Thousands turn out for 2024 Calgary Pride Parade
Posted Sep 1, 2024 7:41 am.
Last Updated Sep 1, 2024 3:12 pm.
The Calgary Pride Parade returned with a bang as thousands came out to support the annual event celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community Sunday.
The parade got started by The Confluence, formerly Fort Calgary, which was the site of the previous Pride Parade Festival the past two years.
Multiple roads on 9 Avenue SE from 4 Street by Studio Bell to 5 Street SW were closed from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The parade finished on 5 Street, and many followed the street north to Prince’s Island Park for the Calgary Pride Festival.
Meanwhile, several areas near Studio Bell and The Confluence were also closed from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The festival will have a performance stage, a “Food Truck Alley,” a beer garden, a marketplace, and a “Kids’ Zone.” The hours are slated for 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Many made their way to 9 Avenue for the celebration, which had many floats and participants for the parade.
The parade marshalls this year are Lindsey Peace, a founder and executive director of Skipping Stone; April Friesen, an advocate for trans rights and founding member of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta; and Amelia Newbert, who is also a founder of Skipping Stone and managing director of the organization.
The selection comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made calls to introduce transgender policies that have been called “draconian” in early 2024. Recently, she said her government would introduce legislation on pronouns in schools after classes begin in September.
“With the current provincial threats against trans rights, we remind everyone that trans rights are human rights, and it is essential that we all work together to ensure transgender individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and equality,” Calgary Pride said in its digital guide.
More information about Calgary Pride festivities can be found here.
This is a developing story.
