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Pride crosswalk being re-painted on June 5, 2023, Photo courtesy EverythingGP Staff
By Curtis Galbraith and Erika Rolling
Community

Grande Prairie celebrating Pride Month

Jun 6, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie’s Rainbow Pride Crosswalk on 98 Street near the Montrose Cultural Centre got a new coat of paint from some volunteers on Monday.

June is Pride Month.

Pride Society Director Gordon Pellerin says there are more events coming up.

“Later this week on Friday is the (Rainbow Bright) Teen Dance, which is an awesome time for 13 to 18-year-olds to come out in a safe, inclusive, diverse space.”

“Saturday (from) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Pride Family Carnival at (the) Eastlink Centre.”

There will be a pancake breakfast held ahead of the carnival, it will start at 9 a.m.

The carnival itself will include riders, performers, face painting, and bouncy castles.

The sold-out Party in White will be held Saturday night at the Bowes Event Centre.

On Sunday, St. Paul’s United Church will host a community celebration, it will start at 2 p.m.

Pellerin remembers a time when it was not easy to organize events like this.

“I’m a time traveler. I come from the 80’s and 90’s. I was an activist back in the day. Back in those days, trying to get any events here and in a lot of places was very difficult.”

“It puts a tear in my eye to see this happening with the crosswalk painting,” He notes

Pellerin thinks it is important to have events like these everywhere.

“It’s about creating a society that can be far more inclusive and accepting, teaching kids that differences don’t make you abnormal.”

“We need a paradigm shift away from this (idea that) cisgendered, heteronormative is normal and anything from that is abnormal or is a disease or needs to be fixed and instead, to embrace those differences and accept those as all normal.”

Pellerin says support has grown year to year and says more than 1,000 people attended the family carnival in 2022 and the same number or more is expected this year. The Party in White sold out quickly again this year.

by Curtis Galbraith and Erika Rolling