'We never let them stop us': Pride Corner on Whyte returns
A rally was held Friday at Pride Corner on Whyte, with community members coming back to the space after multiple threats of violence.
On Sept. 2, a man was reported to have threatened people gathered at Pride Corner with a bat and the corner was shut down early on Sept. 9 after reports of a serious threat of gun violence against attendees.
For two weeks, the corner remained closed, as organizers took time to finalize safety plans, exit strategies and train volunteers. Friday, they reopened with a rally against homophobia.
"Tonight, we are having a comeback rally," said Claire Pearen, an organizer. "We are out here and we are celebrating our existence and we are just coming back as strong as we can."
Pride Corner has become a gathering place for the LGBTQ2S+ community, where supporters come weekly with flags, signs, music and dancing. It was officially recognized by the city in May 2022.
Originally a spot to protest against street preachers, Pearen said the recent threats are a reminder of why the corner started in the first place.
She said it feels good to be back, and the community feels empowered to revive the corner and what it offers.
"We've already had a couple of troublemakers, but we never let them stop us. We're out here being ourselves, waving our flags, showing that the queer community is visible and taking up space," she said.
"There's really something beautiful about community and unity and that's why we're here."
With files from Matt Woodman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.