The streets of downtown Ottawa have been crammed with rainbow colors, songs and celebrations on a sunny Sunday afternoon, for the annual Capital Pride Parade.
Approximately 10,000 individuals marched within the parade alongside Elgin Street, Gladstone Avenue and Kent Street, with hundreds extra lining the parade route for the signature occasion of the 2023 Capital Pride competition.
“This is definitely my first Pride. I’m actually excited to be right here,” stated one particular person taking part within the parade.
More than 200 teams and floats participated within the parade, which was led by college students and workers from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board carrying the large Pride Flag.
“One of my youngsters is non-binary, so it is tremendous essential to me,” Heather Gardner stated.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe joined metropolis of Ottawa workers for the Pride Parade.
“Love is aware of no boundaries. Happy Pride, everybody,” Sutcliffe stated on X, the platform previously often known as Twitter.
Participants and spectators stated it was essential to attend the Capital Pride Parade this yr to point out solidarity within the face of the rise of anti-trans hate throughout Canada.
“It is wonderful to see our group come collectively in celebration and solidarity,” Fae Johnstone, the Pride Parade Grand Marshal, stated Sunday afternoon.
“We have to be pleased with ourselves. We additionally have to make a world the place we will all be proud…with out the homophobia and transphobia that surrounds us.”
Ottawa Community Housing workers participate within the Capital Pride Parade. (OCH_LCO/X)
Dozens of scholars and workers with Ottawa’s French public faculty board participated within the parade.
“With simply two days to return to high school, the CEPEO is proud to have celebrated range and inclusion with the Ottawa group as a part of the Capital Pride Parade,” the Conseil des ecoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario stated on social media.
“Equity and inclusion are on the coronary heart of the CEPEO’s mission.”
The theme for this yr’s occasion is “Get Proud,” with Capital Pride saying, “Our theme is a name to rejoice collectively much more loudly and proudly.”
“I feel it is probably the most entertaining…individuals right here collectively to rejoice what we’ve been preventing for,” Samnang Tep stated. “It’s been difficult for me being a homosexual Asian particular person; it is simply been a problem. I feel simply going out and being who I’m and simply showcasing myself out of the field.”
2023 Capital Pride celebrations in Ottawa. Aug. 28, 2023. (Josh Pringle/CTV News)
The Capital Pride Parade was held the identical weekend a Barrhaven lady posted video on social media, saying a automotive drove up onto her garden at roughly 4 p.m. Saturday and ran over a Pride signal.
The lady, who requested to not be named, instructed CTV News Ottawa her husband ordered a number of indicators as a result of they anticipated one thing would occur to it.
Funding for Ottawa 2SLGBTQI+ communities
The federal authorities introduced as much as $1.9 million in funding for seven 2SLGBTQI+ organizations within the Ottawa space.
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth Marci Ian and Ottawa Vanier MP Mona Fortier introduced the funding one yr after the federal authorities launched its federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan.
“This help for 2SLGBTQI+ communities within the Ottawa area is a tangible achievement of the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan,” Fortier stated.
“These group organizations play a key function in amplifying marginalized voices and supply protected areas. By working immediately with native communities, they will create systemic change. Our authorities will all the time help 2SLGBTQI+ communities and organizations which might be striving to make issues higher and build a extra inclusive Canada.”
2023 Capital Pride celebrations in Ottawa. Aug. 28, 2023. (Josh Pringle/CTV News)
OC Transpo
OC Transpo says it’ll preserve common transit service this weekend.
Routes 6, 7 and 11 can be detoured between Slater Street and Gladstone Avenue all day.
Routes 5, 6, 7, 11 and 14 can be detoured at some point of the Capital Pride Parade from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. All journeys affected by street closures in the course of the parade can be detoured by way of adjoining streets, in keeping with the town.
Ottawa police
Ottawa police say there can be an elevated police presence throughout Capital Pride occasions this weekend.
“The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Special Events Section, together with our metropolis companions have labored with Pride organizing committee all through the planning section of the Parade,” police stated in an announcement to CTV News Ottawa.
“OPS has developed a plan with police sources to make sure protected and enjoyable Pride actions related to the occasion all weekend.”
Police say there can be an built-in command staff arrange for the Pride Parade.
“OPS may have officers engaged alongside the route to make sure Pride contributors really feel protected and that Ottawa residents really feel safe that their group is being protected,” police stated.
“OPS has officers of all ranks which have signed up to make sure a profitable Pride parade.”
