Capital Pride 'well on track' for August festival, but still seeking volunteers
After two summers of pandemic restrictions, Capital Pride is preparing for a major return to Ottawa streets in few weeks, and volunteers are still needed.
However, executive director Toby Whitfield says organizers are prepared for the 2022 festival.
"We're well on track for our largest Capital Pride festival ever and we're really looking forward to celebrating our community," Whitfield said, speaking to Newstalk 580 CFRA's "Ottawa Now" with guest host Andy Pinsent.
Capital Pride is scheduled to begin Aug. 21, with the Capital Pride Parade taking place the afternoon of Aug. 28.
Over the weekend, Montreal's Pride Parade was cancelled just hours before it was to begin. Its main organizer said it was because of there weren't enough volunteers and security to ensure safety.
Whitfield said cancelling the parade in Montreal must have been a challenging decision to make. He says Ottawa's festival is well on its way in its volunteer recruitment campaign, but the last two years of COVID-19 have created some difficulties.
"We don't have the same turnover year over year of folks coming back because we haven't been doing the festival in the same way over the last couple of years," he said. "I think, like other festivals, we're working with new vendors and new suppliers and lots of new folks in new roles."
Whitfield says the festival is looking to recruit up to 300 volunteers for the week, with 150 needed for the parade.
"We're looking for folks to help along the parade route, marshal the parade, keep it moving, to help set up the barricades, and also to just help stage people, direct folks, all of the well over 150 groups and organizations we have in the parade to get to the right spot in the parade lineup," he said. "We've got other roles all weekend, everything from helping to staff information tents to setting up tables and chairs and being on the street welcoming folks."
Whitfield says they're largely looking for volunteers for the Aug. 26 to 28 weekend. Details on how to volunteer can be found on Capital Pride's website.
This year's theme is "All Together Now" to reflect the return to in-person events following the restrictions imposed during the pandemic.
"Really, it's just a reflection of coming back together after a challenging couple of years," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
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.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.