Steinbach Pride is an annual pride march and rally in Steinbach, Manitoba. The event aims to display gentle love, acceptance, and beautiful support in the way that works for Southeastern Manitoba. The event has been held annually in Manitoba’s third largest community since 2016. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but resumed in 2022. Steinbach Pride’s annual march[i].
First March
The first Steinbach Pride event was held on July 9, 2016. Organizers were expecting about 200 people, but between 2,500 and 5,000 people came from across the province and beyond[ii]. Support for the inaugural march grew when news broke that Steinbach Mayor, Chris Goertzen, provincial MLA Kelvin Goertzen, and federal MP Ted Falk all declined invitations to attend[iii], only a month after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. The Mayor and City Council refused to endorse the event and MP Falk said he would not attend because of “values of faith, family and community”[iv].
In addition, at first, the RCMP denied the organizers’ application for a permit to march on the street and asked the parade to stay on the sidewalk, but later reverse the decision and negotiated a route with the city[v]. The RCMP, including Manitoba’s commanding officer, Scott Kolody, participated in the event[vi].
On the steps of Steinbach City Hall, event organizer, Michelle McHale, an openly gay member of the community, speaks to thousands of people who attend the first Pride march in Steinbach, Manitoba, Saturday, July 9, 2016 (Trevor Hagan, Toronto Star)[ix]
Pride March

Some participants showed up in dinosaur costumes (Greg Vandermeulen, The Carillon)
Since 2017, the march has started and concluded at KR Barkman Park. The site has hosted various vendors.
Featured Image to be placed beside the above paragraph if possible.
Some participants showed up in dinosaur costumes (Greg Vandermeulen, The Carillon)
March Route
Year | Route | Reason | Image |
2016 | From E.A. Friesen Park to Steinbach City Hall 9[x]. | Unknown | |
2017 | From KR Barkman Park on Main Street, then Reimer Ave, Elmdale Street, and return to KR
Barkman Park[xi]. |
Unknown | |
2018 | The march followed the same route as the year prior, beginning at KR Barkman Park[xii]. | Unknown | |
2019 | The march followed the same route as the year prior, beginning at KR
Barkman Park[xiii]. |
The original route changed due to road construction work on Elmdale Street. | |
2020 | Cancelled | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |
2021 | Cancelled | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |
2022 | The march started at KR Barkman Park on Main Street, looping back on Reimer Avenue[xiv]. | Unknown | ![]() |
2023 | The march followed the same route as the year prior. | Unknown | ![]() |
Themes
Year | Theme | Description | Image |
2016 | Unknown | Unknown | |
2017 | Neighbours | “The whole ‘Good fences make good neighbours’—that is so not true. We want to tear those fences down and get to know our neighbours…We want to stand beside each other because the job is huge in Steinbach. We want to build a bridge.” -Chris Plett, Steinbach Pride Organizer[xvii] | |
2018 | Common Ground | The event was seen “as an opportunity to make a level playing field to educate, open hearts and minds, and to build relationships between members of the LGBTQ community and the community at large.” -Chris Plett, Steinbach Pride Organizer[xviii] | |
2019 | Mental Wellness | The theme was chosen to promote local mental health resources and address the stigma surrounding mental health issues[xix]. | |
2020 | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2021 | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2022 | Home Coming | The theme was chosen to examine how the meaning of Pride has changed over the course of the pandemic[xx]. | |
2023 | Unknown | Unknown |
Festival Site
Since its inception, the Steinbach Pride March has taken place at K.R. Barkman Park in Steinbach, Manitoba.
The festival has had a variety of amenities, such as:
- Speeches from 2SLGBTQ+ community members and allies
- Performances from drag artists, local musicians, and traditional jingle dress dancers
- Food and vendors[xxi]
Attendance
2016: Between 3000[xxii] and 5,000[xxiii]
2017: 1000[xxiv]
2018: 500[xxv]
2019: 500[xxvi]
2020: cancelled[xxvii]
2021: cancelled[xxviii]
2022: Unknown
2023: 800[xxix]
Social Media Debuts
Instagram DM: June 9, 2016 https://www.instagram.com/steinbachpride
Facebook DM: May 9, 2016 https://www.facebook.com/SteinbachPride
Twitter/X DM: July 2017 https://twitter.com/SteinbachPride
Logo
Date | Logo Graphic |
May 19, 2016 | ![]() |
June 19, 2017 | ![]() |
References
[i] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2021/06/14/pride-put-on-hold-for-pandemic
[ii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-first-pride-1.3671878
[iii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-first-pride-1.3671878
[iv] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-first-pride-1.3671878
[v] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-first-pride-1.3671878
[vi] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-rcmp-steinbach-pride-parade-1.3655330
[vii] https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/first-pride-march-in-steinbach-man-draws-thousands/article_8a20fa8d-
d8d0-5203-b308-b90a343d9783.html
[viii] https://cupe.mb.ca/2016/07/10/thousands-attend-steinbach-manitobas-first-pride/
[ix] https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/first-pride-march-in-steinbach-man-draws-thousands/article_8a20fa8d-d8d0-5203-b308-b90a343d9783.html
[x] https://www.facebook.com/events/1563745407252696/
[xi] https://www.facebook.com/events/376925509343240/
[xii] https://www.facebook.com/events/119839242227024
[xiii] https://www.facebook.com/events/514467062655186/
[xiv] https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10158360822700163&set=a.10150093802960163
[xv] www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10158360822700163&set=a.10150093802960163
[xvi] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=647799560708917&%3Bset=gm.259698780075264&%3Bidorvanity=236440622401080
[xvii] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2017/07/14/pride-makes-its-return
[xviii] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2018/07/20/steinbach-pride-marches-again
[xix] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2019/07/05/pride-puts-focus-on-mental-health
[xx] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2022/08/11/another-exciting-summer-weekend
[xxi] https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/a-town-they-can-live-in-thrive-in-and-stay-in-steinbach-celebrates-pride-1.6455450
[xxii] https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/portage-la-prairie-to-celebrate-first-ever-pride-march-1.3037998
[xxiii] https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/06/29/steinbach-pride-event-only-growing-expected-to-be-back-
for-2022.html
[xxiv] https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/still-a-lot-of-homophobia-here-steinbach-holds-second-annual-pride-march-1.3504760
[xxv] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-pride-parade-1.4756896
[xxvi] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/Pride-put-on-hold-for-pandemic-574629171.html
[xxvii] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2021/06/14/pride-put-on-hold-for-pandemic
[xxviii] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2021/06/14/pride-put-on-hold-for-pandemic
[xxix] https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/a-town-they-can-live-in-thrive-in-and-stay-in-steinbach-celebrates-pride-1.6455450
[xxx] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1050206101720627&set=a.555638573258350
[xxxi] https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1509102812497618&set=a.555638573258350