MANITOULIN—Pride Manitoulin has an amazing lineup of events planned as part of Into the Current, from August 17 to 20, starting with a flag raising on the Little Current docks on Thursday starting at 6 pm. The flag will be raised at the flagpole near Wally’s Dock Service followed by OUTspoken: A Queer 101 presentation from 7 to 8 pm at the East Pavilion on the Little Current waterfront.
This year, Mnaamodzawin Health Services is partnering with Pride Manitoulin to put on three days of events and in future years, Pride Manitoulin will become part of Mnaamodzawin.
“Founder Sarah Seabrook wants to retire,” said Rebecca Milne, Mnaamodzawin allied health manager and human resources officer. “She reached out to us.”
The goal, explains Ms. Milne, is to make Pride Weekend one of the key summertime events on Manitoulin Island. “For us, as an agency, we want to focus on education.”
To that end, ‘OUTspoken: A Queer 101’ is envisioned as a “safe space for anyone where there is no such thing as a dumb question.”
Friday’s events will kick off with Rainbow Connection: Painting with Pride, held at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah from 10 am to 1 pm. Then head on down to the Sheguiandah powwow grounds on Ogemah Miikan Road for Two-Spirit Drum Circle with Veronica Johnny from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Island Roots Flower Farm in Mindemoya will be offering free admission to the farm, where you can “Pick the Rainbow.” If you choose to pick a bouquet while checking the farm out, there is a cost. Visit IslandRootsFlowers.com for more details. Then, top off the evening with the Glow Party Concert at the Little Current Curling Club at the NEMI Rec Centre from 7 to 10 pm featuring Spice Girls tribute band Simply Spice as well as Backstreet Boys and Lady Gaga tributes.
Saturday its bright and early with the 5K Colour Run starting out at the NEMI Public Library from 9 to 10:30 am, followed by the Pride Amazing Race from 11 am to 3 pm. It isn’t all just Little Current, however, as Split Rail Brewery in Gore Bay will be offering live music from 1 to 3 pm.
Introduction to Archery with Rainbow Hood will take place at the Four Directions Complex in Aundeck Omni Kaning. Out at the Whitefish River First Nation powwow the Pride flag will be brought in during grand entry (1 pm and 7 pm) and an honour song will be played. An Express Yourself Makeup Tutorial will take place in Sheguiandah at the Old School House at 100 Townline Road. From 7 to 9 pm it’s Queer Trivia at the Little Current Royal Canadian Legion from 7 to 9 pm, followed by a drag show and dance featuring music by DJ Tom A Haw (both are 19+ events).
Sunday will start with a Christian Worship Service from 10 am to 11 am at the Little Current United Church, followed by the Annual Pride Parade and March which sets out from the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre at 11:30 am and wraps up with a community barbecue at the Little Current United Church, featuring music by DJ Tom A Haw.
