The Rainbow Optimist Club – Celebrating Pride in Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin Counties Middlesex County The Rainbow Optimist Club worked with the Middlesex Pride Committee to have the Pride flag raised at the Strathroy-CaradocMunicipal Building on June 1, 2019 for the first time. The flag raising was in conjunction with the Rainbow Optimist Drag Queen Storytime being held next door at the Strathroy Library where over 35 kids and their parents congregated. Therewill beapilot programthis fall at theStrathroyLibrary sponsored by the Rainbow Optimist Club called the Rainbow Speakers Panel which will be geared towards LGBT2Q+ teens, their families and their communities. There are plans are in the works to expand the Pride celebrations in Middlesex County for 2020. Stay tuned! Oxford County
About the cover artist: Jacqueline Demendeev is an artist with the heart of a storyteller. Working primarily as a painter and cartoonist, she takes inspiration from storybook illustration, surrealist imagery, and her own cultural heritage. Jacqueline also has a body of performance and theatre work, and considers sharing stories through education an important part of her practice. She strives to create works that nourish imagination, curiosity and empathy in audiences of all ages. You can view more of her art at www.badjacqueline.com
The Rainbow Optimist sponsored two Storytimes with the Queens one in Woodstock and another in Ingersoll. Between these two Storytimes over 65 kids and their parents attended. On June 15, 2019 the Rainbow Optimist had a booth at Oxford Pride’s Family
Day at Museum Square in Woodstock. Fun was had by all. Oxford Pride have activities throughout the year. For details of upcoming events go to their website OxfordPride.ca. Elgin County West Elgin Community Health Centre in West
Lorne had a Pride flag raising celebration on July 22, 2019 where the RainbowOptimist had a booth. Both MP Karen Vecciho and MPP Jeff Yurek were in attendance along with the President and other members of the West Lorne Optimist Club.
The Rainbow Optimist had a booth at the St. Thomas Elgin Rainbow Alliance Family Wellness event on July 23, 2019. The Drag Queen Storytimes gained pop– ularity, over 85 kids and parents attended on August 10, 2019 in St. Thomas and over 70 kids and parents attended on August 20, 2019 in Belmont. 25th London Pride Parade The Rainbow Optimist were joined by the St. Thomas Elgin Rainbow Alliance, True Youth, Middlesex Pride, the Talbotville Optimist Club, Southwestern Ontario Optimist International, MP Karen Vecciho and MPP Jeff Yurek in the London Pride Parade on July 28th. An incredible experience was had by all. Like the Rainbow Optimist Club on Facebook.com: @RainbowOptimistClub
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PRIDE Villager
Page 8 Issue 3 • Fall 2019
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