Message from London Mayor – Ed Holder London is many things to many people. Above all, and most importantly, we must always strive to be a diverse and inclusive community that honours, wel- comes, and accepts all people. Ours must be a community where people have the power to eliminate systemic oppressions. Londoners deeply
who are on the front lines of this vital effort. I commend you for the work, and for the daily sacrifices you make in pursuit of a better, and more just London. Thank you for ensuring that the focus remains on a future where everyone in our city is valued, celebrated, and loved for
who they are. Kind regards, Ed Holder, London Mayor
Pride Villager Issue #8 Spring 2022 www.villagerpublications.com Publisher: Barb Botten, Villager Publications P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Managing Editors: Barb Botten, Martin Withenshaw Graphic Artist: Cathy Wood Read past issues of Pride Villager at www.villagerpublications.com
Elgin County Pride 2022 Mark your calendars, Elgin County Pride 2022 is Monday, August 8th to Sunday, August 14th and planning is well underway. Exciting news! Elgin County Pride 2022 will be receiving $1500.00 from TD Bank Group. value diversity and the personal, cultural, social, and economic benefits it brings to the community. We have made great strides, especially in recent years, when it comes to acceptance, inclusion, and openness. These advancements are cause for celebration. They are also cause for reflection, specifically when it comes to how much further some mindsets must still adjust if we’re to achieve the kind of society we all desire. As far as we have come, there is still discrimination – and still violence – experienced too often by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people, as well as those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. Please know, that in the Mayor’s Office, you have allies in myself and my staff. That said, I recognize and appreciate that it is you The City of St. Thomas and Elgin County have been asked to proclaim Monday, August 8th to Sunday, August 14th as Pride week and raise the flag. Both virtual and live events are being planned. There has been a lot of discussion on what events could be done. There are been discussion on hosting: • Drag Queen Bingo • Rainbow Speakers Panel • 2 days at the Pinafore Park Bandshell: Saturday, August 13th – Family Day with Drag Storytime, a kids dance party, live entertainment (to be determined) Sunday, August 14th – Drive by parade, Deshkan Zii Bi, Drag show Elgin County Pride would like to host events leading up to and after the 2022 festivities. In April, around Easter time, a Drag Queen Bingo is in the works. A $10.00 donation will be requested to help cover the costs.. The money from TD is a great start. But without support of all our financial supporters none of this could come to fruition. So additional sponsorship is being sought. The sponsorship package is available at: www.rainbowoptimistclub.com/elgin-county-pride. Stay tuned!!
Oxford County Pride by Tami Murray, President
The Oxford County Pride committee is happy to announce we will be hosting our 1990s themed Pride Family Day event June 18th 2022. It’s an outdoor celebration of diversity and inclusion of the S2 lgbtqai+ community in Oxford County! We are thrilled to be hosting several musical guests, amazing community partners and business sponsors, children’s activities and of course a watering station for our furry family friends. The Oxford County Pride team worked diligently despite the challenges of Covid-19 to engage the 2s lgbtqai+ community virtually, and are very excited to be back to an in-person platform! Please join us June 18th 2022 at Museum Square Woodstock, Ontario and celebrate like it’s 1999! There will be prizes for best costumes and much much more! We are also excited to announce an additional crosswalk that will be added to Ingersoll, Ontario, sponsored by 100 women in Oxford County who care.
For more information on our live and streaming events or if you are interested in becoming a sponsor or Community partner please check out our website at www.oxfordpride.ca or follow us Instagram or Twitter.
PRIDE Villager
Issue 8 • Spring 2022 Page 3 To advertise here, please contact Barb@VillagerPublications.com
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