For the third consecutive year, Carleton University will not have an official presence in the Capital Pride parade, citing “resource considerations.”
The 2026 Capital Pride parade is set for Aug. 30, with an estimated 225 groups and over 11,000 community members expected to participate.
“Although Carleton will not be represented by an official float due to resource considerations, faculty, staff and students interested in joining the event are welcome and encouraged to participate,” a Carleton spokesperson said in a statement to the Charlatan.
Carleton first withdrew from the parade in 2024, after Capital Pride released a statement declaring solidarity with Palestine and raising concerns about rising antisemitism and Islamaphobia in Canada. The statement has since been quietly removed from Capital Pride’s website.
In 2025, Carleton stayed out of the parade because of “timing and resources” while also facing a $50.1 million deficit after the 2023-24 academic year.
In the statement provided from the university, timing was not noted as a factor in this years withdrawal.
In previous years, Carleton hosts their annual campus Pride Festival in October. No official information on that has been released at the time of publication.
Despite the absence of an official float, Carleton said it continues its support of opportunities to strengthen Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.
“We respect Capital Pride’s focus on building community and recognize the event as an important opportunity for community members and allies to honour progress, celebrate diversity and reaffirm our shared commitment to an inclusive environment where individual distinctiveness is valued and everyone feels a sense of belonging.”
Featured image by Spencer Colby/the Charlatan
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