CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – Colours and smiles were all over Spirit Square.
On Saturday, Campbell River celebrated diversity and the different forms love can take.
Teresa Grigg is one of the organizers for the day’s festivities and she says it’s an exciting opportunity to be part of Pride Day.
“I joined last year for my first time and I just wanted to get more involved in the community because during the year, it’s hard to always recognize the people in your community that are gay or lesbian or otherwise. So it was a good way for me to get involved,” Grigg said.
“I’m really proud that the city (administration) is now starting to be more open and more accepting of everybody, no matter what they are.”
Grigg is also part of the North Island Pride Society, and she says she’s involved because she wants to fight for the younger generation.
“Some of us older members are trying to get things set up and rolling so the young people can come in and take over and have a world that they’re safe in.”
Saturday’s Pride Fest was very well-attended, and Grigg adds it’s good to see people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life having fun and celebrating together.
Residents from Quadra Island, Comox Valley, and Port Hardy came to Campbell River to celebrate Pride.
Despite the success of Pride Fest, Grigg says there is still a lot to be done when it comes to acceptance within the community but she is hopeful.
“All of these people here (at Pride) have gone through some difficulty being who they are, especially the older people. I just want people to know that we’re just people. We go to work, we pay taxes, we have children. We’re just normal human beings that love who we love.”
