Owen Sound’s Pride Parade pays tribute to the movement’s beginnings

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Owen Sound’s River District transformed into a vibrant sea of extravagant costumes, bright colours, and big smiles Saturday afternoon as the city’s annual Pride Parade strutted down 2nd Avenue East to the farmer’s market.

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It’s hard to believe such a lighthearted and exuberant event is a direct descendent of a fight against violent hatred and systemic oppression. Still, it’s those beginnings of the Pride movement organizers in Owen Sound paid tribute to this year — while also recognizing there is a long way to go to achieve the ideals imagined 55 years ago.

Grey Bruce Pride chose Emerald City as this year’s theme, a nod to the 55th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots — a watershed moment in the fight for LQBTQ+ rights.

An uprising began in New York in 1969 when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the city’s gay village. The raid was followed by nights of protests and riots by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The traditional gift for a 55th Anniversary is emerald, which dovetailed nicely into another nod to the queer community and paved the way for this year’s theme, organizers said.

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“Way back when, when it was unsafe to be queer, and it’s still unsafe to be queer, to be honest, one of the coded ways for folks to be able to go and communicate they were part of the queer community is to say they were friends of Dorothy,” said Rachel Paterson, co-chair of the Pride parade and spokesperson for Grey-Bruce Pride. “Emerald City played into the Wizard of Oz theme. We wanted to give an ode to all of that.”

There was no need for coded language Saturday afternoon as hundreds of people lined Owen Sound’s main street to celebrate and support the parade and its participants.

People in the parade waved to the crowd and shouted ‘Happy Pride’, some draped themselves in pride flags, danced, played instruments, and handed out party favours.

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The Owen Sound Police handed out colourful sunglasses. Others walked in intricate furry suits.

Several community organizations, churches, school boards and businesses entered floats or marched in the parade.

Krista McCormick with the Educational Support Professionals Bargaining Unit (OSSTF) said the unions and school boards walked together despite recent tensions to show support and in the spirit of creating an inclusive community within area schools.

Before the parade began, Jeff Feltis, William Ingleson and Ray Wheeler started the party by blaring The Bee Gees from a Bluetooth speaker and turning heads with their impressive adornments.

“You’ve got to bring a party,” Feltis joked. He said he’s been attending the pride parade in Owen Sound since there was a pride parade in Owen Sound.

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Some churchgoing community members wore shirts or fashioned signs showing support, including the message ‘This Lutheran Loves You’.

The parade was staged north of 10th Street East before moving south to the Owen Sound Farmer’s Market on 8th Street East, and that’s where the party continued until the early evening — including a free drag show — as this year’s pride event expanded to include a street festival.

“We’ve seen it grow from 300 to up to 5,000 people. So to see it grow and to see the community travel long distances, come together, and offer free drag shows, it’s really lovely,” Paterson said.

The Pride Parade vendor’s market included over 30 queer artists, designers, allies and info booths. A youth zone featured crafting, exploration, inflatables, giant jenga, lawn games and an art and crafting space.

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Lovebird Brewing offered a pop-up licensed bar, with a drag show at Heartwood Hall and a Moonbean Dance Party at The Rumpus Room to follow.

Grey Bruce Pride also set up picnic areas on the banks of the Sydenham River as another tribute to the beginnings of the pride movement.

“In Canada, the first pride events were all picnics,” Paterson said. “Again we just wanted to pay tribute. Emerald City, the Wizard of Oz, picnics, what could be better?” Paterson said.

Owen Sound’s Pride Parade is one of several events marking Pride Month organized by Grey Bruce Pride.

The celebration began earlier this month as the Progressive Pride flag was raised at Owen Sound city hall, Saugeen Shores municipal building and other locations around Grey-Bruce.

On Friday night, a Trans March and Vigil followed the same route to the farmer’s market.

Still to come this month is A Rainbow Rendezvous at Parkwood in Owen Sound scheduled for June 22, and the Open Heart Series at Lovebird Snack Club in Thornbury on June 26.

Other events planned in Grey-Bruce include:

– TIFF film screening and equality panel talk at the Bruce County Museum on June 20

– Dundalk Pride Parade on June 22

– Kincardine Pride Celebration on June 22

– Pride community workout at Built on June 22

– Drag Show Bingo at Bonfire on Queen in Paisley on June 29

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