NORTH BATTLEFORD - The colours of the rainbow filled the sky outside City Hall in North Battleford Monday as Battlefords Pride raised the Pride Flag for the launch of Pride Week.
City of North Battleford Deputy Mayor Bill Ironstand joined in the event to proclaim the week. The event also included a cake cutting to honour the occasion.
"North Battleford is a community moving towards inclusivity. Every person no matter [their] age, race, religion, or sexual orientation is welcome in our community," Ironstand said. "We are going to do everything we can to support movements such as Pride, so that the whole community is accepting of it. We are going to attend a few of their amazing events throughout the week and enjoy ourselves."
Both the City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford are also members of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities.
Ironstand said proclaiming the week as Pride Week is in line with the city's mandate as an inclusive community.
"We do have a mandate to be an inclusive community," he said. "We want to spread this [mandate] through the whole North-West in the province and the world. Being inclusive is how we make our community and our world better. If we are accepting of others who seem to be different from us, we are also different from them. So, if we are just good people and we do things with a good heart, we can make things much better for all."
With the Battlefords Pride committee, Kelly Waters said its integral the Battlefords have a Pride week to increase awareness.
"There is still a lack of understanding, and a lack of awareness," she said. "A lot of people are still not feeling safe to be their authentic selves. So it's really important to send the message that diversity is really important, inclusiveness is really important. The City and the Town have been really awesome for sending that message with us, and being very supportive. I'm really excited to kick the week off."
One of the highlights of this year's Pride Week festivities is a Pride-themed mural the community will have a chance to help create. The event will take part outside the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 27 and 28. Local artist Aleksi Ann designed the mural, which will be painted on the back of the Chapel Gallery building.
The various events planned for Pride Week also include:
A Karaoke Park Party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., July 22 at the Lions Park Gazebo in Battleford.
A paint night is planned at ARC Creative Studios from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 23.
July 25 features a show called "Celine and Friends" at the Playhouse Theatre in Battleford.
A movie night at 8 p.m. on July 26 at the Capital Theatre, off 100 Street, features the film called "Bottoms."
As well, a gender-affirming clothing swap will take place at the same event starting at 6 p.m.
Then, Pride in the Park festivities take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kinsmen Splash Park on July 27, including live music and other activities. The event also features jigging lessons and traditional games for the family.
The Pride Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. on July 27, starting at the North Battleford Library.
