Carman will host its first-ever Pembina Valley Pride Day on June 7, marking a milestone for the 2SLGBTQA+ community and its allies in the region with a full day of celebration, solidarity and support.
Pembina Valley Pride has hosted Pride marches and rallies since 2019, rotating between Morden and Altona.
“It is the different communities that come together that make this celebration whole,” said Pembina Valley Pride president Pauline Emerson-Froebe.
She and her wife moved to Carman eight years ago, and said she’s felt a whirlwind of support since.
“It just means so much to me celebrating at home, knowing the community we have built here,” she said.
Pride Day kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with Rainbow Church — a service focused on love and acceptance — at the Carman Legion Auxiliary Hall on 1st Street N.W. The service will be led by Rev. Harold Kenyon of Carman United Church.
At noon, Ryall Park will host the Rainbow Makers Market, food vendors, raffle sales and a fundraising lunch for a local charity. Details about vendors and the chosen charity will be announced on the day of the event, due to past threats made toward participants, Emerson-Froebe said.
Hotdogs, chips and drinks will be available, alongside a range of unique offerings from market vendors.
Raffle proceeds will support Pembina Valley Pride. Among the prizes is a handmade quilt donated by Evelyn Froebe, a five-time best quilt winner at the Carman Fair and mother of Emerson-Froebe. Tickets range from $2 to $10, with the draw taking place at about 4 p.m. at Ryall Park. Winners must be present to claim the prize.
Among the returning vendors is Jodi Linklater, owner of Sudzy Mama Soaps. An ally of the 2SLGBTQA+ community, she said she aims to spread love and acceptance through her business.
“The amount of love and acceptance of everybody just oozes in the air,” she said. “It is such a feel-good environment knowing you are in a place of acceptance — and that is what I want for everyone.”
Linklater, based in Altona, began making bath products and sewing clothing in 2021 after her youngest child graduated high school. Encouraged by her daughter, who studies environmental sciences, she looked for ways to reduce plastic usage and began crafting shampoo, conditioner and soap bars from home.
“I fell in love with being creative and adding lots of colours into everything … this led to me having mountains of soap,” she said.
Her creativity soon extended to fabric, which she sources from thrift stores to create retro-style clothing. She posts her creations on Instagram at @sudzymamasoaps.
Entertainment begins at 1 p.m. with speeches from local 2SLGBTQA+ leaders and residents, including Dr. Shayne Reitmeier, drag performer M. Westwood, and board member Xander Schieman.
Performances will follow from Prairie Soundscape — an inclusive Winkler-based choir — Pembina Valley trio A Band Named Chloe, and Carman’s House of Dale drag group. A 20-minute community rally will wrap up the park events, with council-approved road barricades in place for the march. Emerson-Froebe said organizers will stay on sidewalks as much as possible.
“We want to be respectful to the town since they have already shown overwhelming support for us,” she said.
Heidi Friesen, with Prairie Soundscape, said the choir is excited to participate.
“The goal of Prairie Soundscape is to welcome anyone and everyone who is interested in joining our choral community,” she said. “Inclusivity for us means we celebrate diversity and provide a safe place to be yourself in a respectful environment.”
Sally Friesen, guitarist and vocalist for A Band Named Chloe, echoed the sentiment.
“Pembina Valley Pride is hugely important. It says to our communities, loudly, that we’re here, and that we’re not going anywhere,” she said. “There’s strength in numbers, and I’m excited to see the rainbow community and those that love and support us showing up each year.”
The band will also play at the Carman Motor Inn before the afterparty begins at 8 p.m. at Carman 5 Pin Bowl — a tradition for Pembina Valley Pride.
“It is important to us that we support local businesses and try to keep people in the community the full day,” Emerson-Froebe said. “I am really proud of the board and the Carman community who have helped to make this happen.”
ASL interpreters and sensory-friendly zones will be available at Ryall Park to ensure accessibility for all attendees.
Emerson-Froebe said she’s looking forward to people coming together in a space where they can feel safe and be themselves.
“Having all these people around that are in a happy mood … to be amongst others that are accepting and loving … everyone wants to be themselves without judgment. That is what makes this whole day worth it.”
Pembina Valley Pride hosts events year-round in communities across the region, including an upcoming Open Mic Night at the Manitou Opera House on June 21. A full calendar is available at www.pembinavalleypride.ca.
