'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
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
There's progress reported in Gaza truce talks, but Israel downplays chances of ending war with Hamas
A delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported "noticeable progress" in cease-fire talks with Israel, though an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war in Gaza.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.