Sunday, June 29, 2014

TORONTO'S WORLDWIDE PRIDE

OK, let's get through the early week's highlights. The garden is in full bloom, attracting bees and butterflies as planned --- a colourful combo, the best in years. We got an offer for the 1963 Falcon convertible that we couldn't refuse, so it was sold and delivered to a happy couple (well, he's happier than she is!) in Kitchener. A very pretty car but I never bonded with it like other classics. Then in to Toronto for the first time in weeks and our Beach neighbourhood was also at it's best in years: very green, very full in a good way.



Toronto has been hosting World Pride for the past 10 days, the first time it has ever been  held in North America. An estimated two million people from around the world enjoyed the fun and show of proud diversity and inclusion. Today was the huge parade finale, a hot exhausting 6 hours so all the groups could march down Yonge Street. It was truly Toronto at it's finest and one of the reasons we love the city.

Being gay is a crime in dozens of countries, so Grand Marshals from many of them were appointed to lead the parade as a show of unity. Then the loud, happy, sometimes naughty masses strutted their stuff. Every religion was represented, every age group, every level of education, every kind of relative. Plus many unions, professions, industries, police forces, sports, and charities. A noisy but well-organized scene that could bring tears from seeing so many liberated people just being themselves. Toronto is known for welcoming them all --- way to go T.O.!








Some of our favourites were the Mounties in red heels, the synchronized street dancers from Holland (Men in Orange), guys as outrageous beauty queens, the giant "tool" box, and the gay hockey league in shoulder pads but not much else on their sticks. How about the Police Hot Line sign that said "Your tip is safe with us"? You get the idea, it was great for laughs.








Events that bring people from around the world and welcome them in dozens of languages have a special place in my past, present, and future. When that happens, it's a point of Pride to say I Am Canadian.









1 comment:

  1. Great pics! Thanks for sharing and supporting! I love to see all that craziness because our reality is pretty boring… cutting some molars, learning to use a spoon and play dates at the zoo! Love you guys! :) xoxo

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