Local Pride events facing increased security costs
The federal government is offering more money to pay for security costs at Pride events amid rising anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate.
It’s something organizers in Waterloo region have seen first hand.
“Unfortunately there are people who think that us spreading love and building community is problematic,” Grand River Pride co-founder Bryan Causarano said.
“We’ve had some hateful emails. We’ve had signs ripped down.”
Causarano is in the midst of preparing for Grand River Pride’s first-ever street party in downtown Galt on Saturday.
The inaugural celebration in Cambridge has been more than a year in the making and caps off a series of events, including comedy and film nights and drag performances.
“We wanted to make sure future generations of kids can see the happiness, see love, see support wherever they go,” Causarano said.
But the show of love comes at a time when LGBTQ2S+ people are being increasingly targeted by hate.
Grand River Pride is spending $1,500 to have a pair of officers patrol the street party.
Meanwhile Tri-Pride said it’s seen its security costs nearly double to due inflation and additional hires.
"An increase of security is due to a spike in increased incidents of hate directed toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The increase is also to handle the anticipated increase in attendance to the festival," the festival said in an email.
LOCAL LGBTQ2S+ EVENTS TARGETED
In January, police added patrols outside of Elora Distilling due to threats against a drag show at the venue.
Around a month earlier, Guelph drag queen Crystal Quartz cancelled a show in Burlington due to online threats.
A transgender Pride flag crosswalk in Kitchener was also vandalized in April.
EMERGENCY FUNDING
Similar incidents across the country led to a request by the National Association of Canadian Pride Organizations for $1.5 million in emergency security funding in mid-May. On Monday, the government agreed to back that request.
But the timing of the government’s announcement means some events may miss out on paying for improved security.
Causarano said the situation is “a little bit stressful,” but ultimately, organizers are excited.
“I'm excited about all the stuff that's happening,” Causarano said. “I'm more excited just to see how happy people are that this is happening right where they live, right in the communities that they belong to.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.