WCD Announces an Exciting New Chapter in their History

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.

02.13.2024

Advancing Sustainability in the Print Industry by Reforesting the Planet In an effort to further its commitment to environmental sustainability, WCD, a Canadian leader in on-demand print and information solutions, has proudly announced a partnership with PrintReleaf. This collaboration marks a significant step towards a greener future for the print industry, empowering WCD's customers to actively participate in replenishing forests globally and close to home. Through this partnership, WCD can now offer customers a unique opportunity to offset their paper footprint. PrintReleaf's advanced technology measures the paper consumption of each print job run through WCD and translates this data into an equivalent number of trees. These trees are then planted in reforestation sites chosen by the customer, making every print job a step towards environmental restoration. PrintReleaf stands out as the world's first platform to seamlessly convert paper footprints into actual trees. This innovative approach not only contributes to reforestation efforts but also aligns with WCD's mission to embrace eco-friendly practices across its operations. "At WCD, we believe that sustainable business practices are key to a brighter future," says Karen Brookman, President and CEO at WCD. "Our partnership with PrintReleaf represents a significant stride towards advancing environmental responsibility in our industry. This initiative will not only reduce our ecological footprint as an organization, but will empower our customers to join us in making a tangible difference for our planet." PrintReleaf’s technology not only tracks paper consumption, but also ensures the success of each planted tree, with full third-party audits by SGS International. While reforestation efforts span the globe, the company is currently working with planting partners as close as Cariboo, British Columbia to revitalize the land that was impacted by the devastating 2017 wildfires. "We are pleased to provide environmental offsets to WCD and their customers, which will be integral to their sustainability strategy," says Jordan Darragh, PrintReleaf Founder and CEO. WCD’s commitment to sustainable solutions highlights our shared values and goal of working toward a more sustainable business landscape and planet. This partnership creates exciting opportunities as we expand our network of PrintReleaf users within and beyond the Dscoop community and together work towards new environmental offsetting goals.” Together, WCD and PrintReleaf aim to empower Canadian businesses to meet their printing needs while also reducing their environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable planet. WCD invites customers to join them on this exciting journey and learn more by clicking here. About PrintReleaf PrintReleaf offers a unique solution for companies to offset their paper and packaging consumption, contributing to reforestation and carbon offsetting. Their technology ensures a measurable and impactful contribution to global forest restoration. Visit www.printreleaf.com to learn more.

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! 🌈