The day began with a welcome and hoisting of the Pride flag at the Altona Civic Center, followed by a nearly two-mile walk to Centennial Park where the celebration continued with speeches and live music. As Peter Wohlgemut, President of Pembina Valley Pride, explained, pride parades have evolved over time. First starting as a form of protest or statement, there is the Rainbow community. Since then, the event has become more of a celebration. Saturday’s local event included details of both, Wohlgemut said. “There is a part of seeing each other, of being considered part of the community. There is sometimes a feeling that people will reluctantly tolerate Rainbow identities as long as they never have to see them. You can not be part of the community if you are invisible “, noted Wohlgemut. In addition, Wohlegmut says there is an aspect of ally involvement. “In our region again, if you are an ally, how do you show that? And for members of the Rainbow Community, if you do not know that someone is an ally, then your safe bet is usually not. But an event like this. it is an opportunity for the allies to come out and show this support. “ As someone living and working in Altona said, Wohlgemut, who identifies with them / them, is a big deal to have this local celebration. “Ten years ago, I could not have imagined having a pride parade here. The support of the town council was huge. It really sends a message. It makes sense that Rainbow’s identities are part of this community. And not just good. To have an event like the one that says, “yes, you are part of our community, you are valued as part of our community, you are celebrated as part of our community”, this message of encouragement brings … I’m not even sure how to describe it “. Wohlgemut added, seeing the Pride flag waving at the Civic Center reinforces this message. “This is a very, very clear and valuable message.” On May 10, 2022, the Altona City Council passed a resolution calling for the Pride flag to be hoisted on the flagpole of the municipality at the Altona Civic Center in support of the Pride March and related events, coordinated by the Pembina Valley Pride . “When Pembina Valley Pride approached that Altona was the venue for the annual parade, we felt that the request spoke to our vision of being an attractive and safe community for all,” Mayor Al Friesen said in a statement. As a member and ally of the Rainbow community, Brandy, who identifies herself as transsexual and uses her pronouns, says she took part in Saturday’s march to show other members of the community that they deserve the love and support they deserve. “I come from Winnipeg and it ‘s quite out there and loud there, but when I moved here it was a bit worrying because the community was quite quiet and I did not realize we had such a big community here.” Accompanied by her husband and children, for Erin Funk-Wieler, Saturday’s event was a family affair. As a local schoolteacher and staff member of a local church, Funk-Wieler felt it was important to show people that there are safe people and places to be in the community. LJ Barquilla is identified as a trans and was one of the speakers at the park festivities. “My message to the community is that the Rainbow community is not people who are dangerous or where people should be afraid. We are just people like you, like everyone else, and our needs are basically the same. “ Barquilla thanked all the allies, companies and organizations that support Pride and made a proposal on how to further help the Rainbow community. “Think of inclusive toilets. It’s a simple thing, as in our households, but it’s something very important to the Rainbow community.”
