As summer comes to an end, so does a week of celebration at Capital Pride, which ran from Aug. 21 to 27.
Thousands of people attended this year’s parade, making it one of the most populated events this summer, according to the CBC. Citizens came out in droves to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community at Ottawa’s annual Pride parade, which capped off a week’s worth of Pride activities.
Following the parade on Aug. 27, local rock and soul band the Lionyls kicked things off with a performance on Capital Pride’s Main Stage, while Ottawa-based group the PepTides played the Fresh Zone. Other performers included DJ Jungle Jen, American rapper Mykki Blanco, and former A Tribe Called Red member DJ Shub.
Laura Williams, 75, attended the parade for the first time alone this year, and described the atmosphere as an umbrella.
“What does an umbrella do? It opens,” she said, adding that she wants this generation to understand that if you have an open mind, you will have no difficulties with the rest of the world.
Christine Rogerson was selling trinkets at the parade from her shop, Uniquely Creative. She said it’s important to celebrate all forms of art surrounding the LGBTQ community, and that she had come from out of town to attend the parade.
“I have a transgender child in Brockville, Ont.,” she said, adding she and her child wanted to attend a bigger celebration than the one offered in Brockville.
Candy Palmater, Capital Pride’s grand marshal, said she wanted to show her fans she stands behind the LGBTQ+ community. But, Palmater said she was expecting more people to attend.
“The nation’s capital would have more numbers, but I was surprised to see that there were smaller numbers,” she said. “This is the nation’s capital. This is where all the bills get passed. It’s where laws get made. The place where you need to really draw attention to is here.”
Capital Pride started in 1986, with a picnic at Strathcona Park attended by about 50 people, according to Xtra! Since then it’s grown, with thousands of people attending the parade in 2015 and 2016.
Alexis French, a volunteer at Capital Pride, said Ottawa is a great place to have a large Pride celebration.
“Ottawa being the capital, it shows that all of Canada is supportive. It’s not just each individual town,” she said. “Parliament is supportive, so it makes everyone feel safer.”
Photo by Aaron Hemens
