Pride Timeline 2000-2019
“2000
This year’s Pride Festival (June 10-17) theme is “Proud in 2000”. Festivities kicked off in Grant Notley Park, followed by a colourful parade winding down Victoria promenade and crossing Jasper Avenue on 121st and ending in Oliver Park. Last year’s parade attracted several thousand people and featured five floats. This year’s Parade lasts 30 minutes and doubles in size. A new addition to the Pride Festival is a Pride Week radio show showcasing Pride highlights and feature programs. Other events included the Flamingo Business Fair, Pride Awards, art exhibit by Steve Walker, and a large community dance.
Still reluctant to proclaim a “Gay and Lesbian Pride Day,” Mayor Bill Smith instead issues a public letter of congratulations to the organizers of Pride. He writes, “thank you for lending your time to bridge understanding while strengthening unity within the Edmonton lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community.” Some see this as a welcome message of support; others still demand an official proclamation.”
“2001
Despite not having support from Mayor Bill Smith and Premier Ralph Klein, Pride continues this year with the theme “A Rainbow Odyssey.” Pride Week began with a news conference outside City Hall and was followed by a parade down Jasper Avenue. Eighteen events made up this year’s Pride Festival (June 16-23), including a street fair (with a business fair, picnic, youth carnival, and beer gardens); cabaret; beach volleyball; dinner theatre; literary night at Orlando Books; Edmonton Vocal Minority concert; Pride Awards; and Flamingo pride dance at the Citadel. A highlight this year was the presence of Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan, Alberta NDP Leader Raj Pannu and MLAs Laurie Blakeman and Brian Mason in the Pride Parade.”
“2002
Edmonton celebrates its annual Pride Festival (June 14-23) with the theme “Many Faces—One Community.” Over 1,000+ community members attend the increasingly large and colourful Pride Parade down Jasper Avenue. Pride Festival events include a family picnic and barbecue; a drag pageant; stand-up comedy show; film festival; inclusive church service; a public forum with members of the Edmonton Police Commission at City Hall; and the Pride Awards and dance at the Old Strathcona Art Barns.
This year Pride celebrated the 20th anniversary of Womonspace and the 30th anniversary of the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton.
Mayor Bill Smith continues his steadfast refusal to proclaim a “Gay and Lesbian Pride Day.” The Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS) announces formally initiating a human rights complaint against Mayor Smith for his consistent refusal. Mayor Smith previously commented he would only proclaim a day if the courts forced him to. Roz Ostendorf, the Pride Festival Co-Chair, states, “For some people, it is very important that Mr. Smith be dragged kicking and screaming into a liberal society.””
“2003
This year’s Pride theme is “The Flame Within.” The Pride Festival (June 13-22) begins with the largest ever Pride Parade, with nearly 6,000 people in attendance. Notable Festival events include two public forums on community health and a discussion on hate crimes, police, and the LGBT community at City Hall. Other events include karaoke, dances and dinners, live music, sporting events, and the annual Pride Awards.
Earlier this year, a formal Human Rights complaint was filed against Mayor Bill Smith (Pride vs. City of Edmonton vs. Bill Smith) for his failure to proclaim a “Gay and Lesbian Pride Day.” Despite the Mayor’s steadfast refusal to proclaim the day for the past seven years, 7 City Councillors joined together to issue a joint letter, published in the official Pride Festival Guide, welcoming the event to Edmonton.
Councillor Phair states that Mayor Smith’s continued refusal to issue a Pride proclamation feels like a personal slap in the face.
Finally, upon the advice of city lawyers, Mayor Bill Smith reluctantly proclaims “Gay Pride Week” and issues an official city proclamation. Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons describes Smith’s delivery of the proclamation as “...delivered not with gracious generosity, but churlishly through clenched teeth.””
“2004
Stephen Mandel is elected Mayor and, without hesitation, proclaims “Gay Pride Week” (June 18-27) in the city. Better Canada Coalition, a local anti-gay group, gathers a petition with more than 1,000 signatures requesting the city cancel the annual Pride Parade. The petition is ignored.
This year’s Pride festival theme is “Pioneering Pride.” Pride Week officially begins once again at City Hall with the reading of the official proclamation and the raising of the rainbow flag, which flies proudly for the week. Pride Festival events include the annual parade; Pride Awards; a queer history display showcasing Edmonton’s LGBTQ pioneers at City Hall; a 2 Spirit Aboriginal awareness workshop; pancake breakfast; youth art display; Edmonton Vocal Minority concert; community dances; silent auction; and a public forum on same-sex marriage that closed out the week’s festivities.”
“2005
A historic year for lesbian and gay rights in Canada as Bill C-38 becomes law, changing the legal definition of marriage to “a union between two persons.” Canada becomes the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Dissatisfied with the decision, Premier Klein threatens to use the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to exempt Alberta from the law. However, Klein was advised not to fight Bill C-38 since “it would be a waste of money for all parties.”
“Grow Pride” (June 17-26) was selected as the theme for this year’s Pride Festival celebrations. Mayor Stephen Mandel proclaims Gay Pride Week and becomes the first Mayor in Edmonton’s history to participate in the Pride Parade. When asked about his participation, the mayor stated, “I’m supporting my friend Michael Phair.... People who are gay are people. I don’t know what the big deal is.” The mayor also hosted the inaugural Mayor’s Pride Brunch in support of Camp fYrefly, which would become an annual event.
This Pride Festival began with the Pride Awards and rainbow flag raising at City Hall with a performance by Edmonton Vocal Minority. The growing Pride Parade featured Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan as the Grand Marshal who led the parade down Jasper Avenue alongside Mayor Stephen Mandel and Councillor Michael Phair. The parade concluded with a large festival at Churchill Square. About six protestors from Potter’s House Christian Church walked along the sidewalks during the parade holding anti-gay signs.
Pride events this year also included a Womonspace Pride Dance; a public forum on “Pride, Community, the Police Commission, & the Police Service” at City Hall and hosted by Michael Phair; a Bonfire of the Rainbows punk entertainment extravaganza at the University of Alberta; Edmonton Vocal Minority concert at the Provincial Museum of Alberta; “Acts of Pride” featuring an evening of music, comedy and theatre at La Cite Francophone; and a family brunch and penny carnival.”
“2006
This year’s Pride theme is “Pride Power” (June 16-25) and is officially recognized with the mayor’s proclamation. The Pride Festival kicks off at City Hall by raising the rainbow flag and the annual Pride Awards. Other activities include the annual Pride Parade and Festival at Churchill Square; a joint concert and dance with Edmonton Vocal Minority and Womonspace; the Mayor’s Pride Brunch; a new “Pride Challenge Softball Game” with the Edmonton Police Service; the first Edmonton Police Service Pride Week Reception hosted by Chief Mike Boyd; “Acts of Pride” Cabaret & Silent Auction at La Citie Francophone; and other regular Pride events.”
“2007
This year’s Pride Festival theme is “Pride 007—License to Thrill” (June 15-24) and is officially recognized by Mayor Stephen Mandel and the city with a proclamation. The Pride Awards and rainbow flag-raising are the first events to open up the Pride Festival, and the parade is held the day after, travelling down Jasper Avenue and ending with a celebration on the square. This year, other Pride events include a Pride run; sporting games; a PFLAG picnic; Pride and Womonspace dances; a Pride in Transit barbeque hosted by Michael Phair; Pride Centre Family Brunch; a concert by Edmonton Vocal Minority, and the Mayor’s Pride Brunch.
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“2008
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark Delwin Vriend decision. “Unmasked and Outrageous” was the theme for the Pride Festival (June 13-22). Pride celebrations kicked off with the Pride Awards at City Hall and a large parade with 50 entries marching down Jasper Avenue, followed by a Festival celebration at Churchill Square. Throughout the week, numerous Pride events took place, including a Womonspace Unity Dance, a two-day film festival at Metro Cinema, an Edmonton Vocal Minority concert, and a masquerade ball.
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“2009
Edmonton celebrates this year’s Pride Festival with the theme “Age of A-Queer-ius” (June 12-21). Mayor Stephen Mandel issues a proclamation officially declaring it “Gay Pride Week” in the city.
This year’s Pride Parade is the largest to date, with 60 entries and over 10,000 spectators. Heather Klimchuk, Fred Horne, and Doug Elinski became the first Progressive Conservative MLAs to participate in Edmonton’s Pride Parade. Klimchuck, the first Government Minister to formally participate, was greeted with jeers over the recent passage of Bill 44, which placed parental restrictions on openly discussing sexual orientation in Alberta’s K-12 schools.
Other Pride Festival events included an open house at Edmonton Public Library; the Edmonton Police Chief’s Pride Reception; Queer History Bus Tour hosted by Michael Phair and Darrin Hagen; Devonian Gardens Rainbow Tour; Queer Images film festival; Edmonton Vocal Minority “Rainbow Madness” concert; and the Mayor’s Pride Brunch.
”
“2010
Edmonton celebrates its annual Pride Festival with the theme “A Rainbow Odyssey” (June 11-20) with more than 40+ events. Mayor Stephen Mandel continues to be a key supporter and issues an official proclamation. Like previous years, a large parade down Jasper Avenue kicks off the Pride Festival with a massive celebration at Churchill Square. Ten-year-old Parade participant Kia Rand states, “I think it’s really fun… especially because they don’t have to hide anymore.”
Pride Festival events include a queer history bus tour, film nights, a self-defense workshop, dances, art shows, the annual Gay Cup softball game, Edmonton Police Service Pride Reception, Eskimos Pride Party Bus, Pride Awards at the Art Gallery of Alberta, and the 5th annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch, among many other activities.
As the Pride Festival continues to grow almost exponentially, some concerns begin to be raised about the rapid growth of corporate sponsorship and the shifting meaning of Pride from its activist roots.
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“2011
Edmonton’s Pride Festival continues to grow by leaps and bounds and now has an estimated cost of $250,000 per year. This year’s celebrations are part of a multi-year theme, “Stand Up! Stand Out! Stand Proud!” (June 10-19), and the Pride Parade features students from Edmonton’s Gay-Straight Student Alliances as the Grand Marshals. Over 20,000 people packed the streets, making this one of Edmonton’s largest and most colourful festivals in the city’s history.
Pride Festival events this year included the annual Pride Awards at City Hall; a Pride Festival pancake breakfast at the Legislature grounds; a forum on “Gay-Straight Alliances Making It Better in Schools” at the Art Gallery of Alberta; a Rainbow Gallery Art Show at the Arts Barns; Queer History Bus Tours; a “Laugh Out Proud” night at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club; Edmonton Vocal Minority “Our Proud Voices” concert nights at Catalyst Theatre; a Professional’s Pride mixer; a Womonspace Pride picnic and music festival; Senior’s Strawberry Tea at the Pride Centre of Edmonton; a variety of inclusive church services and discussions; a Come Out & Play Day at Kinsmen Park; annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch; and a luncheon with Michael Phair on “Community Challenges: The End of Gay-NOT!”
An Edmonton Journal editorial states, “It’s a time to celebrate the important steps forward society has taken, and a reminder we must all continue fighting for full, unqualified gender and sexual equality in the years to come.”
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“2012
Edmonton’s Pride Festival has grown into one of the largest in Canada, with over 24,000 people attending this year’s Parade and celebration in the square. This year’s Festival theme is “Stand Out!” (June 8-18), and it is a historical one. The Edmonton Public School Board trustees, who recently passed the first standalone Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Policy in Western Canada, are selected as the Pride Parade’s Grand Marshals for their work in support of LGBTQ2 inclusive education.
Not only does Mayor Stephen Mandel once again proudly proclaim “Pride Week” in the city, Premier Alison Redford also joins the celebrations. Redford became the first Premier in Alberta’s history to participate in Pride and gave a speech in front of thousands after the parade in Churchill Square. The Premier stated, “We are in a province where people are inclusive, they respect diversity. And it’s important for our political leaders to understand that… I think we’re a very different province than we were many years ago and I’m very proud of that.”
Support for this year’s Pride Festival represents a “seismic” shift in attitudes and Alberta’s changing political culture. Support for the LGBTQ2+ community galvanizes after Wild Rose party candidate Allan Hunsperger famously condemns gays and lesbians to burn in the eternal “Lake of Fire.”
This year’s Pride Festival includes more than 30+ events and begins with the Pride Awards at City Hall. The week also has a special panel discussion entitled “Standing OUT: Educational Leadership for Social Justice in the 21st Century”, featuring Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk at the Art Gallery of Alberta. Other Pride Festival events include “A Touch of Goth” concert by Edmonton Vocal Minority; Pride church services; BBQs and dances; movie nights; a downtown and Whyte avenue Queer History Bus Tour; Professionals Pride Mixer; Rainbow Art Gallery; Edmonton Police Service Chief’s Pride Reception; “Laugh Out Proud” comedy night at Yuk Yuk’s; Come Out and Play Day at Kinsmen Sports Centre (including the Gay Cup Volleyball Tournament and dance party at Queen Elizabeth Pool), and the annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch.
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“2013
This year’s pride festival and theme, “Stand Proud!” (June 7-16), marked Stephen Mandel’s last year as Mayor of Edmonton. During his time in office, the Pride Festival has grown and been officially recognized each and every year by the city. At the annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch, Mandel was celebrated for his unwavering support of Edmonton’s LGBTQ2 community. Michael Phair described Mandel’s inclusive leadership as “the start of a new era…. The mayor’s Pride proclamation was an enormous step toward making Edmonton a very inclusive city.” In recognition of the mayor’s allyship, a new leadership award was created in his name to support LGBTQ2+ students at the University of Alberta. As well, the University of Alberta holds their first Pride Parade on campus, with Michael Phair in attendance, stating that Pride on-campus shows that LGBT individuals are “respected like every other citizen… it’s a chance to say we’re here, and we make a difference.”
An estimated crowd of over 30,000+ people attended this year’s Pride Parade, which was the largest in history with more than 75+ entries. The Pride Centre of Edmonton led the Parade as the featured Grand Marshal. Pride Festival events included movie nights, dances, and pageants; Pancakes for Pride at Oliver Hall; queer history bus tours; Come Out and Play Day; a Beef Bear Bust BBQ; and a family picnic.
Of particular note, the Canadian Forces Base in Edmonton became the first military base in Canada to raise the Pride Flag during a ceremony attended by senior officers and members of the local LGBTQ2+ community.”
“2014
Both Mayor Don Iveson and Premier Dave Hancock participated in the Pride Parade as more than 35,000+ people lined the streets of downtown Edmonton to watch the 80+ floats and 2,300 parade marchers, which ended with a Fruitloop celebration in Churchill Square.
Edmonton Oilers captain, Andrew Ference, makes history as the first hockey player to march in Edmonton’s Pride parade. Notably, Ference becomes the first team captain of any professional sport in North America to march in a Pride parade.
This year’s Pride Festival theme is “Together in Pride: Worldwide” (June 6-15), and events include the Rainbow Art Gallery and Pride Awards Night; Womonspace Colour Yourself Proud Dance; a Come Out and Play pool party; queer history bus tours; Paintball for Pride; a Pride Sockhop’ and the annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch, among dozens of other events.
New this year, the colourful Pride Parade was aired on Shaw TV, and the Edmonton Police Service Pipe and Drum Band joined the Parade for the first time.
During Pride Week, Provincial Justice Minister Jonathan Denis announced funding for an LGBTQ youth mentorship program organized by the Pride Centre of Edmonton.”
“2015
This year’s Pride Festival returned home to its roots in Old Strathcona, where it began 35 years ago. The theme was “Together in Pride: 35 (1980-2015),” which took place from June 5-14. The Pride Parade marched down Whyte Avenue to End of Steel park and featured more than 90+ entries, 2,000+ parade participants, and lasted 90 minutes. Soon to be elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, NDP Premier Rachel Notley, Mayor Don Iveson, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Marianne Ryan, and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens joined the record-breaking parade. Former City Councillor Michael Phair was this year’s Parade Grand Marshal. In total, the Pride Parade was estimated to have attracted a crowd of more than 55,000+ individuals, making it the 4th largest Pride Parade in Canada and one of the longest-running.
This year, new and notable was the installation of the first inclusive pride crosswalk in Old Strathcona. A special kids area was created for Pride in the Park, along with a Pride Interfaith service and the first Women and Trans Mini-Fest. Other Pride Festival events included a week-long queer film festival at Metro Cinema; Rainbow Art Gallery and Pride Awards; Over the Rainbow Strawberry Seniors Tea; Edmonton Vocal Minority concert; Pride Dodgeball; and the first St. Albert Pride Picnic and BBQ and Strathcona County Pride Social. This year also marked the 10th anniversary of the Mayor’s Pride Brunch. Also new this year were the inaugural Edmonton Pride Run and Walk and the first Trans March, which included about 80 participants who walked to the Alberta Legislature.
To commemorate the 35th anniversary of Edmonton’s Pride Festival, the Edmonton Queer History Project hosted a specially curated multimedia exhibition entitled “We Are Here” at the Art Gallery of Alberta.
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“2016
This year’s Pride festival theme is “Dive into Pride” (June 3-19) and features a large and colourful parade down Whyte Avenue followed by Pride in the Park in Old Strathcona. The Pride Parade Grand Marshal was Edmonton’s Making Waves Aquatics Club, which tied into the swimming theme as a lead up to the upcoming International Gay and Lesbian Aquatic Championships held from August 8-14 in Edmonton.
This year’s Festival also featured the inaugural Sherry McKibben Mojito Golf Tournament and Pride Dinner. McKibben was the first openly lesbian city councillor elected in a 1994 byelection. McKibben later went on to become the Executive Director of HIV Edmonton.
Other Pride Festival events included the 2nd Queer Women & Trans Festival and March at Oliver Park; a Bears in the Park Pride BBQ; an information session on fostering and adoption; the long-running Laugh Out Proud night at Yuk Yuk’s comedy club; Edmonton Pride Walk & Run; Pride church services; a family picnic; and the annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch. St. Albert also hosted another successful Pride BBQ.
In May of this year, just before Pride month, a small pocket park on 104 Street was named after Edmonton’s first openly gay City Councillor, Michael Phair, who would later also have an Edmonton Public School named after him. The Rainbow Visions film festival also continued into its second year in November.”
“2017
This year’s Pride theme is “One Pride, Many Voices” (June 9-18), with a concerted effort to make the Pride Festival more into a “community-building event.” For the first time in the Festival’s history, Edmonton’s 2 Spirit community members are the Pride Parade Grand Marshals, with approximately 100 2 Spirit individuals leading the parade down Whyte Avenue.
This year, a new event was the addition of a “human library” at Strathcona Park. Pride attendees were able to engage in conversation with volunteers who acted as books to answer questions, listen to stories, and learn from their lived experiences. Volunteers included Boyd Whiskeyjack, the 2 Spirit coordinator with the Pride Center, and other active members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Other notable events for this year’s Festival included the annual Pride Awards; a “Movie in the Park” night at the End of Steel park; Pride Church services; Edmonton Pride Run & Walk; Edmonton Queer History Project exhibit; art shows, BBQs, mixers, dances, and book readings; the annual Mayor’s Pride Brunch; Edmonton Vocal Minority concert; and the debut of “Over the Rainbow Storytime” sessions where local drag queens read picture books to children. St. Albert Pride continued to grow with a BBQ and local entertainment.
“Pride Day @ K-Days” was a new and very successful event held on July 26 as part of the longstanding K-Days festival.
With increasing visibility also comes more vocal resistance. Raising a Canadian Pride flag at a local high school resulted in vandals cutting it down a few hours later. A high school principal ordered students to wash away their Pride chalk art and takedown Pride banners at their school. A slew of hate-filled comments targeted the Edmonton Public Library’s Strathcona branch for their involvement in hosting “Over the Rainbow Storytime” sessions.
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“2018
This year’s Pride Festival theme was “One Pride” (June 8-17), which highlighted the full spectrum of LGBTQ2S+ identities representing that no one is alone in the fight to change the world. Reflective of this theme, 20+ diverse individuals served as the Grand Marshals for the parade, which included NDP MLA Ricardo Miranda, who became Alberta’s first openly gay Cabinet Minister.
The United Conservative Party applied to the Edmonton Pride Festival Society to march in this year’s Pride Parade, but was ultimately rejected due to their long standing opposition to the LGBTQ2S+ community and for voting against many pro-LGBTQ2S+ inclusive bills, such as Bill 24, which protected and supported GSA’s in schools. In light of this rejection, the UCP held their own sparsely attended pancake breakfast, which they described as “open to anyone who wants to celebrate Pride.”
This year’s Pride Parade once again marched down Whyte Avenue where it was met with protests over police and military participation, both of whom were asked to participate out of official uniform. At the Parade, dozens of protestors with signs saying, “No Justice, No Pride” and “Racism is a Queer Issue” halted the Parade in protest.
Pride Festival events this year included the official Pride flag raising; a youth social; a pancake breakfast; “Battle of the Queens” talent show; a “Pride on 103” downtown street festival organized and hosted by Evolution Wonderlounge; the annual Pride Awards; Pride and interfaith church services; Drag Queen Bingo; book readings; community BBQs; film screenings; and a Fruitloop Pride Week wrap-up party.
A new event this year featured “Pride Night @ the Ballpark” hosted by the Edmonton Prospects downtown at Re/MAX Field, which included many fun-filled family Pride activities.
This year’s Pride Festival also marked the 25th anniversary of Edmonton Vocal Minority, with a concert at the Westbury Theatre featuring the choir and Darrin Hagen. This year also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Pride Centre of Edmonton.”
“2019
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the annual Pride Festival is cancelled due to rising community tensions and the “social and political climate.” This decision results from the struggle to meet growing concerns over increasing corporate involvement and issues raised by trans, queer, and people of colour about Festival operations, funding, and programming.
Despite no official Pride events organized by the Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS), local businesses and groups take it upon themselves to celebrate Pride in their own ways. Evolution Wonderlounge spearheaded a community street festival to support local queer and trans non-profit groups; Edmonton’s 2 Spirit Society (E2S) holds their first barbecue; Spotlight Cabaret hosts a drag brunch; and RaricaNow and Shades of Colour organize a rally to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots at the Alberta Legislature. The Pride Run and Walk also returns to a new venue in Rossdale this year. New this year was the debut of the Edmonton Transit Service’s Pride Bus, which also went into regular year round service and was available for special events and as a charter bus.”
