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Guelph Pride 2017 set for a week of celebration

Family friendly event for all kicks things off Saturday afternoon in Market Square
pride 2017

Guelph Pride 2017 will kick off in style Saturday with an expanded opening ceremony and community celebration at Market Square that will run all afternoon.

The formal part of the kick-off to the week long celebration of the LGBTQ community will include guest speaker Amber Holmes, co-founder/facilitator with the Indigenous Learning Circle, remarks from Mayor Cam Guthrie and members of Guelph Pride committee plus the official flag raising ceremony.

That will be followed by a variety of entertainment, including live music, drag queens and a DJ. The Lifers and the Rolling Blackouts will perform. There will also be a beer garden featuring Wellington Brewery.

A host of family-friendly activities are also planned.

"We've had a lot of feedback for an all-day celebration where the entire community can join in," said Stevie Forbes-Roberts, who is co-chairing Guelph Pride with Hazel Moore.

Forbes-Roberts said that she expects 500 people to attend the event, which gets underway at noon.

"Guelph has one of the largest Pride events for a city its size," Forbes-Roberts said.

Another new addition to Guelph Pride this year is Pride Pets in the Park event at Royal City Park Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Pride Pets can play together in a fenced-in area and pet owners get a chance to meet one another.

"It's a great way for people to get to meet new people in the city," Forbes-Roberts said.

Guelph Pride 2017 activities actually kick off Friday night with a trio events.

There is a free Youth Go Gaming event at Afterlife Video Game Lounge on Wyndham street from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A filming of Fire Song, a film about a bisexual Anishanabe teenager struggling to deal with the death of his sister's suicide will be screened at 10 Carden beginning at 7 p.m. Cost is $10 or pay what you can. The showing will be followed by a discussion with Donna Chief, community liason with Waibigoon Ojibway Nation where the film was shot.

The third event Friday is a Learn To Treat Me Right Workshop: Gender Edition taking place at DSTRCT on Wyndham Street from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For a full list of the week's events go to www.guelphpride.com.

 


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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