by local creators that brought life to our walls and shelves. And, as with any good watering hole, eventually a sticker collection appeared in the bathroom.
Together, all the knick-knacks, books, plants, and yes (even the bathroom stickers) tell the story of a space built collectively. A space beloved by many.
But lately, we’ve noticed something troubling: trans stickers in our bathrooms are being repeatedly ripped down. This isn’t just annoying. It’s a reflection of something bigger: an erosion of safety. A targeted act, echoing the anti-trans sentiment that’s making its way into spaces explicitly created to protect, include, and celebrate our most vulnerable community members.
Right now, that includes two-spirit, trans, and non-binary Albertans.
A sticker might seem like a small thing. But when its removal mirrors the current government’s intent—to erase trans people from Alberta—it’s no longer just a sticker. It’s a message. And we won’t ignore it.
This post has two purposes:
1. If you have ever removed a trans sticker from our washroom, we ask that you not return to our space.
2. To remind our community who we are, and what we stand for.
Rising Tides has always been about bringing people together. That means creating and fiercely maintaining an explicitly inclusive space—one where q***r and trans folks feel safe, celebrated, and at home.
{Continued in comments}