Newcomer Serving Organizations at Pride Winnipeg Parade

MANSO is coordinating a joint walking-group of newcomer serving organizations to participate in this year’s Pride Parade, which takes place on June 2^nd, 2019 (part of the Pride Winnipeg Festival). 

This group participation in Pride is part of a larger joint effort to make sure that settlement services better serve LGBT2SQ+ newcomers. 

What is Pride?

The Pride Festival The Pride Winnipeg Festival runs from May 24 – June 2, 2019 and consists of an array of cultural events that celebrate the incredibly diverse community that supports or identifies with the GSRD community.  (GSRD means gender, sexual and relationship diversities which is a term that is used by the Pride Festival to be inclusive of the whole community). 

This year’s theme is Pride of Colour.  The concept seeks to amplify the voices of racialized minorities and help raise awareness of the barriers that may have prevented them from participating in previous Pride Festivals.  (Learn more here: https://www.pridewinnipeg.com/2019-theme/  The President of Pride board reached out to MANSO to invite more participation from our member agencies. 

What happens at the Parade?

The Pride Rally and Parade is one of the key events of the festival.  (Learn more here: https://www.pridewinnipeg.com/pride/rally-and-parade/)

At 10:00am, we will meet to gather with our walking group at the start of the Parade route.  The parade will leave sharply at 10:40am, and walk along the route below.  The Parade ends at the Forks (by approximately 1:00pm) and there is a Festival there that many people stay to participate in. 

Many organizations and businesses participate in the Parade to demonstrate their commitment to diversity (and support of LGBT2SQ+ or GRSD communities).  The event celebrates pride, joy, achievement and diversity of persons and spirit. 

About 10,000 people participate in floats, walking groups or to watch the parade.  It is colourful, loud and vibrant!  Many people wear Rainbow colours or carry rainbow flags as an important symbol of Pride. 

How do I participate?

Register by May 24^th, 2019.  Talk to your organizational contact about wearing your organization’s shirts, signs or banners.  If you’d like to bring your spouse or partner or your kids with you (note that you are solely responsible for supervising your children), they are welcome too. 

How can I learn more?

If your organization is interested in learning more about how to support LGBT2SQ+ newcomers, there are good resources out there. 

• MANSO’s sister organization in Ontario has produced a guide called “Positive Spaces” for settlement organizations http://positivespaces.ca/sites/positivespaces.ca/files/psi-starter-kit-english.pdf  (some content is Ontario-specific, but much is relevant here)
• Two of MANSO’s member organizations are offering workshops that can help you and your team’s learn more:
  • Rainbow Resource Centre is hosting a LGBT2SQ+ Newcomer Awareness workshop on August 16^th, 2019 https://mansomanitoba.ca/event/lgbt2sq-newcomer-awareness-workshop/
  • SERC MB has several upcoming workshops (including “2SLGBTQ+ Diversity and Inclusion Training for Service Providers” on December 5^th in Brandon and “Sexuality and Cultural Diversity: Humility and Safety in Cross-Cultural Work” on February 27^th in Winnipeg https://serc.mb.ca/what-we-offer/service-providers/upcoming-training-opportunities/