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Strong start for Pride

Jul 30, 2017 | 9:08 AM

North Battleford is noticeably more colourful this weekend, as events for the city’s first ever Pride Week kicked off Friday evening.

According to Kay-Lynn Collier, founder and head organizer of pride and the Battleford and Area Gender and Sexuality Alliance (BGSA), operations ran smoothly.

“It feels really good, I’m really excited,” Collier said. “[We had] lots of people stopping in, and some of the performers said they were going to get people from backstage to come over.”

Following Friday’s success, BGSA hosted a Pride march at the Civic Centre. Participants began at the Centre and marched down 100th St. to Central Park, where the organization was hosting another event in conjunction with Street Fest.

Dozens of people participated in the march, including Mayor Ryan Bater, NDP representatives and multiple other Pride organizations. Former NDP interim leader Trent Wotherspoon congratulated North Battleford on Twitter.

“Everyone has been really supportive, and everyone who sees our rainbows are really excited about it,” Collier said. “[Everyone] is glad that there’s finally a Pride in North Battleford.”

Pride Week will come to a close Sunday with workshops on gender and LGBTQ support, and a screening of “Milk,” a film about the first openly gay politician in the United States.

 

jared.gottselig@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jgottsel