Napanee’s first ever Pride Celebration is now in the books, and it was a huge success. Hundreds were in attendance Sunday at Conservation Park in Napanee.
myFM spoke with Nina Irvine, co-organizer, who told us how everyone was feeling.
Irvine says history has been made, and it going to be monumental going forward.
Though there was an outpouring of support from the community, they felt it important to still go through with just a march for the first year.
In attendance was Napanee Mayor Marg Isbester, who told myFM that she thought the first ever celebration had to not be on council’s or the municipalities shoulders, but instead the people who wanted to have the celebration, and that they had to find a way to do it as a team.
Following the march there were a number of speeches including from Isbester, Chief of the Mohawks of Bay of Quinte, R. Donald Maracle, and organizers of Napanee Pride.
Of those who gave speeches was the admin of the original Gender and Sexual Alliance Facebook page, Michael Wade. Wade made mention of the fact that as a queer person growing up in the Napanee area, there was very little representation to look to.
Wade is hopeful that without such isolation, that our queer youth will go on to do amazing things.
The rest of the afternoon included face paint, story time with drag queens, a Q&A with Napanee author Catherine Hernandez, pony rides, and a wonderful market.
Stay tuned to more fun in the future from Napanee Pride.
Written by Emily Chatwood
