In Canada, Pride Season refers to the wide array of Pride events held from June to September. In other countries like the United States, the month of June is recognized as

Pride Month Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a List of month-long observances, month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, Bisexuality, bisexual, transgender a ...

whereas in Canada, it's a full season. During this time, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and their allies come together to spotlight resilience, celebrate talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

History

Pride gatherings have historical roots in the first large-scale protests for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. The

We Demand Rally The We Demand Rally was the first large scale gay rights demonstration in Canada. The rally occurred on August 28, 1971 in Ottawa, and was organized by the gay rights activist groups Toronto Gay Action (TGA) and Community Homophile Association o ...

was the first large-scale LGBT rights demonstration in Canada. The rally occurred on August 28, 1971, in

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, and was organized by the gay rights activist groups Toronto Gay Action (TGA) and

Community Homophile Association of Toronto The Community Homophile Association of Toronto (CHAT) was founded on January 3, 1971. The organization grew out of the University of Toronto Homophile Association (UTHA). CHAT's work centered around providing support services, education, and organi ...

(CHAT). There was a parallel rally in Vancouver that was organized in solidarity with the rally by the Vancouver group

Gay Alliance Toward Equality The Gay Alliance Toward Equality, or GATE, was one of the first gay liberation groups in Canada.Ed Jackson and Stan Persky, ''Flaunting It! 1964-1982: A Decade of Gay Journalism from The Body Politic''. Pink Triangle Press, 1982. Formed in spr ...

(GATE). By 1973, Pride events had expanded to several Canadian cities, including Montréal, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Winnipeg. Historically, Pride celebrations were only held in major city centres but now occur in small rural communities in every corner of Canada.

Major Pride Festivals in Canada

Many Pride events in Canada occur in

(June) to honour the

Stonewall Riots The Stonewall riots (also known as the Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, Stonewall revolution, or simply Stonewall) were a series of spontaneous riots and demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of ...

in the United States. Several major cities in

Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (), is the list of regions of Canada, region of Eastern Canada comprising four provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. As of 2021, the landma ...

hold their Pride celebrations in July. And others hold their events in August to honour the

. Dates may change depending on the calendar year.

June

* Toronto, Ontario * Regina, Saskatchewan * Winnipeg, Manitoba * Saskatoon, Saskatchewan * Thunder Bay, Ontario * Kitchener, Ontario

July

* Halifax, Nova Scotia * Charlottetown, PEI * St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador * Fredericton, New Brunswick * Kelowna, BC * London, ON

August

* Ottawa, Ontario * Windsor-Essex, Ontario * Vancouver, BC * Montreal, Quebec * Whitehorse, Yukon * Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

September

* Calgary, Alberta * North Bay, Ontario

Additional Activities

Canada's various LGBT organizations such as

Egale Canada Egale Canada is a Canadian charity founded in 1986 by Les McAfee to advance equality for Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people and their families, across Canada. The organization's current executive director is former To ...

and

Rainbow Railroad Rainbow Railroad is a North American charitable organization that helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex ( LGBTQI) individuals escape violence and persecution in their home countries. The organization was formed in 2006, ...

often launch awareness and fundraising campaigns to correspond with Pride Season.

References

{{Canada-stub LGBTQ rights in Canada LGBTQ events in Canada Protest marches in Canada LGBTQ civil rights demonstrations LGBTQ history in Ontario