The 35th annual Halifax Pride parade took place on July 16, and many organizations were waving flags at excited audiences lining the streets.

The parade started near Citadel High School on Thursday with this year’s theme RECONNECT and this year's Halifax Pride ambassador is Cape Breton lawyer Tuma Young.

This year's pride theme is RECONNECT. Photo by Sara Gouda.

Young is also the first Mi’kmaq-speaking lawyer in Nova Scotia. 

In an interview with CKDU earlier this month, and as a member of the Eskasoni First Nation, Young said the community has progressed when it comes to LGBTQ+ acceptance and open discussions.

“When I first came out, there was an absolute nobody. It was still illegal to be gay, you can be fired for that. In my first pride March in 1988, some people had to wear a mask because they were provincial government employees so they could be identified.”

Young said the pride parade was important because it’s a way of giving back to the community.

“I also need to acknowledge the fact that we celebrate our own wholeness, and that we do not have to give up our own newness, or our identity as Indigenous people to be part of the queer community or the LGBTQ+ community. We celebrate who we all are. That's what it really means.”

This year's pride ambassador Tuma Young said the pride parade was important because it’s a way of giving back to the community. Photo by Sara Gouda.

The next large event Haligonians can look forward to has been scheduled for next summer, the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).

The event will be the largest multi-sport and cultural gathering, since the pandemic started, in Atlantic Canada.

The NAIG host society and the TD Halifax Jazz Festival marked the one-year countdown to the games with a celebration on Friday.

In an interview with CKDU, Fiona Kirkpatrick Parsons, chair of NAIG said the games will welcome more than 5,000 Indigenous youths representing over 756 nations from all across Turtle Island and North America.

Over a dozen cars from organizations drove down the parade route and showed support to enthusiastic audiences. Photo by Sara Gouda.

“In just over a year, Kjipuktukt Halifax and Millbrook First Nation will have the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of First Nations, matey and Inuit people, as we get ready to host the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.”

The games are scheduled to take place next year from July 15-23. 

More photos from the parade are available on the CKDU Instagram account.

Dalhousie University's student union also joined the parade march. Photo by Sara Gouda.