CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — It may look different this summer, but the annual P.E.I. Pride parade is still a go, say organizers.
The first Pride march took place on the Island in 1994 and has been growing in popularity ever since with thousands of people lining the streets of Charlottetown.
However, because of the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic changing virtually all parts of life in this province, Tyler Murnaghan of Pride P.E.I. said organizers are now contemplating what will be possible with health restrictions and physical distancing guidelines in place.
“We are committed to putting on some version of the festival," Murnaghan said, referring to the series of events, July 26 to Aug. 2, that will include some kind of parade.
“We are looking at different options for what a parade could look like with social distancing measures."
What will take place between those dates will depend on what the province’s chief public health officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, approves.
Murnaghan said he thinks it’s possible to hold a parade where people are six feet apart, be it on the ground or on floats.
Still, Pride P.E.I. director John Kimmel said recently that discussions are still ongoing about what phase four, which begins June 26, will look like.
“We are committed to putting on some version of the festival. We are looking at different options for what a parade could look like with social distancing measures."
Murnaghan said another possibility they’re considering is doing what many Island teachers and school staff have been doing – decorating vehicles and driving through neighbourhoods.
“We are reaching out to public health and asking them what, maybe, they think might be going on by then."
Murnaghan said they are also looking at what the Halifax Pride parade pulls off, which takes place a week before the Charlottetown event.
He noted that Toronto is looking at having a virtual parade, although he isn’t quite sure what that entails.
“Luckily, they’re a month ahead of us so we can steal (their idea) if it works and not if it doesn’t," he laughs.
Besides the parade, events held during the Pride festival lend themselves well to digital and virtual gatherings and usually involve a smaller number of people.
“We’re pretty confident that there’s going to be something happening. Pride will be on display."
Organizers with Pride P.E.I. will spend the next two weeks completely redesigning the festival this summer so a final plan can be submitted to sponsors.
“We’re pretty confident that there’s going to be something happening. Pride will be on display."
