Capital Pride (Ottawa)

Capital Pride (French: Fierté dans la capitale), stylized bilingually as Fierté dans la Capital(e) Pride, is the annual Pride event in Canada's National Capital Region, which includes the cities of Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. It has been held annually since 1986.

For other events with similar names, see Capital Pride.
Capital Pride
Parade marchers passing the Parliament buildings in 2007
StatusActive
GenrePride festival
Location(s)National Capital Region
CountryCanada
Years active34
Inaugurated1986 (1986)
Websiteottawacapitalpride.ca

Mission

The mission of the Capital Pride organization is to create an environment for advocacy, education, and the fostering of a strong and vibrant Rainbow Community within the Nation's Capital region. It does so through the annual Fierté dans la Capital(e) Pride festival, where it welcomes everyone to participate, celebrate, and experience being a part of the Rainbow Community.

Events are held throughout the year in partnership with other community groups, businesses and sponsors to help educate and promote the issues and interests of the LGBT community, culminating in an entertaining and professional festival at the end of August.

History

Ottawa's first gay pride celebration was a picnic in Strathcona Park in June 1986, attended by about 50 people.[1] In 1989, the pride celebration became a week of activities: dances, exhibits, films, sporting events, and receptions.

In May 1997, the Pride Week Committee was incorporated as the Pride Committee of Ottawa–Gatineau and the festival received their first official proclamation from Ottawa City Council. In 1998 the Pride Week Committee received a letter of support from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.[2]

The annual festival was held at Festival Plaza at Ottawa City Hall until 2002, when it was moved to Bank Street. In 2005, the festival was moved from Bank Street back to Festival Plaza and the dates of the festival were changed from July to August. In 2008, the Pride Committee of Ottawa–Gatineau was rebranded as Capital Pride. It has evolved into a citywide 10-day festival of over 20 events, complete with a Pride Parade, Dyke March and other events that appeal to families, athletes, artists and all members of the LGBT community.

In 2010, Pride Week included a rugby match between Canada's only two predominantly gay rugby teams, the Toronto Muddy York and the Ottawa Wolves. The historic match was played on the main lawn of Parliament on August 28, 2010.[3]

In 2014, Capital Pride ran into financial troubles after 'accounting irregularities' kept the organization from paying vendors over $100,000. The organization declared bankruptcy in December 2014.[4][5] Early in 2015, a new organization, Capital Pride, formed to save the festival and ensure there would be a celebration for the 30th year in Ottawa. The new organization's governance structure consists of the Community Advisory Committee (Board of Directors) which is responsible for overall direction and policies, and the Festival Operations Committee which is responsible for the execution of the annual Fierté dans la Capital(e)Festival.[6]

With the goal of being inclusive, Capital Pride has opted for using the term Rainbow Community to identify members across gender and sexual diversity scales and their allies.[6]

Capital Pride issued a statement in June 2017 that it "supports the participation of individual LGBTQ2 police officers and their allies" in the festival, and made a non-binding request that off-duty Ottawa Police Service officers attending Pride in August to not wear their uniforms or use police vehicles when marching in the parade.[7] The request was the result of consultations with Pride stakeholder groups such as LGBT people of colour, disabled people, Indigenous two-spirited people, and transgender people who frequently have disproportionately negative interactions with police.[7] City councillor Allan Hubley, whose son was openly gay and died by suicide at the age of 15 due to anti-gay bullying, called for the city to withdraw all funding from Capital Pride and expressed concern that Pride was being "bullied by another group" such as Black Lives Matter.[8] Mayor Jim Watson was not supportive of Capital Pride's request but stated he would not withdraw funding.[8] Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau, initially opposed to Capital Pride's request and intending to march in full uniform,[9] agreed to march out of uniform with other Ottawa Police Service officers.[10]

In 2020 the community festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, with organizers instead announcing a plan to proceed with an online "digital pride" festival.[11]

  • 2004's parade on Bank Street
  • 2004's after-parade street party on Bank Street
  • Alex Munter heading the 2005 parade
  • Alex Munter mayoral campaign at the 2006 parade (Munter can be seen at far left)
  • Onlookers and supporters in the 2007's parade, Wellington Street
  • 2007's parade on Elgin Street
  • 2007's street party at the Festival Plaza on Ottawa's City Hall grounds
  • The B-girlz performing at the 2007 Capital Pride

References
  1. McCann, Marcus. "A queer's history of Ottawa Pride". Xtra!. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  2. Egale Canada. "Obtaining Pride Proclamations". Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  3. "CTV Ottawa: The first gay rugby match on Parliament Hill". CTV. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  4. "Capital Pride members vote to declare bankruptcy". Ottawacitizen.com. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. "Capital Pride festival to declare bankruptcy - CBC News". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-08-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Statement on police participation in the 2017 Capital Pride festival". Capital Pride. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  8. "Pull Pride funding if police can't wear uniforms in parade, councillor says". CBC News. July 6, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. Malyk, Lauren (July 6, 2017). "Chief Charles Bordeleau to wear uniform at Capital Pride parade". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  10. Bedry, Derek (August 15, 2017). "Capital Pride welcomes Ottawa police chief's sudden reversal on uniforms". Xtra. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  11. Josh Pringle, "Capital Pride will celebrate 'Wherever We Are!' virtually during COVID-19 pandemic". CTV News, May 11, 2020.
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