Colours of the rainbow permeated downtown Quesnel Saturday, June 15, when the pride parade marched through the streets.
The parade route began at Quesnel city hall where Coun. Roodenburg spoke to those gathered about the importance of the day and Pride Society president Julia Dillabough explained the route to the parade goers.
Cheers roared from the crowd as the parade made its way through downtown. The parade took a brief pause at the newly-painted rainbow crosswalk at Reid St. and St. Laurent Ave. The newly painted crosswalk depicts the pride progress flag rather than the previous rainbow flag.
The parade ended at LeBourdais Park where DJ Scotty (Coun. Elliott) played music for the crowd gathering among the vendors and kids' zone in the park.
The flag, which was carried throughout the parade, was blessed by Lhtako Dene Elder Luna Ildzi before being raised in the park.
"I've been praying tomorrow, today and yesterday that this would be a good turnout," Ildzi told the crowd. "That nobody bothers you and (nobody) harms any of you."
After the flag was raised, Dillabough went to the stage to speak, thank the event's sponsors and thank Amy-Leah Willet who designed the Pride Society's new "BEE you" logo.
"I am preaching not to the choir but the queers," Dillabough said after the flag was raised. "We need our allies. Once again, support those who support you because it happens all year long. Youth are being bullied in schools. They're feeling like they need to do something to end their lives and we need to give them support to keep them alive."
Dillabough talked about how pride events and symbols like the parade or crosswalk are important to show support to those who need it.
"Something that was said to me was 'Julia you always get a little bit more offensive during Pride Month' and I had to ponder that, why do I get more offensive at this time?" Dillabough said. "We get louder, we get prouder and it brings out the trolls." Dillabough went on to say that the "trolls" who actively seek to harm people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community are around all year, but the community only gets a month to be loud and proud.
Dillabough spoke at the June 4 council meeting calling on members of council to do more to be supportive of the community. Dillabough thanked Roodenburg and Elliott for being at the event to support the community.
"If we don't step up to the plate, if you don't have more good people stepping up for diversity and inclusion, we lose it." Dillabough said. "So stay positive. Keep it going. Support your allies because they support you. Go with love." Dillabough said.