'Such a vibe': Churchill Square hosts first Pride festival in 8 years
Hundreds of people gathered in front of Edmonton City Hall Saturday to celebrate the first large Pride event in the city in four years, and the first one in Churchill Square in eight.
"It's just a great feeling for everyone, I think," Jo Binkley said.
"It's such a vibe," Avery Wonitowy said.
First-time organizers Edmonton PrideFest led the two-day event.
"I've never seen so many beautiful people in one place. It's incredible," said executive producer Trevor Watson.
"When they lifted (pandemic) restrictions on events, a group of people came together and said, 'Hey we have two months! Let's plan a massive festival!'"
Edmonton's last big pride event was in 2018.
That's when a parade on Whyte Avenue was stopped by protesters, who demanded more diversity amongst the organizers.
RARICANow was one of the groups protesting in 2018. Members marched to the festival on Saturday as welcomed guests.
"These are members of the community who are still fighting for their basic human rights all over the world," explained Watson.
"Having these safe spaces, it really means life or death for so many people in our community."
"I think it's the mainstream LGBTQ+'s responsibility to utilize their privilege in order to uplift those voices," said Boyd Whiskeyjack, who was dressed in drag as Cedar T.
Edmonton PrideFest in Churchill Square on June 25, 2022 (Jessica Robb/CTV News Edmonton).
The event was an opportunity to celebrate new milestones.
"This is my first pride. I came out exactly two years ago as a trans woman," Andie Labelle Varias.
"Being able to like come out and do something in such a big group and in such a community that I felt like I've been cut off from for the last couple years is really exciting," said Zoe Bumanis.
Organizers hope to bring in more people from the community next year, with planning already underway.
"We are in talks of bringing back a large-scale event that stretches down a street and starts with a 'p,'" Watson said.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.