Borderland Pride's 'Pride Lives Here' campaign signs.
Pride Month celebrations are returning to the Rainy River District.
Borderland Pride has released a list of some of the events taking place in June.
Co-chair Doug Judson says happy to have the ability to celebrate.
“I think the pandemic has been just such a travesty for our ability to connect as a community, be out there at events. We’re hoping that Pride will get the ball rolling again, bring people together and remind them of the great community we live in and all of the opportunities we have to participate as volunteers to learn from one another, to be part of activism,” says Judson.
This year’s celebrations will be highlighted by the appearance of Choir, Choir, Choir at Rainy Lake Square.
They will transform an audience into a choir that will sing a popular tune.
Judson says this year’s theme will be Loud and Proud.
“We want people to people to be bold. We want people to get out there and be vocal advocates for diversity and inclusion in the community. I think more broadly, we want people to take pride in the community itself and come together again and help build us to be a great place to live.”
This year’s flag raising will take place at Seven Generations Education Institute.
Judson says it will celebrate the link between Pride, education and Indigenous identity.
There will be no cross-border walk because of the crossing requirements in place at the border.
A parade will be held instead on June 11, starting at the Sorting Gap Marina and ending at the Rainy Lake Square.
All events are free to attend and open to all ages.
Here is a list of events on the schedule so far;
- On Tuesday, May 31, we’ll bring Pride to the west end of the Rainy River District, with “All Tea, No Shade!” at the Rainy River Public Library. Stop by for refreshments!
- On Monday, June 6, Borderland Pride’s official flag-raising and “kick-off” will be hosted by Seven Generations Education Institute, followed by an evening with out pro hockey player Brock McGillis, co-hosted by the Fort Frances Girls’ and Women’s Hockey Association. Brock will speak on LGBTQ2 inclusion in sports.
- On Tuesday, June 7, a breakfast will be hosted by Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services and a Pride button and banner-making workshop is taking place at the United Native Friendship Centre.
- On Wednesday, June 8, a lunchtime film screening of “Sweetheart Dancers” will take place at the Fort Frances Public Library. The short film explores two-spirit identity in the Native American pow-wow tradition. A virtual resource panel will take place in the evening providing medical, legal, cultural, and parental perspectives on gender identity/expression, hosted by the UNFC and Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre.
- On Thursday, June 9, there will be a special resource fair at the vendor market at Rainy Lake Square and a come-and-go tea social hosted by Curvy Chick.
- On Saturday, June 11, join a “tailgate” rally with a photo booth contest at the Sorting Gap Marina (with many prizes to be won!). This will kick off the annual Pride March to Rainy Lake Square for a concert by internationally acclaimed YouTube sensation CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! Free tickets are available at www.borderlandpride.org/ccc.
- A colouring and creative writing contest for students, provided by ETFO Locals, will run from May 10 to June 10 (www.borderlandpride.org/contest), and our “official” Pride shoppe will be open at Curvy Chick starting May 16, where you’ll find a wide selection of flags and other merchandise
