Pembina Valley Pride is a Pride organization based in the Pembina Valley region in southwestern Manitoba. The group was founded in May 2019 and strives to create and provide education, support, resources, community, and pride centering around 2SLGBTQIANB+ experiences in the many communities of the Pembina Valley[i].
Pembina Valley Pride serves all communities in the Pembina Valley, including Altona, Carman, Cartwright, Crystal City, Emerson, Gretna, Manitou, Morden, Morris, Pilot Mound, Plum Coulee, Roland, Somerset, and Winkler.
In addition to the annual marches, Pembina Valley Pride hosts monthly community building activities including game nights in three communities: in Winkler at the library every third Wednesday; in Altona the last Wednesday of the month at the Community Exchange; and in Morden with the date and location varying[ii]. In addition, they also host Rainbow Family events where families can gather in a safe, affirming environment every third Saturday of the month[iii].
Pride Parade
Pembina Valley Pride has been hosting pride events in various communities since 2019. In 2020, the Parade was cancelled due to COVID-19. Pride programming resumed virtually in 2021 and in-person in Altona in 2022 and in Morden in 2023. Their parades always take place in the month of June, during Pride Month.
First Parade
Pembina Valley Pride held its first parade on June 22, 2019 in the city of Morden. The event marked the first ever Pride Parade for the region and was attended by roughly 400 people[iv]. Attendees came from neighbouring communities like Winkler and Altona and as far as Winnipeg to attend the inaugural event[v]. In attendance was Mayor Brandon Burley who said “We intend to be a place that is accepting of all people who will come to the defense of any who need it…We will defend human rights to the death”[vi]. Members of Pembina Parish United Church and several other churches were also present at the event.
Parade Route
| Year | Route | Reason | Image |
| 2019 | Morden – From Morden Park, down Thornhill, ending at the Access Event Centre. | The event started with sign making and a rally in Morden Park before marching to the the Access Event Centre, where members of the LGBT+ community shared stories[vii].
|
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| 2020 | Cancelled | ||
| 2021 | Virtual | ||
| 2022 | Altona – West down Centre Avenue to 5th St. NW, then North to the southeast trail entrance to Centennial Park. |  [viii] |
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| 2023 | Morden – Down 13th Street, left on Stephen St, left on 8th St, left on Thornhill St, and a right on 13th Street back to Morden Park. |  [ix] |
Festival Site
The 2023 festival site in Morden Park had a variety of amenities which included:
- Vendors offering merchandise
- Farm Dog, a farm-to-table food cart
- Sexual Health representatives
- Children’s face painting, colouring station, and a bubble station
- Raffles
Lineups
| Year | Date | Location | Lineup |
| 2019 | June 22nd, 2019 | Access Event Centre | Unknown |
| 2020 | Cancelled | ||
| 2021 | June 5th, 2021 | Virtual | The virtual programming featured three separate streamed videos including a flag raising, remarks from the Pembina Valley Pride President, and virtual remarks from Morden Mayor Brandon Burle, Board Members, and several community members[x]. |
| 2022 | June 11th, 2022 | Centennial Park | Flag raising and a greeting from the Mayor at the Altona Civic Centre, followed by a march to Centennial Park[xi] |
| 2023 | June 10, 2023 | Morden Park | Drag show, Members of Prairie Soundscape, Speeches[xii] |
Attendance
2019: “As many as 400”[xiii] Over 100[xiv]
2020: Cancelled
2021: Unknown
2022: “Approximately 400 people”[xv]
2023: “Hundreds”[xvi]
Social Media Debuts
Facebook DM:
https://www.facebook.com/pembinavalleypride/
February 22, 2016
Instagram DM:
https://www.instagram.com/pembinavalleypride/
June 2020
Logo
| Date | Logo Graphic |
| January 5, 2021 |  [xvii] |
References
[i] https://pembinavalleypride.ca/#people
[ii] https://pembinavalleypride.ca/#people
[iii] https://pembinavalleypride.ca/#people
[iv] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/morden-first-pride-festival-lgbtq-community-1.5186561
[v] https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/hundreds-gather-for-mordens-first-pride-parade
[vi] https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/hundreds-gather-for-mordens-first-pride-parade
[vii] https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/hundreds-gather-for-mordens-first-pride-parade
[viii] https://pembinavalleypride.ca/pride-2022/
[ix] https://pembinavalleypride.ca/pride-2023/
[x] https://www.facebook.com/pembinavalleypride/videos/488982739018743
[xi] https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/hugely-important-altona-to-hold-first-pride-parade-some-not-supporting-event-1.5941942
[xii] https://pembinavalleypride.ca/pride-2023/
[xiii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/morden-first-pride-festival-lgbtq-community-1.5186561
[xiv] https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/hundreds-gather-for-mordens-first-pride-parade
[xv] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/diversity-inclusivity-pembina-valley-pride-1.6485888
[xvi] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/morden-pride-parade-1.6872682
[xvii] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2946469752301393&set=a.620909713406273