Brandon Pride is a Pride organization in Brandon, Manitoba founded in the early 2000s. The organization strives to create awareness and advocacy in promoting events in their community to encourage a safe, inclusive, and positive atmosphere for all.
The first recorded Pride event in Brandon was a PRIDE social organized by the Sexuality Education Resource Centre on June 19, 2004[i]. The first annual Brandon Pride Festival took place from June 11-13, 2010[ii] and the first Brandon Pride Parade took place on May 30, 2015[iii]. After a pause in programming in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandon Pride Week has returned with more programming than ever before.
First March
An estimated 250 people attended Brandon’s first Pride March on May 30, 2015[iv]. The event began at Brandon’s City Hall and proceeded to walk a parade route along main streets including Victoria Avenue, 18th Street, and Rosser Avenue into Stanley Park. The march was described as an important step forward for the community, highlighting Brandon’s local 2SLGBTQIA community and allies coming together in the province’s second largest city.
The march was one of several events that took place that weekend, including an education lunch, a social, and a church service.
Pride March
Since the first march in 2015, Brandon Pride has continued to organize events and programming to bring the community and allies together. Following a pause in programming in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandon Pride Week has returned with more programming than ever before.
In 2022, the march route changed to end in Rideau Park, instead of Stanley Park. The larger park has allowed for a great amount of amenities to be offered, including drag performances, local musicians, community presentations, a community by-donation barbecue, and dedicated children’s programming.
March Route
| Year | Route | Image |
| 2015 | Starting at city hall, across Victoria Avenue, up 18th Street, down Rosser Avenue, and ending in Stanley Park. | 
|
| 2016 | (Same as 2015)[vi] | |
| 2017 | (Same as 2015)[vii] | |
| 2018 | Unknown | |
| 2019 | Starting at city hall, across Victoria Avenue, up 13th Street, down Lorne Avenue, and ending in Stanley Park. | 
|
| 2020 | Cancelled[ix] | |
| 2021 | Cancelled[x] | |
| 2022 | Unknown | |
| 2023 | Starting at City Hall, along Victoria Avenue, up Park Street and ending in Rideau Park. | 
|
Grand Marshals
| Year | Name | Description | Picture |
| 2016 | Brandon’s Sexuality Education Resource Centre Team[xii] | Unknown | |
| 2017 | Margaret Yorke and Amelia Reid | Unknown | 
|
| 2018 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2019 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2020 | Cancelled[ix] | ||
| 2021 | Cancelled[x] | ||
| 2022 | Representatives from the Brandon chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and members of high school gender sexuality alliances[xiv] | Unknown | |
| 2023 | Unknown | Unknown |
Themes
| Year | Theme | Description | Image |
| 2015 | “GO Proudly!”[xv] | ||
| 2016 | Unknown | ||
| 2017 | Unknown | ||
| 2018 | Unknown | ||
| 2019 | Unknown | ||
| 2022 | “Just can’t hide my pride”[xvi] | ||
| 2023 | “Growing Pride on the Prairies”[xvii] |
Festival Site
The Brandon Pride Festival takes place in downtown Brandon. The original festival site was located at Stanley Park but relocated to Rideau Park in 2022 to accommodate the festival’s growth.
The festival has a variety of amenities which in 2023 included:
- Live music
- Drag performances by House of Hex
- Community presentations
- Kids area – including story time
- Community barbecue
Lineups
| Year | Date(s) | Location | Lineup |
| 2015 | May 30, 2015 | Stanley Park | Unknown |
| 2016 | June 18, 2016 | Stanley Park | Rage, My Darling and Misty Street (local musicians). |
| 2017 | June 17, 2017 | Stanley Park | Misty Street (a local band), Amy Storry McNally (opening act) and Rae Spoon (headliner) |
| 2018 | June 16, 2018 | Stanley Park | Prairie Sky and the Sunshine Girls, Jan Ek and DJ EfPhEx |
| 2019 | June 15, 2019 | Stanley Park | Community music and drag entertainment |
| 2022 | June 18, 2022 | Rideau Park | Flora Hex |
| 2023 | June 17, 2023 | Rideau Park | Local musicians, drag performances from House of Hex (Flora Hex, Lilith Hex, Luna Hex, and Mercy Hex), and community presentations. |
Flag Raising at Brandon City Hall
| Year | Venue | Theme | Description | Image |
| 2016 | City Hall | Unknown | Flag Raising at City Hall with Mayor Rick Chrest to symbolize Brandon’s commitment to building a stronger, safer city for our diverse community. | 
|
| 2017 | City Hall | Unknown | Flag Raising at City Hall with Mayor Rick Chrest to symbolize Brandon’s commitment to building a stronger, safer city for our diverse community. | 
|
| 2018 | City Hall | Unknown | Flag Raising at City Hall with Mayor Rick Chrest to symbolize Brandon’s commitment to building a stronger, safer city for our diverse community. | |
| 2019 | City Hall | Unknown | The City of Brandon and the Brandon Pride executive formally launch pride and raise the rainbow flag. | 
|
| 2023 | City Hall | Growing Pride on the Prairies | Flag raising and proclamation for Pride Week 2023, Growing Pride on the Prairies, at City Hall.
|
 |
Queer-aoke
| Year | Venue | Theme | Description | Image |
| 2016 | Double Decker Tavern | Unknown | Continuing the amazing tradition started by the BtownQ group, Brandon Pride invites you to come sing your heart out at Queer Karaoke at the Double Decker Tavern. No cover. | 
|
| 2017 | Double Decker Tavern | Unknown | Continuing the amazing tradition started by the BtownQ group, Brandon Pride invites you to come sing your heart out at Queer Karaoke at the Double Decker Tavern. No cover. |
|
| 2018 | Double Decker Tavern | Unknown | In addition to Queer Karaoke, Brandon Pride shirts were sold at the free, 18+ event. | 
|
| 2019 | Double Decker Tavern | Unknown | Come out, support pride, and sing your heart out. | 
|
| 2023 | Section 6 | Growing Pride on the Prairies | Held at Section 6, Queeraoke was a free,
all ages event. Minors had to be in the company of a parent or guardian while at the brewery.
|
|
Queer Trivia Night
| Year | Venue | Theme | Description | Image |
| 2016 | Double Decker Tavern | Unknown | Hosted in place of Double Decker Tavern’s weekly Trivia night. This free, queer event was hosted by Kate Hill and Dr. Aaron Wilson. | 
|
| 2017 | Double Decker Tavern | Unknown | Hosted in place of Double Decker Tavern’s weekly Trivia night. This free, queer event was hosted by Kate Hill and Dr. Aaron Wilson. | 
|
| 2018 | Prairie Firehouse | Unknown | Held at the Prairie Firehouse, the annual, free, queer event featured Special Guest Host, Mariah and scorekeeper, Rena. | 
|
| 2019 | Prairie Firehouse | Unknown | Held at the Prairie Firehouse, the annual, free, LGBT2SQ event was hosted by Kate Hill and Dr. Aaron Wilson. | 
|
| 2023 | Black Wheat Brewing | Growing Pride on the Prairies | Held at Black Wheat Brewing, the annual, free, 2SLGBTQIA+ event was hosted by the House of Hex (Mercy Hex, Lilith Hex, and Cosmic Hex).
|
|
Attendance
2015: at least 177[xxxi]
2016: at least 99[xxxii]
2017: Unknown
2018: 500-700[xxxiii]
2019: Unknown
2020: Cancelled due to Covid[xxxiv]
2021: Cancelled due to Covid[xxxv]
2022: “Hundreds”[xxxvi]
2023: Unknown
Social Media Debuts
Instagram DM: @bdnpride – October 28, 2017
Facebook DM: https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride – December 26, 2013
Logo
| Date | Logo Graphic |
| 05/2018 | 
|
| 12/2022 |  |
[i] Chappell, Cameron. June 7, 2004.
[ii] Pride Guide for the Pride Winnipeg Festival. Pride Winnipeg Festival. 2010.
[iii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brandon-s-1st-ever-pride-parade-takes-place-this-weekend-1.3093015
[iv] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2015/06/01/beaming-with-pride-and-joy
[v] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brandon-s-1st-ever-pride-parade-takes-place-this-weekend-1.3093015
[vi] https://www.facebook.com/events/360621567394877/?active_tab=discussion
[vii] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2017/06/19/growing-prideturnout-rises-for-brandon-march-celebration-of-inclusivity
[viii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/a.254706178027607/1301005506730997/?type=3&av=690082432&eav=Afa2Whmiq-Ko1q18-VnTACU9y55M5GEWo2cVw-wLlJmU4BbJ4iwcXXAjV_lb-TpJ5a0&source=57&paipv=0
[ix] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2020/04/17/brandon-pride-cancels-plans-for-2020
[x] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2021/06/01/pandemic-stifles-start-of-pride-month
[xi] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.1194971707854584/2525778114253724
[xii] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2016/06/13/brandon-praide-bigger-more-inclusive
[xiii] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2017/06/19/growing-prideturnout-rises-for-brandon-march-celebration-of-inclusivity
[xiv] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2022/06/10/headline-just-cant-hide-my-pride-subheadline-brandons-pride-movement-was-once-restricted-by-ignorance-but-over-the-years-advocates-and-activists-have-carved-out-a-space-for-people-who-identify
[xv] https://www.facebook.com/events/896389780424120/
[xvi] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2022/06/10/headline-just-cant-hide-my-pride-subheadline-brandons-pride-movement-was-once-restricted-by-ignorance-but-over-the-years-advocates-and-activists-have-carved-out-a-space-for-people-who-identify
[xvii] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2023/06/05/pride-week-could-be-bigger-than-ever-this-year
[xviii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.1109341992442938/628115407353347
[xix] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.733341343511858/811590905672462
[xx] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.2244247655829929/1286937748137773
[xxi] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.962749680498747/620942181404003
[xxii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.447319802286839/811585782339641
[xxiii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.2075017736107213/1011974868967397
[xxiv] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.605648799844907/1286947468136801
[xxv] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.3497503527236198/2526575987507270
[xxvi] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.1939541239605459/620936758071212
[xxvii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.2013339478893994/811571499007736
[xxviii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.254285125315582/1013253878839496
[xxix] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.413623222810754/1286941588137389
[xxx] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.970571434073508/2526557430842459
[xxxi] https://www.facebook.com/events/896389780424120/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D
[xxxii] https://www.facebook.com/events/360621567394877/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D
[xxxiii] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/hundreds-turn-out-for-pride-march-485790181.html
[xxxiv] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2020/04/17/brandon-pride-cancels-plans-for-2020
[xxxv] https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2021/06/01/pandemic-stifles-start-of-pride-month
[xxxvi] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brandon-pride-parade-2022-1.6493752
[xxxvii] https://www.facebook.com/BdnPride/photos/gm.1732791350102515/998092323688985