Taking Pride in 30 years in the Capital
China Doll entertains the crowd before the beginning of the Capital Pride parade on Sunday. Thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Ottawa and celebrated the 30th anniversary of Pride in the city.
Thousands celebrated on the streets of downtown Ottawa as the 30th Capital Pride week concluded with an extravagant parade.
Paraders started out loud and proud from the corner of Bank Street and Gladstone Avenue at 1 p.m., and headed north on Kent Street before turning back onto Bank and finishing near Somerset at around 3:30, half an hour behind schedule. Many attributed the late finish to this year’s big turnout.
From community members and citizens to political campaigners and public servants, as well as various organizations, banks and companies, the entire city seemed to be celebrating as the crowds and music energized the Centretown neighbourhood Sunday afternoon.
“For me, it’s one day a year when I get to be myself,” said Kevin Schaeken, a website developer, after the parade. “Even though things have been moving positively for our community in the past few years, it’s still a great way to let loose and take a moment to celebrate with everyone. I love seeing all the organizations marching and showing that they care and they’re open about it.”
Even the group called LGBTory Canada marched despite an initial call on Capital Pride to stop it from participating in the parade, due to the group’s support for conservative politics.
Despite an online petition with more than 200 signatures against the group’s participation, its members marched proudly in the parade and received a fair share of the supporting hurrahs from bystanders.
“This parade is for everyone,” Gary Sealey, GLBTQQ community leader and Order of Ottawa recipient, said when asked, as a bystander, what he thinks of the group’s participation in the march.
“This isn’t about partisanship, it’s about inclusiveness. I think that captures the spirit of the parade and the movement of Pride.”
Retired Terry Latreille said he came to see the parade because he lives nearby and heard the music but, like almost everyone around him, was confused about the minute of silence at the parade’s beginning since it wasn’t explained.
“I think the parade might be a novelty to a lot of people,” 70-yearold Latreille said. “Nonetheless, I’m here because it’s interesting and I’m definitely supportive, even though I belong to a different generation.”
Young attendee Tiffany Levasseur, a Value Village employee, said she attended to support her peers and because she heard last year’s parade was “crazy busy.”
“I’m here because I’m bisexual and I want to support my community. I think it’s important that we come together, at least for a day.”