MEDICINE HAT, AB — It’s pride week in Medicine Hat.
Sundays kickoff barbecue started a string of celebrations hosted by Project Rainbow Medicine Hat and the Medicine Hat Pride Association.
The kickoff is a relief for some, who had concerns about pride week coming together.
“We were so worried that we weren’t going to be able to put it on, we didn’t have any funds to go through with it,” says Dane McIsaac, chairperson of the Medicine hat Pride Association. “Project rainbow stepped in to help the Medicine Hat Pride Association, they ended up doing a Go Fund Me to help, they accomplished more than they had expected.”
Just three months ago, Project Rainbow launched a Go Fund Me page, asking for the public’s help through a rough time.
In the last couple of years, the Medicine Hat Pride Association underwent drastic changes of board membership, and a rebranding effort. As a result, many of the new members haven’t been involved in planning pride events before.
“Most of us, not all of us, have never done this before.” says McIsaac.
The Go Fund Me page soon attracted a lot of attention, raising $3,405 for expenses like booking venues, speakers and performers.
The community support has held strong as well. The kickoff on Sunday, September 8 saw roughly 100 attendees through the day.
“I’m so happy to see community support, I was really nervous but I’m happy that the community came out and helped out,” says McIsaac.
The barbecue was just one of many events taking place September 8-14. Other events include:
September 9 – Sensory Sensitive Fun & Game Night from 4 to 6 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Memorial Church.
September 10 – Pride Week QUEERaoke and Open Mic Talent Night from 7 to 11 p.m. at The Mainliner Pub
September 11 – Pride Night at Liquid from 7 to 11 p.m. at Liquid Concert & Event Venue
September 12 – Pride: Films At The Library from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Public Library
September 13 – Tentative Sober Pride Celebration
September 14 – Solidarity Walk, Pride in The Park, and Pride After Dark 2019
