Pride Day celebrated at Red Deer High Schools
Two Red Deer high schools celebrated Pride Day this week.
On Wednesday, at Hunting Hills High School, students and staff celebrated Pride Day by hosting a Pride Day picnic. Event organizers handed out cupcakes while wearing their Pride colours, and the Progressive Pride Flag was placed in the cafeteria. The picnic was spear-headed by Dorain Doran, a member of the queer-straight alliance (QSA) at the school.
“It’s really important for people to see that they’re seen, and they are welcomed and recognized,” Doran said.
The decision to have a Pride celebration was left to students and staff at individual schools after the Red Deer Public School Board, earlier this year, voted against a district-wide Pride Week. Instead, they voted in favour of a Diversity Week which would take place in June.
“We were pretty upset about Diversity Week feeling that it made us sort of less important or not as seen,” Doran said.
“I feel like everybody should have their chance to be in the spotlight.”
Celebrations were also underway at Lindsay Thurber High School: the first school in Alberta to have a gay-straight alliance (GSA) which was formed in 2000. However, on Wednesday, the school celebrated its first ever Pride Day, more than 20 years after the formation of the GSA.
“I’ve been here since 1997, and I’ve been waiting since 1997 for this to happen,” said Trina Penner, learning assistance teacher and staff supervisor of the QSA.
Students and staff at Lindsay Thurber raised the Progressive Pride Flag and chalked positive messages of Pride onto the sidewalk. Teachers were also supplied with an educational slideshow that they could share with their students.
“Our LGBTQ+ students need a place where they feel welcome and where they can be their authentic self and we strive to accept that at Thurber,” Penner said.
The school board’s decision to not have a Pride Week also left members of the QSA at Lindsay Thurber frustrated. QSA member Ava Lelond said the board did not consider that many students may find it difficult to approach their schools to set up a celebration for Pride.
“I’m very disappointed in the school board because now we as students have to come forward and we as students may have to out ourselves,” Lelond said.
But, Grade 12 student Lelond was grateful to experience a Pride Day before graduating.
“This is definitely a very good first step and it shows respect,” Lelond said.
“I feel very happy. I feel energetic. It’s a good feeling.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.