Latest news with #PrideHamilton
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
As Pride weekend expands in Hamilton, so do efforts to keep it safe, organizers say
Social Sharing As Pride Hamilton gears up for its biggest weekend in recent memory with Pride on the Pier on Friday and Saturday and Pride Drag Brunch on Sunday, organizers are emphasizing safety. "We've had multiple years now incident-free, and I'm hoping we can continue that momentum," said Kiel Hughes, chair of the board and director of events at Pride Hamilton. Pride events will span the entire weekend, with events at Pier 4 Park starting on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. until midnight. On Sunday, Pride Hamilton is, for the first time, closing the weekend with a special brunch at Hamilton Stadium. But with higher visibility comes increased concern. Hughes said organizers worked closely with Hamilton police to develop safety protocols. "When you're an organizer of an event, you understand the consequences of inaction," said Hughes. "There are children there, there are senior citizens, there are racialized folks, there are gender diverse folks, there are queer members of the community." Among concerns, Hughes mentioned the city's recent shootings where innocent bystanders have been killed, as well as white nationalist "active clubs" traced to the city. Hamilton also saw its highest number of hate crimes in the last 10 years in 2024, according to police data, with members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community among the most targeted. Relationship with police a 'work in progress' There's a thin line for Hughes and other Pride Hamilton organizers to walk, however, as some may not feel comfortable with police at the event. "I do get it," Hughes said, adding that as a racialized person and someone who is part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, sitting in meetings "with a bunch of armed police" can be very uncomfortable. In 2019, members of a far-right group crashed a Pride festival at Gage Park, bearing homophobic signs and loud speakers. A group of counter-protesters in pink masks also used a large black curtain to try to shield them from view. The clash turned violent and several people were assaulted. Pride Hamilton organizers criticized the police response, saying they stood by while violence erupted. Then police chief Eric Girt said police would have deployed differently at the event had they been welcomed. "It's a working relationship," said Hughes on Tuesday. "There's a job that the police are expected to do, and that job is law enforcement." Vice-chair and director of operations at Pride Hamilton, Allyson Cuddy emphasized that police presence at the park will be kept to a minimum. "There won't be police officers at every booth," she said. "They're trained to handle these things, so let them do their job. And it's not a free-for-all where the police are going to come and party at Pride. That's not what it is," said Hughes. CBC Hamilton reached out to Hamilton police for comment but did not hear back before publication. 'Everyone is welcome' at Pride Pride Hamilton also worked with private security and police to establish a perimeter for the event and an emergency response plan. The perimeter will be put in place to monitor the traffic of people at Pride at the Pier, said Hughes. Hughes added the team has been proactive, posting a " know before you go" guide to help attendees prepare. The guide outlines the time and place of Pride at the Pier as well as what to do and general rules of the event. This year's theme is "reclamation, unity, and healing," Hughes said, "We are taking over and taking up space." The message from organizers is clear: "everyone is welcome" at Pride. "Come with positivity, come with good energy, come with excitement, and come ready to support each other" Hughes said. "This is not going to be a space for negativity and harm." "We're trying to create a safe space that's sustainable for this community so that we who live in Hamilton can celebrate in Hamilton and don't need to go to other cities to feel included and feel welcome."
CBC
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Pride at the Pier is on this weekend. Here's what to expect
Social Sharing Hamilton's Pride weekend starts this Friday in what organizers say is one of the event's biggest iterations in recent years. "I don't recall Pride Hamilton ever having such extensive programming. So, I'm excited to see it come to fruition and be successful," said chair of the Pride Hamilton board and director of events Kiel Hughes. Pride events will span the entire weekend, with Pride at the Pier at Pier 4 Park on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Pride Hamilton is, for the first time, closing the weekend with Pride Drag Brunch at Hamilton Stadium. Hughes, who will also be one of the hosts on Saturday as Sasha Fienix, said reclamation, unity and healing are the overarching themes of this year's festivities. "My example is we're having a drag brunch in a football stadium in a place that historically has pushed queer and trans folks out," Hughes said. "So, we are taking over and taking up space." The brunch starts at 11:30 a.m., and tickets are on sale on Pride Hamilton's website. Supporting Canadian talent Pride at the Pier starts on Friday at 5 p.m., and will have several performances by musicians and drag artists, including artist Kamilla Flores Kameleon, who will be hosting, marching band Gayly Forward, musician Jesse James, London, Ont., drag artist Poison, and more. Saturday festivities start at 11 a.m. at Pier 4. Pride Hamilton is hosting a meet and greet with several "iconic" drag performers: Suki Doll, Scarlett Bobo, Jaylene Tyme and The Virgo Queen. The queens will also be performing on Saturday. Tickets for the meet and greet are $35. Other artists on Saturday include musicians Dynesti, Tony Will and Just Amsterdam as well as drag artists Tynomi Banks from Canada's Drag Race's first season, Margaux Rita, and co-hosts Karma Kameleon and Sasha Fienix. All artists and performers are Canadian, as Hughes wanted to make sure Pride Hamilton was supporting local talent. Vice-chair and director of operations at Pride Hamilton, Allyson Cuddy, said there will be plenty of events for the whole family. Cuddy said there will be a kids and youth area with much going on. From arts and crafts with the Dundas Valley School of Art, and story time with the Hamilton Wentworth Elementary Teachers Local to a performance by the Hamilton Children's Choir. Hughes said Pride Hamilton is trying to make its event "more wholesome and inclusive" to the diverse communities in Hamilton. "A city of this size should have a respectable pride to represent that," said Hughes. The weekend-long event will also have more than 80 vendors, "from corporations to local non-profits," said Cuddy. Hughes hopes people will walk away from the event with "the understanding that pride is every day that we exist … Take up space, unite with community, heal." "Pride Hamilton is here to stay, regardless of what's going on — the greater world climate, local policies, anything," added Cuddy.
