25th Pride festival launched by largest-ever flag raising

Saskatoon’s Pride Festival officially kicked off Monday after a flag-raising ceremony outside city hall.

Nearly 250 people took time over their lunch hour to attend the event, making it the largest flag ceremony in Pride’s 25-year history.

“It’s a pretty amazing thing,” Pride Co-Chair Krystal Nieckar said.

“People are coming out to celebrate, and I think we need to thank the community.”

Nieckar and other organizers applauded Mayor Charlie Clark and the city for their involvement in this year’s Pride festival.

Clark will be the first Saskatoon mayor to march in the parade, and will do so as the Grand Marshal.

He told the people gathered he would be marching alongside Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas, members of city council and city staff.

It will also be the first time any city staff member will take part in a Pride march in an official capacity.

“I’m just so glad we can finally create the space in our community for that to happen,” Clark said.

Remembering Orlando

Pride organizers made a conscious decision to hold the flag-raising ceremony on the one-year anniversary of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting.

A moment of silence was held for the 49 victims, many members of the LGBTQ community, and the Pride flag was lowered to half mast at the end of the ceremony.

“It’s a good way to commemorate it,” Nieckar said. “I can’t imagine what they were going through.”

She said the flag would remain at half mast until Tuesday.

Community showed ‘how we can overpower hate’

The other Pride Co-Chair, Danny Papadatos addressed the crowd. He praised them for the work they’ve done to advance the festival over the past two-and-a-half decades.

Danny Papadatos speaking now. Thanks his “buddy” Mayor Charlie Clark for work on Pride file over past few years. #yxe pic.twitter.com/f4pGFkESeA

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) June 12, 2017

He pointed to the defacing of the Pride crosswalk just steps from where the ceremony took place, saying it shows the importance of their festival.

“The message may not have been one of hate, but the messages after were loud and clear that there’s still work to be done in this city,” he said.

Papadatos commended the community’s response to the skid mark incident, which saw dozens of volunteers re-paint the crosswalk.

“I am so proud of you Saskatoon, for showing them how we can overpower hate,” he said.

Saskatoon Pride Festival runs through to June 25, culminating with the Pride parade and an LGBTQ-focused evening at the Saskatoon Jazz Festival on June 24.

The Pride flag has been raised for 2017 Pride festival in #yxe pic.twitter.com/AGXDxvzmvr

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) June 12, 2017