Colourful Kincardine Pride Parade is about inclusion and acceptance of everyone

A colourful and lengthy Kincardine Pride Parade marched through downtown Kincardine, Saturday morning, promoting inclusion and acceptance of everyone.

This is the second annual event which saw hundreds of people in the parade, and hundreds more watching as the parade began at the corner of Broadway and Huron Terrace and wended its way to Victoria Park.

Leading the parade were Kincardine native, athlete and motivational speaker Kendra Fisher, and CUPE Ontario Division president Fred Hahn, followed by Fort Papalia and Sandy Blackwood of Kincardine Pride, Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie and Saugeen First Nation chief Lester Anoquot, and members of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band.

Once the crowd gathered in Victoria Park, Papalia welcomed everyone and said the Pride Parade is very important because it fosters understanding and promotes acceptance of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer)-plus community.

Fisher said she was blown away by the turn-out. “I missed the first Kincardine Pride Parade last year, but I will not be missing another one. I'm speechless; my heart is so full right now.”

She remembered growing up in Kincardine and being involved in a lot of sports. She had one or two boyfriends, but in 2015 revealed that she is lesbian; she now lives with her wife in Toronto.

“What we are doing today is making a difference in many people's lives,” said Fisher. “This is incredible but we have a long way to go. There are still a lot of people who don't feel safe where they are. A community working together and showing acceptance and support, will make the difference.

“Hatred countered by anger and hatred will not achieve anything, but love for everyone will win. We must teach love instead of hatred.”

“You live in a beautiful place,” said Hahn, “and we live in a beautiful province, but there are still people who do not understand the joy, love and community spirit here. They don't understand that love always wins. I received such a warm welcome when I got to Kincardine. Happy Pride Day. This is what pride is all about.”

Monday morning, members of Kincardine Pride joined the community in raising Pride flags at the Davidson Centre, the Kincardine Library and the Kincardine Municipal Administrative Centre, to launch Pride Week.