A week full of Pride for the Bay

This week gay and straight members of Pride on Campus in partnership with partnership with North Bay Police Service have been celebrating people of all gender identities and sexualities during Pride Week.

The group says everyone should feel safe and welcome in their own home, their school, their job, and their community.


“Because no one should feel alone and everyone deserves to be themselves, to be loved, and to be respected,” they note.

The celebrations kicked off with a flag raising ceremony Friday at police headquarters followed by a Pride Parade Saturday afternoon.

Educational Coordinator Katie Scott spoke before the parade noting that the North Bay Police Service’s dedication to protecting and serving all residents in the community sends a strong and clear message of support to anyone who may face harassment, discrimination or violence because of homophobia or Transphobia.

“The unfortunate reality is that most queer and gender queer people face harassment bullying and sometimes violence in their lives.”


“A few of my friends from places like Ottawa Has shared honestly scary stories of police making inappropriate comments and brushing off hate crimes that were based on sexuality and gender. This rarely happens and greatly has decreased more and more over the years but still these stories have failed us and created a kind of urban myth that the police in general are intolerant and uncaring about the struggles that we face,” she says.


“Working with the North Bay Police and especially the Police Chief Paul Cook, Constable Al Bedard and Staff Sgt. Rick Dubeau I have learned that these myths are truly unfounded here in North Bay. Not only do they care but they are passionately committed to serving all residents and working actively against this intolerance and negative attitudes.”





For Derek McIntyre (pictured) the Pride Parade is a significant occasion that starts to change how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people live in the community.

“It is very important for me to march today so we can have increased visibility and understood,” he tells BayToday.

“We're not out because trouble or anything … we are people too. We just want to be recognized as people as well because I see enough of the negativity in the news.”

Rounding out the celebrations the group has planned a Trans Vigil for Wednesday at 8:30pm.

Scott says the walk is in support and remembrance.


“It is in support and honour of all those transgender and transexual people who have faced hatred and violence.”

“This vigil is in recognition of their courage, to remember those who are no longer with us, and to show our support. Too many trans-identifying people have died because of the struggles and hostility they have faced. All people deserve to live their lives as the gender they identify as.”