Gananoque wraps up another successful Pride Week

“Isn’t this awesome!?” exclaimed Sam Crosby, wearing a wide smile and waving a miniature Canadian Rainbow Pride Flag, as she and Town Crier Brian Mabee led Sunday’s Pride Parade at Joel Stone Heritage Park.

It was dubbed as a Mini-Fest, but it was anything but small.

On Sunday, the Gananoque Pride Alliance wrapped up its four-day Pride Week festivities.

An open address by Gananoque Pride Alliance’s Crosby and Town Crier Brian Mabee was followed up by a loud and proud in-park parade, which led to a dance party.

There were rows of vendors, an open mic and talent show, and live music, too. A little something for everyone to participate in, with kids and youth, family-friendly and adult activities.

It was a celebration of diversity, while promoting awareness and inclusion of the 2SLGBTWQIA+ community.

Even the in-park parade was strategically put in place to provide a more accessible and inclusive option for people of all abilities, as well as those with young families.

“Look how amazing it is when we all come together,” said Crosby.

There were many factors that played into the Gananoque Pride Alliance’s decision to host Pride Week in September instead of July or August, as is more commonly done.

“It’s a way to extend our tourism season and get people to come back in September,” said Crosby. “It’s a beautiful place to be year round, but most people only stop in during July or August. So, in talking to the town and the mayor, we decided that “Fall Into Pride” was more of a better idea.”

The Pride Flag, according to Crosby, has flown at Town Hall in Gananoque for five years now, and the collaboration between the town and the Gananoque Pride Alliance has grown year-by-year. This year’s Pride Week was proof of that.

The Pride Flag has flown at Town Hall since Thursday, and the town promoted Gananoque Pride Alliance’s events and activities of Pride Week on all its social media platforms.

Gananoque Emergency Services also flies a Pride Flag. They do so in June and, like Town Hall, flew it from Thursday to Sunday as well.

“Having that support means a lot,” said Zack Hong, the events coordinator with Gananoque Pride Alliance. “We’re focusing on more of a community approach.”

That focus on community approach includes hosting activities and events in Gananoque throughout the year, not just on Pride Week.

“We already have some stuff in the works, like on Oct. 25 we’re doing a roller disco costume party for all ages, and it’s going to be free,” said Hong. “We’re trying to get people to be able to come out to this beautiful town we have and really utilize its facilities, because it really does have a lot to offer.”

Reception to this year’s edition of Pride Week for the Gananoque Pride Alliance has been warm, said Crosby.

“We had some really good events,” said Crosby, who mentioned the mission of the week was to bring people together, support the needs of the community, and provide access to suitable programming for all ages.

“For example, our meet-and-greet at O’Connor’s (O’Connor Gallery) was by invite-only, and it was a really moving experience. We brought movers and shakers of the community together to share. And they shared. We’ve had rock painting, chalk art making at Town Hall. And that art was created by everybody, by the community. Everyone wants to be part of it. It’s been hopping. We’re pleased.”

In 2022, the 1000 Islands Pride Inc. dissolved, and the new group of Gananoque Pride Alliance was formed. Crosby was the former interim chair for the organization and is now the facilitator for Gananoque Pride Alliance.

“We’re in such a better place,” said Crosby. “We even have had sponsors and supporters who were with us before who are still with us today, and I think that sometimes people from the outside think, ‘well, they already have their people’, but we’re willing to bring in absolutely everybody. We serve a community better when the community is part of that service.”

Hong believes Gananoque Pride Alliance has steadied the ship, as the organization navigates through the sharp twists and curves that come with anything new.

“When you start something entirely volunteer-based, it takes time to figure out what collaborations work, and I think we’ve figured what collaborative minds work together best, and how that’s going to mesh together for the future,” said Hong. “We have some really strong bodies, some strong minds that can make things move.”