CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – The North Island Pride Society is putting together their first Canada Day float.
Teresa Grigg with the Pride Society says it’s an exciting opportunity.
“I am delighted to be a part of this because it’s about time. We’ve had such success the last couple of years with our Pride Party, and this is such a good opportunity for the young people to come out and be proud of who they are,” Grigg said.
“It just feels so cool to be able to have a float and be out there and go through town in front of all our citizens and celebrate. It’s just so exciting, I can’t even tell you.”
Grigg says it’s even more exciting for them because Campbell River isn’t big enough to have its own Pride parade.
While they’re excited, she says they’re also preparing themselves for some unwelcome comments and attention.
“I don’t expect everybody to be happy and excited to see us. We had a few people stop by our party last week that were also negative. But I think overall, it will be positive. I’ve talked to the kids that are joining us and we’re just going to have really upbeat music and keep everybody upbeat and happy and excited. It’s my hope that it will follow through and pour out into the spectators.”
Above all, Grigg says the Society is excited to join the parade because it’s a celebration of all Canadians, no matter what they identify as or who they want to be with.
“We’re here for you, we’re here for us. And we’re here to show that we want to be welcomed and accepted by everybody, and we’re people just like everybody else.”
Grigg says they hope to continue putting together a float for Campbell River’s Canada Day parade moving forward.
The Canada Day parade will start at 3:00pm on Monday by Home Hardware on 13th Ave.
