By paNOW

Colours fly at Pride Parade

Jun 11, 2017 | 9:32 AM

The rain did not dampen the spirits of nearly 100 supporters who spilled into the streets for Prince Albert’s 2017 Pride Parade.

This was the tenth year for the parade, a pinnacle of Gender and Sexual Diversity Pride Week, which aims to celebrate and educate people on the topic. 

The parade, led by a police cruiser, snaked throughout downtown and received cheers and waves from those it passed Saturday afternoon.

“It is a really beautiful sight to see,” organizer Jennifer Lenny Brockman said of the event. “It was affirming to see people who were here at the first year, here again.”

One of those return supporters was Muriel Roy. Roy came out fifteen years ago and said the introduction of the parade and Pride Week in the city has enhanced her confidence to walk the streets with her partner.

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“The first time, with my partner, that we walked holding hands in the street, we noted how ‘Wow that was really a weird feeling to be able to do it and not feel abnormal,’” she said. “We just really enjoyed the fact we could do it.”

The celebration, according to Roy, has grown immensely over the years and the community’s acceptance level has grown with it. Roy reinforced this, saying she felt “a different vibe” today compared to ten years ago.

Despite this, she believes there is still greater education needed on certain subjects, specifically language.

“Even amongst teachers, we find they will use slurs without even knowing it. They even say them around kids,” she said. 

While not directing blame, Roy said it can be tiresome to attempt to make people understand what they are saying.

But as the knowledge and acceptance of the community expands, she said the event has started to feel more “mainstream,” especially with heavy backing from politicians and the participation of police officers.

This was the first year members of the police service marched in the parade and they did so in full uniform.

Police Chief Troy Cooper said this was “a big occasion for us,” and that it allowed the force to both internally promote acceptance and let the LGBTQ community know officers cared about them.

“They are important to us and this is an opportunity to show some pride alongside with them. [It] is a message to the community that they are part of the overall community and their inclusion is important to us,” he said.

Cooper believed the community had gone unnoticed and unappreciated for some time and said this was the perfect opportunity to ensure the community was aware police are there for their safety and security.

This was echoed by Coun. Evert Botha, who, when addressing the crowds at Memorial Square following the parade, reiterated how the gender and sexually diverse community had a voice and are important to the city.

“When I look out and see all the flags waving it reminds me of how far we have really come, but we still have a way to go,” Botha said.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr