PSAC members showed their pride during the Winnipeg Pride Parade on Sunday, June 4, 2017. More than 40 people marched with PSAC in the parade, the largest turnout we have seen for this event. Members of the Winnipeg Human Rights Committee planned and created a float for the parade with decorations, music and an excited delegation of volunteers who handed out Pride-themed flags, stickers, tattoos and dog tags to the crowd. Everyone was very excited to be a part of this exciting event and will no doubt return next year as our presence at Pride continues to grow.
A candlelight vigil was held at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Monday, June 12, 2017, during the Queen City Pride Festival, held June 9 to 18, 2017 in Regina. About 50 people attended the vigil, which honoured the memory of the victims of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. PSAC members collected 49 pairs of shows to display during the vigil, representing the 49 innocent people that lost their lives. Trent Wotherspoon, the interim leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, spoke at the event. At the end, people were encouraged to take a seedling tree home with them to represent that life continues. The 49+ pairs of shoes displayed during the vigil will be donated to shelters across Regina.
“The reason for the vigil is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and start a conversation about violence towards the the GLBT community,” said Tim Hubick, Chair of the PSAC Regina Human Rights Committee. “These kinds of hate crimes affect our well-being, our families, our friends and our communities.”
PSAC/UTE members in Regina also held a cupcake day to celebrate Pride on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.