Ottawa’s Pride parade will be a huge demonstration for gay rights that will end at the foot of the national legislature.
“Together we will lead thousands of people to Parliament Hill on Pride Day,” says chair Marion Steele. “We will make a real impact in representing our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender cousins across the nation, as well as the majority of heterosexuals, who believe we have the right to exist as full members of society.”
The Pride Committee Of Ottawa-Hull has teamed with the lobby Equality For Gays And Lesbian Everywhere and the Foundation For Equal Families, which filed an omnibus lawsuit against the federal government charging that straight-only spousal rights laws are unconstitutional.
The Pride parade starts at 2pm on Sun, Jul 11, leaving the public school at the corner of Arlington and Bank and travelling all the way up Bank.
Tis the season for Pride everywhere in Ontario.
¥ In Windsor, the Pride parade will start at 2pm on Sun, Jun 13, at Windsor Stadium and goes down the main street to City Hall. But there’s stuff happening all weekend, including a dinner and dance sponsored by the Canadian Auto Workers homo caucus on Jun 11. Call (519) 973-4951 for all the details.
¥ In Simcoe County, there’s a Pride Dance on Sat, Jun 19. It starts at 8pm, at Oro community centre on Highway 11; for more info, call the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Of Simcoe County at (705) 327-7800.
¥ In Kingston, the Pride march will be held at 1pm on Sat, Jun 19. Meet at McBurney Park, corner of Ordnance and Clergy. There’s a dance later that evening, from 9pm, at Greek Hall (121 Johnson St, $5 to $12, sliding scale admission).
¥ In Hamilton, Pride is Sat, Jun 19. There’s no march, but a full day of festivities is planned at the Ontario Workers’ Arts And Heritage Centre (51 Stuart St). Everything starts off with a church service at 1pm, followed by a picnic and games at 2pm, followed by musicians. The dance (with DJ Don Summerfield) starts at 9pm. Everything’s free. Call (905) 526-1074.
¥ In Wellington Region, Pride is Sat, Jun 19. Folks in Guelph, Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo celebrate their fifth annual Pride. Meet at Kitchener’s Victoria Park, just a few yards west of the bus terminal. They’ll be on Roos Island (where the bandstand is). Opening ceremonies are at 1pm (though the barbecue and beer garden opens at noon). Events are planned through to 7pm.
¥ In London, Pride kicks Fri, Jul 2 with an art gallery exhibit (at 6pm at the Galleria Mall) and a reception marking the 25th anniversary of HALO, the Homophile Association Of London, Ontario. The building is at 649 Colborne St. The street itself is shut down for a festival from the 9th to the 11th, with the parade starting at 2pm at HALO on Sun, Jul 11. HALO is at (519) 433-3762.
¥ In Sudbury, Pride will be proclaimed for the week of Tue, Aug 3 to 8. The Pride parade will be held on Sat, Aug 7. Opening speeches begin at 11am at Tom Davies Square, leaving an hour for a march through the downtown.
From 1 to 4pm, there’ll be a BBQ and entertainment at Memorial Park, followed by a community dinner at a local restaurant, a youth dance and a bar night (at Zig’s Bar, 33 Elgin St).
For more info, contact Marco Theriault at (705) 688-0500, or e-mail sudbury-pride@gaycanada.com.
¥ It’s Sarnia’s very first Pride Day! The parade starts at 3pm on Sat, Aug 21, at Centennial Park. It’ll be followed by a dinner at 5:30pm, entertainment and a dance, all at the Ramada Hotel on London Rd. Call (519) 383-7704 for more info.
And in Montreal, Divers/Cite will be held Wed, Jul 28 to Aug 1.
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