Celebrating Pride Season in Canada (June to September) is an important time to celebrate and recognize the contributions and achievements of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and their allies. While Pride 2023 celebrations and events take place in cities across Canada, Toronto is host to the largest Pride event in North America each year in June. However, Pride events also happen throughout the year in many communities. Learn more about the history, relevance, and Pride 2023 events and celebrations across Canada.
2SLGBTQI+ stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities.
Two-Spirit (or 2 Spirit or 2S) is an Indigenous term that means a person has both a feminine and masculine spirit living in the same body.
Pride allies can also show their support and solidarity by actively:
Advertisement:
- Supporting the rights and safety of the 2SLGBTQI+ community
- Supporting systemic change, and
- Promoting inclusivity.
Why Do We Celebrate Pride Month?
While celebrating Pride events is a key focus of the season, it’s also a time to focus on Canada’s commitment to human rights. A fundamental human right is the right to live free from all forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
Advertisement:
Canada is one of the most friendly 2SLGBTQI+ nations in the world. In fact, Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms specifically outlines how each individual has equal protection under the law. The Charter states that people are free from discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, ethnic origin, and sexual orientation. Among other things, this means that:
- Same-sex relationships are not a crime
- Same-sex marriages are legal and come with rights such as pensions and benefits
- Hate crimes and hate speech are illegal
- Employers cannot discriminate against you based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- Doctors or health care professionals cannot refuse treatment based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- Landlords cannot discriminate, refuse to rent, or harass you based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Canada’s promise of equality makes it a nation of choice for individuals fleeing countries that criminalize sexual orientation.
According to the Human Dignity Trust, “66 countries have jurisdictions that still criminalize LGBT people” because of who they are and who they love. With sentences that range from fines to prison, or even to the death penalty, criminal punishments have profound negative effects.
Learn about LGBTQ2 Activism in Canada:
Services and Support for LGBTQ+ Newcomers
Recognizing the need for greater support, more settlement agencies now offer services to the LGBTQ community. In addition, more LGBTQ agencies offer services to multicultural communities, especially in large cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Support services can include one-to-one support to identify settlement needs, housing, legal issues, financial insecurity, employment and questions about refugee claims.
Settlement Agencies:
Here are some settlement agencies that offer LGBTQ+ newcomer support.
Advertisement:
Access Alliance (Toronto, Ontario)
Centre for Newcomers LGBTQ+ Newcomer Services (Alberta)
DIVERSEcity | LGBTQ+ Newcomer Services (Surrey, British Columbia)
MOSAIC Services for Newcomer LGBTQIA+ Refugees (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Related Posts:
Settle in Canada with Confidence and Ease
Celebrating Pride 2023 Events Across Canada
While many of the Pride festivals in Canada began as a protest and demand for equal rights, today’s festivals are more of a celebration with a party atmosphere. Today, Pride events celebrate and recognize the progress that the 2SLGVTQI+ community has made over the years. And, while there is more work to be done, the 2SLGVTQI+ community continues to demonstrate resilience and strength.
Pride Toronto
Pride 2023 Month: June
Parade: June 25
Toronto’s first pride parade was in June 1981. At that time, Pride events took place during a seven-to-10 day festival. Since 2016, June has been declared Pride Month in Toronto. Today, Pride Toronto is among the largest organized gay pride festivals in the world.
Vancouver Pride
Pride 2023 Festival: July 28 – August 6
Parade: August 6
Vancouver’s first pride parade occurred in 1978. Today the annual Pride parade run by the Vancouver Pride Society, is the largest parade in Western Canada.
Montreal Pride
Pride 2023 Festival: August 3 – 13
Parade: August 13, 2023
Montreal Gay Pride, or Fierté Montreal was founded in 2007. Formerly, the city’s Pride festival was part of a general arts and music festival that began in 1993. Today, the Montreal Pride Festival is the largest francophone LGBTQ gathering.
Calgary Pride
Pride 2023 Week: August 25 – September 4
Parade & Festival: September 2 – 3
In 2022, Calgary’s parade focus was the complex intersection of immigration and the 2SLGVTQI+ community. Working with the End of the Rainbow Foundation and the Centre for Newcomers, pride parade marshalls represented countries including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran.
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community, newcomers, and allies celebrating Pride 2023, we wish you a Happy Pride! It’s time to celebrate and continue building safe and welcoming communities across Canada!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
