This crosswalk was painted near La Ronge's Pre-Cam Community School earlier this month. (Town of La Ronge/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

LGBTQ+

La Ronge Pride festival cancelled, parade set to go ahead

Jun 25, 2024 | 2:02 PM

Pride festivities will be scaled back in the tri-community this month due to a lack of volunteers, resources and Lac La Ronge Regional Pride committee members.

“That’s the main reason,” said Pride President Dean Sanderson.

“I could have been a little bit more involved myself, but I have been busy for most of May and April. That was discouraging for other committee members. It was just late organizing and the lack of members to help.”

Pride has been celebrated in La Ronge since 2019, which was mostly because of former mayor Colin Ratushniak’s advocacy and dedication to the cause. The festival was quite a spectacle in previous years, involving several events over many days such as a parade, live music, entertainment, a barbecue, trivia night and drag shows.

The festival in 2022, for instance, had approximately 500 attendees.

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In 2024, Pride Flags were raised in Air Ronge, La Ronge and by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Air Ronge and La Ronge also declared June as Pride Month and a Pride crosswalk was painted near La Ronge’s Pre-Cam Community School.

In May, town council did receive a request from Lac La Ronge Regional Pride for $5,000, as well as in-kind support. The in-kind support included the use of table and chairs, two barbecues, port-a-potties, the use of water and power from the nearby water treatment plan, and a road closure on the afternoon on June 29.

The financial and in-kind request was deferred due to an incomplete application that was submitted. That application never was completed.

“Next year, it should be a whole lot better I feel,” Sanderson said.

“I am going to give it 110 per cent for the following year starting with an annual general meeting in August. We’ll be calling out for more committee members and letting people know what’s up financially and start from there.”

The committee consists of four members who haven’t held a meeting for the last three weeks.

Although the festival itself has been cancelled, the Pride Parade on June 29 will go ahead as planned. It will start at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band office at 10:30 a.m. and end at Patterson Park.

All community members are invited to the Pride Parade and those who want to take part should meet at the band office at 10 a.m.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com