Flin Flon Pride is a Pride organization based in Flin Flon, Manitoba. Founded in 2017, Flin Flon Pride has been holding an annual parade and associated events ever since. Flin Flon Pride aims to support equality in northern Manitoba by providing resources for 2SLGBTQ+ people and their allies. Over the years, pride events have included flag raisings, Trans Marches, drag shows and competitions including the Drag Kween Mermaid pageant[1], the pride paddle[2], pride mass[3], glow party[4], youth dance, and chords and coffee. In 2021, organizers scaled back official programming to focus on drawing larger crowds to signature events[5].
First March
Flin Flon held its first Pride Parade on August 19, 2017[6]. The event was attended by 250 people[7]. Prizes were made available for the best float and best costume.
Pride Parade
From 2017 to 2020, Flin Flon Pride hosted their parade in August. In 2021, a decision was made to hold the parade earlier in the summer, moving the event to the first full week of July[8]. In 2023, Flin Flon Pride moved pride week to the month of June to coincide with Pride Month for the first time[9].
Parade Route
| Year | Route | Reason | Image |
| 2017 | Unknown | Followed the same route as Flin Flon’s 2017 Canada Day celebration[10]. | |
| 2018 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2019 | Green St. to Main St | Unknown | |
| 2020 | Starting from Green Street and Balsam Avenue, then left on Highway 10, and going down toward the Flin Flon Tourism Bureau[11]. | Due to COVID-19, the regularly scheduled parade was reduced to a smaller pride march with a maximum capacity of 100 attendees. | |
| 2021 | Virtual | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic[12]. | |
| 2022 | Held on July 23, 2022, the parade started at the at the former North of 53 Consumer’s Co-op store site near Main Street and concluded at CFAR[13]. | Unknown | |
| 2023 | Held on June 11, 2023, the parade started at the former North of 53 Consumer’s Co-op store site near Main Street, then going up Main Street, down Third Avenue and ending at Willowvale Park[14]. | A decision was made to reverse the typical Canada Day parade route. |
Themes
| Year | Theme | Description | Image |
| 2017 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2018 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2019 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2020 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2021 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2022 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2023 | Community[15] | Unknown |
Festival Site
The Flin Flon Pride Festival takes place in downtown Flin Flon. While the parade route has varied over the years, the parade concludes with a community barbeque sponsored by CUPE Manitoba.
Lineups
| Year | Date | Location | Lineup |
| 2017 | August 19, 2017 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2018 | August 18, 2018 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2019 | August 17, 2019 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2020 | July 23, 2020 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2021 | July 11, 2021 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2022 | July 23, 2022 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2023 | June 11, 2023 | Unknown | Unknown |
Flag Raising at City Hall
| Year | Venue | Theme | Description | Image |
| 2017 | City Hall; Pioneer Square | Unknown | This event kicked off Flin Flon’s first Pride Celebration. The flag raising at City Hall on August 18, 2017 was hosted by the Flin Flon Pride Committee, emceed by CC Trubiak, and included special guest speakers Father Paul Bringleson and Shelley Rhyno[16].
Following the event, CUPE Manitoba hosted a free community barbeque at Pioneer Square! The event featured music by Mark Kolt as well as a community open mic.
|
|
| 2018 | City Hall | Unknown | The second annual Pride flag raising was held at City Hall on August 17, 2018[18]. The event was emceed by Oulette and included guest speakers Tom Lindsey, Steve Wilson, and Andy Richard. The event also included a special tribute to honour the passing of Al Mills. |
|
| 2019 | City Hall | Unknown | The third annual Pride flag raising took place on August 16, 2019[19]. The event featured an opening prayer by Ali Krassilowsky, followed by the sacred Women’s Water Singers Singing the Nibi Water song and the Flag Song. Guest speakers included Mark Lucas, Julia Suchoplas and Michelle Salomandra on behalf of the Rainbow Heart Project. |
|
| 2020 | City Hall | Unknown | On August 14, 2020, Flag raising at City Hall[21]. All attendees were encouraged to wear a mask and observe physical distancing. Due to the pandemic, the event was also live streamed. | |
| 2021 | City Hall/Virtual | Unknown | On July 2, 2021 the flag raising ceremony was hosted virtually. Speakers included Elder Margaret Head Steppan, the Northern Lights Women’s Singers, MP Niki Ashton, and Flin Flon Pride Executive Director Jordana Oulette[22] | |
| 2022 | City Hall | Unknown | On July 15, 2022, the Pride Flag Raising was hosted in person. Speakers included Elder Margaret Head Steppan, the Northern Lights Women’s Singers, a representative on behalf of MP Niki Ashton, and MLA Tom Lindsey, and Flin Flon Pride Executive Director Jordana Oulette [23]. | |
| 2023 | City Hall | Community | On June 5, 2023, Pride Week kicked off with the flag raising. Speakers included Kirsten Fritsch, Elder Margaret Head Steppan, the Northern Lights Women’s Singers, MLA Tom Lindsey, Mayor George Fontaine, councillor Nicole Bayless from Denare Beach, Cali Gerberandt and Alain Lachapelle[24] |
Attendance
2017: 250[25]
2018: at least 94[26]
2019: Unknown
2020: Max 100 people per COVID restrictions[27]
2021: No Information; conducted virtually[28]
2022: Unknown
2023: Unknown
Social Media Debuts
Instagram DM: June 21, 2017 @flinflonpride
Facebook DM: June 6, 2017 https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride
Logo
| Date | Logo Graphic |
| 2019 |  [29] |
| 2020 |  [30] |
| 2021 |  [31] |
| 2022 |  [32] |
| 2023 |  [33] |
References
[1] https://www.thereminder.ca/local-news/first-ever-drag-queen-mermaid-event-planned-for-pride-4136719
[2] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/photos/pb.100083010018831.-2207520000/893532334389558/?type=3
[3] https://flinflononline.com/local-news/376602
[4] https://www.thereminder.ca/local-news/flin-flon-pride-gears-up-for-next-annual-celebration-fierte-canada-pride-appearance-5442231
[5] https://www.thereminder.ca/local-news/flin-flon-pride-moves-to-early-july-for-2021-starts-plans-for-annual-celebration-4210844
[6] https://www.facebook.com/events/122987101654477/
[7] https://moosejawpride.ca/flin-flon-pride-success/
[8] https://www.thereminder.ca/local-news/flin-flon-pride-moves-to-early-july-for-2021-starts-plans-for-annual-celebration-4210844
[9] https://www.thereminder.ca/local-news/plans-continue-expand-for-flin-flon-pride-next-month-7016037
[10] https://www.facebook.com/events/122987101654477/
[11] https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/flin-flon-pride-event-teaches-that-love-is-love
[12] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/videos/231628022138246
[13] https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUUguKhfsN/
[14] https://www.thereminder.ca/local-news/plans-continue-expand-for-flin-flon-pride-next-month-7016037
[15] https://www.instagram.com/p/CrMIm6EPS5j/
[16] https://www.facebook.com/events/205629683300683/
[17] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-flin-flon-pride-flag-1.4254109
[18] https://www.facebook.com/events/307915266649055/
[19] https://www.facebook.com/events/740757893024905/
[20] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=640449579697836&set=pcb.640449783031149
[21] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=883581085384683&set=pcb.883582435384548
[22] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=357031699182414
[23] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/videos/559499942270371
[24] https://www.instagram.com/p/CtIiBPMABba/
[25] https://moosejawpride.ca/flin-flon-pride-success/
[26] https://www.facebook.com/events/261942821057458/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D
[27] https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/flin-flon-pride-event-teaches-that-love-is-love
[28] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/videos/800757303957251/?hc_ref=ARRQa55zV4elvwC-hxZTQF7IxnSorztmW6x9UX7wEQs96C0R_V8gte6E4WliLNsY__c&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARBKX2D-wXeZuY4roUa2KVEmG6HjTkv5XzF9HQksxejKwQXaUVdswNC_fHKSqehgr-0daYDzzM1ttslyD63uuYA2MsXEY51xZUBEYWasAkhcfdR7ZVtKLGFjMODOfYpdae7CJjeERHmEUmlZH0YTJGj4By0MA1IvSVLlcIwD1LXMS_ep6_IhUgAUQNcaxbi38WE67OIjhny5PQNBvo5HQASX4YolJd206eiN0vx2EPmvb6vOdgpiikKMIjBqKL-FB9SGUtkrDAEx7Y7hvcYsqOugJdL6hrArDWrpSaveQNqfowriL-5mbS08jaXGPWibAw&__tn__=kC-R
[29] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/photos/a.282601188816012/613692539040207
[30] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/photos/a.282601188816012/795561324186660/?type=1&theater
[31] https://www.facebook.com/flinflonpride/photos/p.1059649147777875/1059649147777875/?type=1&theater
[32] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=166104052833261&set=a.166104049499928
[33] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=209701398473526&set=a.166104049499928