WCD Announces Launch of Partnership with PrintReleaf

06.18.2024

Bringing an Exceptional Fan Experience to Life Through Print this Basketball Season A cornerstone of Calgary’s local business community since 1972, WCD is proud to announce our selection as the Official Print Partner to the Calgary Surge, Calgary’s beloved professional basketball team. This partnership highlights our commitment to supporting our local sports community by enhancing fan experiences through high-quality printed materials. A Partnership that Celebrates Calgary’s Community Spirit As the Calgary Surge embark on another exciting basketball season, WCD is set to bring the energy of the game to life through vibrant, engaging print solutions. From eye-catching arena signage and court decals to stickers and flyers, our collaboration aims to connect fans and players together in a visually impactful way. "We are thrilled to join forces with the Calgary Surge as their Official Print Partner,” says WCD’s Vice President of Partnerships and Client Engagement, Robert Steed. “At WCD, we believe in the power of print to transform spaces and create memorable experiences. Through this collaboration, we are excited to support the team in bringing every game to life in a way that resonates with their fans and players alike, while enhancing the overall atmosphere of attending a basketball game here in Calgary." WCD’s Role in Enhancing Game Day Excitement Throughout the 2024 season, fans visiting WinSport Event Centre will experience the results of this collaboration firsthand. Look out for dynamic WCD-produced decals and promotional materials that capture the spirit of the games and community events. These elements are designed not only to inform but also to enhance the overall fan experience, making each game truly unforgettable. Calgary Surge: A New Era of Excitement in Calgary The Calgary Surge, entering its second year with a strong following after a remarkable debut season, continues to make waves in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). After securing the top spot in the Western Conference and reaching the CEBL Championship Weekend Finals last year, the Surge is geared up for an even more thrilling season in 2024. "We were completely blown away by Calgary’s open embrace, and our early success on and off the court would not have been possible without the enthusiastic support from our fans," says Surge’s Vice-Chairman and President, Jason Ribeiro. “Looking ahead to the 2024 season, we are eager to expand our influence by partnering with organizations like WCD that share our love for sport, vision to create a positive community impact, and desire to create a fantastic game day experience.” Get your tickets today! We invite all fans to experience the magic of Calgary Surge basketball and the enhanced visual experience brought to you by WCD. Don’t miss out on any of the action—check out the full 2024 game schedule and secure your tickets to be part of the excitement. See you courtside! About Surge The Calgary Surge, established in Calgary in May 2023 and formerly known as the Guelph Nighthawks, is a proud member of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Following a spectacular debut season finishing first in the Western Conference and reaching the CEBL Championship Weekend Finals, the team is geared up for an even more thrilling 2024 season.

08.28.2023

Celebrating Pride at WCD with Jonathan Tieh, Graphic Designer Our team truly believes in the power of diversity and inclusion to strengthen our communities and create a world that leads with kindness and acceptance. As we gear up to celebrate Calgary Pride, we sat down with one of our 2SLGBTQ+ staff members, Jonathan Tieh [he/him], to delve into his personal experiences, reflections, and insights about what Pride means to him. Q: What does Pride mean to you? A: "Pride means allowing yourself to be your true self—unapologetically you. It represents my ability and freedom to be who I am and openly love the people I choose, without stigma and shame. The dictionary defines pride as 'a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people.' That's what it's all about, respecting each other—but most importantly, yourself. In whatever you do and whoever you love." Q: How do you celebrate Pride? A: "As a first-generation Asian-born Canadian growing up Queer in a Christian, conservative household, I did not know many 2SLGBTQ+ community members and I felt that I could not relate to many people. I wanted to hide from myself and blend in. I wanted to be 'normal'. But truth be told, we are all unique individuals, and I want to celebrate coming together to share our differences. Our characteristics make us who we are, no matter our religion, ethnicity or race." "I celebrate Pride by being with my closest friends who have uplifted me through years of turmoil and judging myself for being part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Ever since moving to Calgary three years ago, I've felt so much pride and love from the community, especially WCD, that I now call home. I celebrate Pride every day by surrounding myself with loved ones and positive vibes. Other ways I celebrate our community include going to the Pride parade, and supporting other queer artists at drag shows and art shows in the city." Q: How do you show support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace year-round? A: "I show support by showing up to 2SLGBTQ+ events that WCD supports and sponsors. It's important to be around like-minded people, and I love that WCD does the same by being inclusive and fostering a culture that is welcome to every age, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Treating people in a way they wish to be treated rather than the way you wish to be treated is another way I try to make people feel included." Q: What is your advice to businesses who want to be better allies to the LGBTQ+ community? A: "To always be inclusive and make a space welcoming for people of all sexual orientations. Advocate and educate people and spend some time learning about the history of Pride, a movement preceded by the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York. Businesses should be asking if there is something they can do to make their 2SLGBTQ+ coworkers feel like they are welcome and valued. For example, is there a benefit that excludes 2SLGBTQ+ employees? Start a dialogue and make resources available to try and create a workplace where all employees will feel valued and accepted." Show Your Pride As we approach Pride month, let us all remember that the journey to inclusivity and acceptance is ongoing. Let's stand together as allies, celebrating our differences and embracing our true selves. Calgary Pride Week takes place August 26 - September 4, 2023. Learn more about the week's festivities and what you can do to get involved by visiting www.calgarypride.ca. Thank you to Jonathan for sharing his insights and experiences with us—and Happy Pride! 🌈

07.31.2023

It's been a busy start to the summer for WCD—full of community, connection and downright fun! As we dive into August, our team is reflecting on the past few months, instilled with a newfound sense of excitement and opportunity for the second half of the year. For us, this season has been a reminder that the true driver behind everything we do is connection. In celebration, here's a behind-the-scenes look at our summer, so far. 1) Pride in Art This June, our team gathered at the stunning Sky Garden on the 54th Floor of The Bow Building for 2023's Pride in Art—an art exhibition and networking mixer for local LGBTQ2S+ artists and the community. As proud sponsors of Pride in Business, WCD was honoured to support this artful and inspiring event for the second year in a row. 2) West Canadian Cup On Sunday, July 2, we gathered with clients, partners and staff for the 37th Annual West Canadian Cup at Spruce Meadows. This iconic event has become a coveted tradition for WCD, bringing together business and community leaders to connect and enjoy a morning of world-class equestrian show jumping. 3) Calgary Stampede As a Calgary-born business located just minutes from the grounds, the Calgary Stampede has always been special to the WCD team—but even more so this year with our appointment as the organization's Official Print Partner. It's a title we were proud to live up to, helping the Stampede share its story and connect with its customers, volunteers, and stakeholders through high-quality print, signage, and creative design. The best part? After a busy season of preparation, watching it all come to life and immersing ourselves in the atmosphere we'd helped to create. Here are a few of this year's highlights: The Great Indoors Volunteer Lounge Volunteers are the backbone of the Calgary Stampede. Creating a calm, inviting environment for them to kick back and enjoy a delicious meal in the midst of their shift is important to the Stampede, and we love helping make that happen. Transforming the volunteer lounge with signage and creative decor, our Great Indoors theme is a play on bringing the outdoors inside. This year, our Creative Services team designed a Western naturescape that brought the space to life in vivid colour. Stampede Pride Day This year, WCD was proud to sponsor Calgary Stampede Pride Day—a vibrant celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community. The Nashville North tent came alive as attendees sported Calgary Stampede rainbow boot stickers and rallied in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community. The energy was electrifying, with sensational drag performances to boot! It's a 'Yahoo' From Us Happen to see a 'Yahoo' sign or two pop up around Calgary in July? It's entirely possible they were produced by yours truly! From vibrant lawn signs to fun stickers and window clings, we helped Calgarians show off their Stampede spirit in style. To the Chuckwagons! We were honoured to print this year's iconic chuckwagon tarps, showcasing the vibrant colors and designs of the participating teams and their sponsors. These tarps are more than meets the eye—they represent the rich heritage, fierce competition, and true community spirit of the Calgary Stampede. Plus, we got to meet some superstars! We were especially excited to collaborate with MobSquad, who comissioned Indigenous artist Nahanni Giuricich of the Sayisi Dene First Nation to design their eye-catching tarp. We worked closely with Nahanni to ensure her vision and the integrity of her concept translated beautifully to MobSquad's chuckwagon box, tarp and barn area. Thank you to our incredible community for making this a summer to remember. To stay up with the latest exciting news and events, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook!