For the second time in its 27-year-history, the Pride parade in Prince George has pivoted to a COVID-19 friendly format.
The City of Prince George officially declared Pride Week on July 4 raising a rainbow flag at city hall and Mr. PG is also waving a pride flag to travelers on the corner of Highways 97 and 16.
Pride week events are already underway in the city and will culminate in a Rainbow Cruise on Saturday, July 10.
One of the events on-the-go is Pride Rocks where participants can paint Pride themes rocks and hide them in any park for other people to find.
“That started at the beginning of June and goes, until the end of the pride week but of course, it could carry on all summer because people really enjoy it,” said Susan Trabant, president of the Prince George Pride Society.
There is also a Prince George Pride Rocks Facebook page, where people can post pictures of the rocks they find.
“We have virtual booths going on,” added Trabant, noting recent discussions included topics on mental health and reproductive health for queer people.
“The virtual booths are going on every evening this week and will have a lot of information for people and also connections to resources here in Prince George and in BC.”
The online booths are listed on the Prince George Pride Society and PG Queer Café Facebook Pages, as both organizations have teamed up to host 2021 pride events.
“We are really excited about the car rally on Saturday and we’re hoping lots of people are going to come out participate,” said Trabant.
The Rainbow Cruise will start at 11 a.m. and participants are encouraged to dress up or decorate their cars, take pictures at participating businesses and pick up swag.
While there are about 20 businesses and organizations on board, participants only have to visit six spots and then can submit their photos to be entered to win prizes.
“If you decorate your car or yourselves, you get an additional entry so we're really encouraging people to decorate their car or themselves when they go out as well,” added Trabant.
She said planning pride celebrations this year was a challenge because of the uncertainty of the vaccine rollout so organizers planned according to the guidelines and protocols that were in place before B.C. began loosening restrictions.
“We have been very careful about working with the city and working with Northern health, paying attention to the guidelines and following what it is that needs to be done,” said Trabant.
“It has been challenging and of course, we're very much looking forward to getting back to being able to plan the parade and the festival and the dance, and the drag show.”
However, as B.C.’s restart plan now allows large outdoor gatherings the organizers are concluding pride week with an informal picnic at Rainbow Park.
“If anyone wants to join, come down and let their kids play and just hang out at the park, we're going to be at where the play area is 1 p.m. on Sunday,” said Trabant.
“Bring your basket with you so that you have some snacks and stuff and we're just going to all come together and hang out.”
The schedule for the Rainbow Cruise events will be released on the morning of the event, Saturday July 10, on both Facebook pages for the Pride Society and the PG Queer Café.
