Some Ottawa police officers were sporting the golf shirts they'll wear in this Sunday's Capital Pride Parade.
The bright orange shirts will replace their police uniforms; a compromise of sorts to cultivate inclusivity.
This compromise may not be enough for some members of the Ottawa community -- but for members of the police force who identify with the LGBTQ community, it was what they were asking of their police chief.
For Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant Sandra Sparling, the orange polo she is sporting gets a few comments from folks attending the Capital Pride flag raising at Ottawa City Hall.
“Hey Sandy, that color looks great,” says the chair of Capital Pride, Tammy Dopson.
For Sparling, it not only looks good, it feels good to know her voice was heard by Police Chief Charles Bordeleau, to forgo the police uniform in this year’s Pride Parade.
“I was one of people that approached the chief and asked him to reconsider marching in Pride because he wanted to wear his uniform,” says Sparling, saying she was proud that Bordleau listened to them, “If one person is uncomfortable around our uniform, I agree with it. We should be creating safe spaces for everybody.”
“Change is never easy,” says Dopson, “and this is an uncomfortable conversation but one that needs to happen.”
Andrew Arcand couldn't agree more. He's marched in Ottawa's Pride Parade for years. This will be his first parade with his 7-month-old daughter Talia.
“I feel it's appropriate he chooses not to wear his uniform because this is a protest after all,” says Arcand, “and as my husband likes to say, this is gay pride not police pride.”
“We didn't want the uniform to be the story,” adds Police Chief Charles Bordeleau, “The story is about celebrating pride, celebrating inclusiveness and dealing with some of the relationships we need to work on.”
But the police uniform is only part of the controversy surrounding Pride parades.
As the rainbow flag was raised today at Ottawa city hall, thoughts turned to other flags that have been gaining ground of late.
“What we're seeing is people using flags and banners as symbols of racism,” Ottawa Councillor Catherine McKenney told the crowd, “white supremacy, intolerance and hatred.”
Gary Sealey has experienced that intolerance and fear over his 75 years, but as he stands in the crowd at city hall, he can't help but feel emboldened by the support of the community around him.
“So many things have changed, so many for the better,” Sealey says.
Some minorities clearly don't feel the same way. They would prefer no police presence at all during the parade, regardless of whether they're in uniform or polo shirts. The death of Abdirahman Abdi, following a police confrontation, has strained relations between police and people of colour. That bridge building still needs a lot of work.
