The 2022 Pride Festival -- the first in-person celebration since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic -- kicked off at Toronto City Hall this morning with an official proclamation from Mayor John Tory, as well as the raising of the Progress Pride flag.
City of Toronto Twitter
The mayor was joined by members of Toronto City Council as well as Sherwin Modeste, the Executive Director of Pride Toronto, and Co-Chair Grant Gonzalez. In addition to flying over the public square at City Hall, the Progress Pride Flag will also be raised at the North York and Scarborough Civic Centre for the month of June. It will fly at the East York, Etobicoke, and York Civic Centres on June 1, as well.
“Pride Month is always a time for celebration, joy and inclusivity. Every June, I am proud to stand at City Hall and proclaim Pride Month in Toronto and to raise the flag. It is a perfect representation of our city’s values -- its diversity, its celebration of diversity, its commitment to respect and inclusion,” Tory stated. “As Mayor, I am proud to support pride and our 2SLGBTQ+ community. I encourage Torontonians to attend the various events throughout the month and celebrate Pride, which is back in full swing and in-person for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Toronto Mayor John Tory, and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne at the 2016 Pride Parade | City of Toronto Photographer
An adaptation of the rainbow flag by graphic designer Daniel Quasar, the Progress Pride also represent the trans community, People of Colour and Indigenous Peoples, as well as those living with, and who have died from, AIDS.
The 2022 Pride Festival runs from Wednesday, June 1 to Sunday, June 26, capped off with the famous Pride Parade, one of the largest in North America. A full calendar of events and programming will run throughout the month across the GTA.
The Mayor’s proclamation and more information about key milestones for Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ community is available at www.toronto.ca/Pride-Month/.
