The Nanaimo Pride society hopes to bring back the traditional Pride Parade next year, along with all the excitement the event brings, like the joy seen in here from their 2019 Pride Parade. (Nanaimo Pride Facebook)

By Jordan Davidson

celebrate pride

Nanaimo Pride Society gearing up for a fun and colourful weekend of events

Jun 10, 2022 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — If the rainbow flags and supportive social media posts haven’t given it away, June is Pride Month and a time to celebrate members of the LGBTQ+ community.

While the pandemic severely limited in-person Pride events over the last couple of years, 2022 will return to some of the more traditional elements of Pride celebrations including live music and events at Maffeo Sutton Park, and a Pride walk.

President of the Nanaimo Pride Society Ajay Booth said due to limited planning time and other internal factors, their society decided to forgo a formal parade this year.

“We decided to make sure we were having quality not quantity, so we decided the parade would be too much to take on. We’re hoping by next year we’ll be back to the place where there is a parade, because that’s a great event.”

Community members stepped in to organize a Pride Walk and Roll event on Sunday, June 12, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Port Place Shopping Centre and ending at Maffeo Sutton Park.

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Booth said that event is open to everyone “from toddlers to grandmas”, who can walk or ride their bikes and dress up in all their Pride finery.

He said they’ve received tremendous support from Nanaimo residents for these events, which is evident by the way the community stepped up to organize the Pride walk.

“Folks that are opposed to celebrating diversity and uniqueness and who we are as individuals are becoming more and more outnumbered by people who want to feel connected and be part of a community as a whole.”

He told NanaimoNewsNOW their ultimate goal is to make people feel celebrated and included, which is why the events are accessible to everyone in the community.

“It’s going to be a really great time. We try to make things as low-barrier as possible to it’s accessible to everyone in the community.. inclusion and safety is our main priority for people this year.”

For more information on all the Pride events this year is available at nanaimopride.ca.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow