Selkirk is once again going to be celebrating inclusion and acceptance of all people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, as Selkirk Pride is coming to the waterfront on June 14.
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Get your rainbow outfit ready and head down to Pride on June 14 to celebrate inclusion in Selkirk
“There will be a handmade village with lots of different vendors. There will be lots of resource booths for different community organizations. There’ll be music, fun, and joy throughout the day, and kids’ activities. Also, one of the highlights, of course, is the drag performances, as well as the ribbon skirt fashion show,” said Coral Kendel, Co-Executive Director of Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre.
Though when people think of Pride events they often think of parades, Selkirk’s Pride is a little bit of a different take as it’s taking place completely at the waterfront.
Kendel explained that it’s important that more rural places like Selkirk and the surrounding area have Pride events like this so that we can show everyone that they are welcome in our community.
“Selkirk doesn’t have a visible queer community, but there are significant numbers of individuals within Selkirk or in the bordering communities that identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ who need to know that the community is welcoming and that there is a place where they can come together and feel comfortable and feel like they’re accepted. And to have an event like Pride is also important because we still see people who are not accepting of these identities, and in the end, Pride is a protest. It is an occasion to have a visible presence, and really to push back and further the rights that many who’ve come before us has fought so hard to achieve. We’re still working on that, so having these visible events is so important to increase these safe spaces and push forward the progress that we’re making for better human rights for everybody,” she said.
Kendel wanted to emphasize that this is an event that everyone in the community is welcome to attend and will be met with kindness.
“Anyone and everyone who welcomes Pride to the Selkirk community is welcome to attend, so you don’t have to be a resident of Selkirk,” said Kendel.
You also don’t have to be part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as allies are always welcome.
“(We want) to have the largest presence possible and really show up for individuals in Selkirk who need to feel supported and need to know their community supports them,” said Kendel.
The main entertainment for the evening will be the Drag Performance at 5 p.m. and the Ribbon Skirt Fashion show at 6 p.m.
“Drag Performances will all happen at the clock tower at the waterfront. There are a number of different performers that we’re anticipating, and it really was the highlight of the last Pride in 2024,” said Kendel.
The Ribbon Skirt Fashion show is at the same location and open to anyone with a ribbon skirt, ideally one they’ve made themselves, that they want to show off.
“They can be their own model, or provide their own model to walk in that fashion show and really show off the beauty and the art that exists in our community. (Having) that cultural piece as well is so important, especially knowing that Manitoba was the birthplace of the term Two Spirit,” said Kendel.
She said that her favourite part of seeing this event hosted in Selkirk is seeing the positivity that this event brings out in the community.
“(It’s a) day where anyone can know that they are accepted and celebrated. On the day when Pride is taking place, to see the joy, to see the community, to see the celebration of it in that central place for folks to come together when that doesn’t otherwise exist in Selkirk visibly throughout the year, I think it’s just really impactful and really important. Some of the stories that we heard after the event in 2024 were really incredible about how people felt comfortable coming out to their loved ones after, or they felt seen and supported in their community,” said Kendel.
She hopes that people stop by the waterfront anytime during the event, which takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. on June 14. In the case of rain, the event will move to the Gordon Howard Centre.
“Everyone’s welcome, if it’s their first Pride or if it’s their 30th Pride, to come and celebrate,” said Kendel.
As this event is hosted by Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre and the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, Kendel also wanted to acknowledge the importance of taking care of each other and mental health.
“Knowing that everyone’s at a different place in their journey, there will be mental health support available at the event too, if folks are feeling overwhelmed, or they’re feeling like this is a new experience for them, or they’re exploring their identity, there are folks there to provide that welcoming support,” she said.
If you would like to participate in the Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show, you can sign up by connecting with Carly at outreach@survivors-hope.ca by June 5.
