August 8, 2019 · 0 Comments
By Wendy Gabrek
Fierté Simcoe Pride hosted the colourful Pride flag along side members of Council at the New Tecumseth municipal office on Thursday August 1st.
The event was one of several #Pride flag raisings, with events also taking place in the Township of Essa, CFB Borden, Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, and Clearview.
Fierté Simcoe Pride started with one flag raising and a few events in 2012. The organization has grown into a county-wide movement to build a safe and inclusive community within Simcoe County that supports and unites people of all genders, sexes and sexual identities.
“In May of 2012, Mary Sue Robinet, our founding chair, brought together a group of people to pick up the torch of activism and celebration in our community. Wanting a truly county-wide approach that addressed every community regardless of size, what has come to be Fierté Simcoe Pride was called Simcoe Pride. A Pride for all of Simcoe County. Now in our seventh year, we continue to grow to meet the needs of our community while we maintain our grassroots approach to building community and bringing change,” says the group.
Over the past several years, Fierté Simcoe Pride has added to its list of accomplishments, including:
• 2012 – Simcoe Pride forms on May 13 and after just a few weeks of planning Simcoe Pride occurs from August 3–11.
• 2013 – The second Simcoe Pride is held from August 2–10, growing from one flag raising in Barrie to several across the county. This year the group joined Fierté Canada Pride and InterPride, further building its relationships with other Pride communities and organizations.
• 2014 – Pride is held from July 31 to August 9, with more municipal support including the County of Simcoe and more events.
• 2015 – The group changes its name to Fierté Simcoe Pride (FSP) to better reflect the community it represents, and held a festival is held from July 30 to August 8. This was also the first year for Community Awards.
• 2016 – A big year for FSP, including the first ever Trans Pride March in Simcoe County, beginning to work in a language dualism model, launching the Affiliate Events Program, and holding monthly events across the county. In this year FSP is also incorporated as a not-for-profit. Pride is held from July 27 to August 6.
• 2017 – After years of work by FSP and its predecessors, all 22 communities in the county support Pride by proclamation and/or flag raising. This was also the year the festival expanded to two weeks, from July 31 to August 13. FSP continues to build on advocacy work in this year, and also attended the Apology to LGBTQ2S Canadians in the Fall.
FSP offers inclusive events, services, and programs that celebrate the diversity of gender and sexual identities, promoting safe communities within Simcoe County, while acting as a voice for Simcoe County residents and visitors to all levels of government, public services, business and organizations on issues relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
Find out more at www.simcoepride.com