'Absolutely spectacular': Capital Pride celebrates largest ever Pride Parade
After two years of virtual offerings, Ottawa residents came out in record numbers to watch and march in the 2022 Capital Pride Parade.
Sunday's parade, the culmination of Pride Week in Ottawa, was Capital Pride's first street parade in the city since 2019.
Capital Pride executive director Toby Whitfield says a record-breaking crowd turned up this year.
"Absolutely spectacular," he said. "We couldn’t be more proud of how things went this week."
Calling it the "largest we have ever seen," Whitfield says 185 floats registered for this year's parade. Great weather and months of planning helping to make the weekend event so spectacular, he said.
“We’ve seen record numbers at all of our events so far,” Whitfield told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Chris Holski on ‘Ottawa at Work’ on Friday. “There seems to be a buzz in the air. People are excited to get together again to celebrate and come together as a community.”
That buzz in the air was felt by participants and spectators alike.
"I think after three years everyone is feeling a little cabin fevery on occasion, so it’s nice to get down on the street and celebrate," said Capital Pride volunteer Caitlin Sexton. "Joyful, celebratory, exuberant and gay... very gay atmosphere, we love to see it."
Chuk Odenigbo said attending the parade was magical.
"It is amazing. First Pride since the pandemic in person and just to be surrounded by so many other great people, there’s something really magical about being in your own community and being so here and vibrant... happy and excited," he said. "There’s also a lot of acceptance and joy that’s happening right now. Seeing peoples' faces and seeing how relaxed and comfortable and happy they look. I think it’s just magical.”
Capital Pride’s street festival runs until 8 p.m. on Bank Street between James and Slater streets. Three stages are set up around the parade and street festival areas at Bank and Slater, Bank and Somerset, and Bank and Laurier.
Canadian singer-songwriter Fefe Dobson was the headline act on the TD Main Stage at Bank and Slater streets.
Whitfield says that while the festival is a celebration of the gains that have been made for LGBTQ2S+ rights, it is also a chance to reflect on work that still needs to be done, including on issues such as safety and access to trans health-care.
“We know people are here to celebrate, but we also want to take opportunities to talk about those important advocacy issues,” he said. “We know many of the organizations that are joining us for the parade will be doing just that. Pride grew out of a protest and there will always be important advocacy work.”
More details about today’s events can be found on Capital Pride’s website.
“Whether this is your first pride parade, or you joined us for some virtual programming in the last couple of years, or you were out on the streets the last time we were together in 2019, everyone is welcome here at the Capital Pride Festival this weekend,” Whitfield says.
It wasn't Erika Miessner's first parade, but it was a first for many friends.
"The first time that they can really be immersed in that festive atmosphere, it’s really important," Miessner said.
Participant Melissa Perrier says making sure everyone feels welcome is important, both at Pride and all year.
"Both our kids identify as part of the rainbow and we think it’s really important that all kids in a classroom feel represented and taken care of. It was a lot of fun. Everyone had a great time and everyone is working together."
Road closures
The following roads are closed until 11:59 p.m. for the Capital Pride Street Festival:
- Bank Street, from James Street to Slater Street
- Somerset Street, from Bank Street to O’Connor Street
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.