The month of June is Pride Month in Canada, held as a national observance for the rights of the LGBTQ2S+ community and as a reflection about its history. On Sunday in Kemptville, Ont., North Grenville held its annual Pride parade. “We have an amazing community here, a community that is more and more and more openly committing to inclusion and integration and safety for everyone,” says Diane Dewing, administrator of NG Pride, who organized the parade. The parade featured a handful of representatives from local schools, companies, members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Family and Children’s Services, the Kemptville Legion, and more. The parade lasted roughly one hour Sunday morning, leading into an after-party at the Kemptville Campus community centre where over two-dozen food vendors are selling food and drinks until 5:00 p.m. “It’s so much fun. We have an amazing lineup of entertainment. We have music, we have singers, we have drag artists,” said Dewing. Getting to this point has taken a lot of work for NG Pride. Operating in a rural community comes with challenges, according to Dewing. “I am not going to mince words. There are people here who have long held beliefs that anyone different from what they believe is normal, should not be tolerated,” she said. The show of support Sunday is indicative of the times changing in North Grenville. The North Grenville Rainbow Youth Alliance was in attendance. The non-profit organization provides a safe space for LGBTQ2S+ youth in the area. Founder Melissa Button says nearly 30 kids participate in the program since it began in November 2022. “We have actually saved several youths lives over the last few years,” she said. “It’s allowed them to come into a space where they’re not going to be bullied, they’re not going to be teased.” For 14-year-old Maya Armstrong, the Youth Alliance has made her feel at home. “It’s just a place you can be you. It’s a fun, very safe space. Like no one’s judging anyone. It’s a great place to be,” Armstrong said.
