A Pride Parade was held in La Ronge on June 24. (submitted photo/Alayna Calladine)

By Derek Cornet

equality

‘Happy and proud’: Hundreds attend Pride events in La Ronge

Jun 26, 2023 | 9:52 AM

Organizers of the Pride celebrations in La Ronge estimate that hundreds of people attended events throughout the month.

Observation of Pride Month began with a flag-raising ceremony June 1 outside of the Air Ronge village office. In the days that followed, Pride flags were also raised in La Ronge and by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. The ceremony itself, however, occurred in Air Ronge for the first time.

The flag-raising was followed by trivia night at Kostas on June 22, a drag and comedy show on June 23 at Eagle Point Resort, and a parade and festival on June 24 along La Ronge Avenue and Patterson Park.

The festival began right after the parade and it included singers, performers, and artists from across Saskatchewan, as well as a face-painting workshop, a free barbecue, snacks, and drinks. Organizer Dean Sanderson believes close to 200 people attended the festival.

“It was a really awesome feeling. I was the MC of the whole event, so I was really focused on that,” he said.

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“I was managing it in a way that it would flow nice with the time. Our previous president had orchestrated it from B.C. Colin, our previous mayor … he planned a lot and I just orchestrated it on the ground, so thanks to Colin as well. It was a really awesome feeling. I was happy and proud.”

A group photo taken in La Ronge’s Patterson Park. (submitted photo/Alayna Calladine)

This marks the fifth year Pride celebrations were held in La Ronge. Sanderson noted it is important Pride celebrations continue in the tri-communities in 2024 and beyond.

“It’s very important to me. It’s a great feeling for the community where we can just be ourselves and dance and have a good time,” he said.

“It’s going to be great to continue on these celebrations and just to keep on fighting. If there is any hate out there, or if any people are ashamed of themselves, we just want people to know we’re people too and we can be ourselves and celebrate and have a great time.”

Sanderson would like to thank everyone who attended an event, the donors and all the volunteers who made the celebration possible.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno