Many spectators gathered in downtown Montreal on Sunday as Fierté Montréal held its 20th annual Pride parade, marking the end of the city’s week-long Pride celebrations. The parade got underway at 1 p.m. and continued until 4 p.m., travelling along René-Lévesque Boulevard, from Robert-Bourassa Boulevard to Atataken Street. This year’s theme was “Let’s Shine Together,” celebrating progress made for 2SLGBTQIA+ community rights. A moment of silence was observed to honour the memory of lives lost prematurely to transphobia, lesbophobia, homophobia, biphobia, AIDS, and missing or murdered Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Several political leaders attended this year’s parade, including Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferranda, Quebec Liberal Party leader Charles Milliard, and Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal. Celebrations are expected to continue in the Village and at the Olympic Park Esplanade following the parade. Security measures had been enhanced for Fierté Montreal following an attack at Berlin Pride that left one dead and several others injured, Interim Executive Director Higino Monteiro told CTV News. Fierté Montréal festivities ran from July 31 to Aug. 9.
