A celebration of LGBTQ Community and diversity in the Northwest

THUNDER PRIDE EVENTS

During the 2013 Pride week, a wide variety of events will be held. Our primary goal is to reach out to the LBGTQ population, offering encouragement, friendship, safety and support. We hope to involve elementary and secondary schools, a variety of work places, college and university students, churches, labour unions and commerce groups, providing both education and entertainment. Our focus will also be on friends and families and the embracing of our wonderfully diverse population.
This site will be updated as details for 2013 events become available.


FLAG-RAISING and MEDIA LAUNCH - JUNE 4

  • Flag raising and media launch - Tuesday, June 4 at 10 am - City Hall
  • This will be the official kick-off of Thunder Pride 2013.
  • The city will be flying both the Rainbow Pride flag, and our own official Thunder Pride Flag,
    a stylized Sleeping Giant in all six pride colours.
  • Everyone is welcome to come out to City Hall and be a part of the festivities.

OPENING SMUDGE AND DRUM CEREMONY - Sunday, June 9

  • Sunday, June 9 from 11:00 - noon. Free
  • Spirit Garden at Marina Park
  • Join us in a traditional Ojibway smudge and drum ceremony to honour peace, unity and the respect of all people and families. This event is open to everyone.
    What is a smudge? - Sage, Tobacco, Cedar, and Sweetgrass are four traditional medicines used and honoured by Aboriginal people across Ontario and beyond. The smudge is a burning of one or more of the medicines. The purpose is to cleanse and renew energy; removing negative energy and instilling positive energy. The circle is another important element in Aboriginal culture, where it represents many things, including unity, balance and harmony. Ma-Nee Chacaby, two-spirited elder and community and education volunteer will open the ceremony with a smudge and prayer.
    What is a drum? - Singing, drumming, dancing, and storytelling are a few customs that embody the culture of Aboriginal people. A drum is a symbol of Mother Earth's heartbeat. Songs accompany the drumming to give thanks and to acknowledge the interconnectedness we have with nature and Mother Earth. Dave Simard, ally, traditional drummer and community activist will share a story and drum for the opening.
    Thunder Pride is about integrating respect, love and harmony, where the unity of life's diversity is celebrated. We welcome families and friends to come out and participate in this special opening.

ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA AWARENESS BREAKFAST - Monday, June 10

  • Continuing to Make change our Responsibility

  • Key Note Speaker - Helen Kennedy
    Executive Director - Egale Canada
    Helen Kennedy became Egale's Executive Director in 2007, with 22 years of experience in politics both as an elected city councillor and a political staffer. She is a founding member of Canadians for Equal Marriage. Helen's work includes the Climate Survey on Homophobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools, the first national survey of its kind in Canada, which provides critical findings on bullying to schools, educators and governments. She has delivered training to Immigration Refugee Adjudicators and police services across Canada. She is on the Board of Directors of the International Gay, Lesbian, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and co-chair of ILGA North America.
  • Presentations from The Other 10% youth group.
  • 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.- Provincial Room Prince Arthur Hotel 17 North Cumberland St.
  • Tickets $15 per person
    Tickets available at: The Growing Season (Cash Only), 201 S. Algoma St.
    and Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario office #5-1112 Russell St. phone 624-9159
  • An opportunity for the whole LGBTQ community to come together
  • Generously sponsored by Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario.

    • LITERARY NIGHT - Tuesday, June 11

    • Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 7 PM - Free of charge!
    • At the Mary J. L. Black Branch of the Thunder Bay Public Library 901 Edward St S, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6R2
    • Our featured reader is Farzana Doctor.
      "I am a Toronto-based author. My first novel,Stealing Nasreen, received critical acclaim and earned a devoted readership upon its release in 2007. My second book, Six Metres of Pavement, was praised by Publishers Weekly as "..a paean to second chances" and was named one of Now Magazine's Top Ten Books of 2011. It also won the Lambda Literary and Rainbow Awards (2012) and was short-listed for the Toronto Book Award."
    • We will also be featuring local queer writers and the winners of Thunder Pride's first young adult writing competition!
    • Child care and children's programming will be available.
    • The event is generously sponsored by:
      Lakehead University Department of English, Lakehead University Student Union, Pride Central, Gender Issues Centre, Lakehead University Department of Women's Studies, Lakehead University Faculty of Sciences and Humanities, Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW), Northern Woman's Bookstore, Sexuality and Gender Equity (SAGE) working group, Thunder Bay Public Library

    FILM FESTIVAL - June 12

    • Thunder Pride Film Festival - June 12
    • 7:00 pm.
    • Venue: TBA
    • Cost: $5
    • Cloudburst is a romantic comedy road movie starring Oscar winning actresses Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker as Stella and Dot, an aging couple who escape from a nursing home in Maine and drive to Nova Scotia on a quest to be legally married. While on the lam, they pick up a young hitchhiker, Prentice, played by newcomer Ryan Doucette. The road is long and rough, and stubborn Stella begins to wonder if she can really take care of frail Dotty in their old age. After 31 years, can they keep their family together?
    • This event is generously sponsored by RBC.

      • WALK OF HEALING - Thursday, June 13

      • Thursday, June 13, 7:00 pm.
      • A traditional smudge and prayers at the Labyrinth at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 808 Ridgeway Street. The walk will proceed in silence to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church across from City Hall where a Candle Vigil will take place.
      • This event is designed to allow people to remember loved ones who have died of AIDS, suicide, gay-bashing, etc. For others who have faced discrimination, been gay-bashed, or bullied, this a chance to begin or continue the work of healing from these wounds, and look toward a brighter future. People will have an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a death, or a loss, or an episode of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia.
      • This is a quiet event during Pride week. The entire community is invited to share in this walk and ceremony. By standing together we can show this is a caring community.

      THUNDER PRIDE DRAG SHOW - Friday, June 14

      • Friday, June 14, 9 pm., Finlandia Hall, 314 Bay St.
      • Doors open 8:30, show beginning 9:15ish. $5 cover.


        • PRIDE PARADE - Saturday, June 15

        PRIDE PARADE - Saturday, June 15
        Assemble at waverley Park at 11:45 am. - Parade leaves at noon, moving down Red River Road to Marina Park.
        For parade details,go to Parade page.

        PRIDE IN THE PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL - Saturday, June 15

        • Saturday, June 15 noon to 6:00 pm. Marina Park. FREE
        • An afternoon family festival, picnic, and music concert with local and national artists.
        • Musical headliner - singer/songwriter Sarah Smith
        • Featuring The Auditor General, Plan B!, Lena Gray, Don't You (,) Mean People?, Kam Valley Fiddlers, Veronica Fummerton aka Veruc, along with MC Jen Metcalfe.

        • Learn more about the musical acts by clicking here.

        • Partners in Pride - Learn more about some of the programs and services available in our community, including health care organizations, social service agencies, faith communities and more. Representatives will be available to answer questions and distribute resources.Generoudsly sponsored by Thunder Bay Counselling Centre

        • Ally Alley - We will have interactive and engaging activities for youth run by youth. Generously sponsored by Children's Centre Thunder Bay.

        • Children's Area - There will be a variety of fun programming for kids. Generously sponsored by RBC.


          • PUB NIGHT DJ DANCE PARTY - Saturday, June 15

          • Black Pirates Pub - special performance by Sarah Smith at 9:00 pm, followed by DJs.
          • Black Pirates Pub, 215 Red River Road; $5.00 admission
          • FabDave, Miss Temperance, Jaqi Iraqi and Fluffy Souffle to DJ


          CHURCH SERVICE AND LUNCHEON -Sunday, June 16

          • Sunday June 16 at 10:30 am. - Westminster United Church, 650 River St.
          • We close the week long festivities with a joint service of Westminster United Church and Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship, congregations with a history of welcoming and affirming LGBTQ individuals and families. The service will be led by Rev. Susan Ivany of Westminster United Church with the participation of David Belrose from Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship. The service will be followed by a luncheon. Come on out! Everyone is welcome.