Boissonneault new Pride chair

The well-sung treasurer of the 2006 Ottawa-Gatineau Pride Committee has been promoted to chair.

Gordon Boissonneault took on the new job after the Nov 21 annual general meeting that saw several board members step down. Former chair Darren Fisher, and Shaleena Theophilus have stepped down. Old board members returning include Ian McLeod, John Gazo and Marion Steele (who had previously said she would retire to knit). New and re-tread faces include trans activist Joanne Law (who served several years back), Wendy Ireland, Michele Matherin and Janice Yates.

Yates is the new treasurer, McLeod the secretary, Law the co-chair and Matherin the volunteer coordinator.

The outgoing Committee has contracted a consultant to crunch the organization’s numbers (including an outstanding accumulated debt of approximately $170,000) and work on a five-year viability plan. If the numbers don’t work, then Pride is back to having to reconsider bankruptcy and restructuring, Boissonneault told the Nov 21 meeting. The plan will be presented to the membership, probably in February.

Chris Dupuis

Chris Dupuis is a writer and curator originally from Toronto.

Keep Reading

An image of the cover of 'No God but Us' against a zoomed portion of the cover featuring a lit candle and butterflies with eyes on their wings against a black background

‘No God but Us’ delves into the parallel universes created by war and displacement

Bobuq Sayed’s debut novel considers borders and ethics through the eyes of two queer Afghan lovers
Bentley Robles

Bentley Robles wants a brotherhood of gay pop stars

The yellow-haired singer talks rising stardom, Zara Larsson and dating while gay-famous
Vivek Shraya being kissed by a man

Vivek Shraya is hot, blond and hitting the dance floor

The Toronto multi-hyphenate’s new album, “VIVICA,” shirks respectability politics for a sensual, high-gloss exploration of queer and trans desire
Morphine Love Dion, Dawn and Morgan McMichaels

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11’ plays it safe for the first bracket—until the very last minute

Already, we see the consequences of only two queens moving forward from each bracket to the semifinals
Advertisement