Love and inclusivity are the key messages as Pride Week kicks off in Chatham-Kent on Monday.
Marianne Wilson, president of the Chatham-Kent Gay Pride Association, said the organization is excited to have Pride Week events taking place in person for the first time in two years.
She says celebrations, such as Pride Week, give everyone the opportunity to embrace members of each different group in the Chatham-Kent community.
“It’s important because it helps us grow our community, it helps show the world we’re an inclusive and diverse community,” said Wilson. “It brings new business, new people, and new investments to this community.”
A flag raising at the Civic Centre in Chatham at noon on Monday will mark the start of a week full of planned events throughout the municipality.
“That flag raising just sends a clear message to not only those people that might be visibly identified in our community but mostly to those people who are not — those people that might be afraid or might feel alone, that feel like they don’t know anyone else in the community,” said Wilson.
Pride flags will also be raised at other CK municipal buildings in Blenheim, Ridgetown, Wallaceburg, Tilbury and Dresden.
“Those kind of visual indicators show those people that this is a thriving community and we are a community that supports each other, and loves each other, and takes care of each other,” said Wilson.
On August 17, LINCK will be celebrating Pride Week with a community barbecue at 495 Grand Ave. W in Chatham from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also taking place that day, the Chatham-Kent Public Library will host Pride Trivia on Facebook from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The annual CK Pride bonfire will take place on August 18 at 21118 Base Line Rd. near Blenheim.
Then on August 19, a Pride Pub Night will be held at Sons of Kent in Chatham from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Aug. 20, the CK Pride Parade will take place on King Street in downtown Chatham ending in Tecumseh Park. The CK Pride Festival will follow there from noon to 5 p.m., complete with vendors, food booths, and activities.
The week will culminate with a Pride service at St. Andrew’s United Church in Chatham on August 21.
Anyone in the Pride community who needs support can reach out to the CK Gay Pride Association anytime at ckpride.com or by emailing [email protected].
“We’ll connect you with whatever services you’re looking for. Maybe you’re just looking for some peer support, maybe you’re just looking to meet some people, maybe you need some help getting to an event… whatever the case is, reach out to us,” said Wilson
