Two flags raised at City Hall for start to Pride Week

Two new flags are now flying at Saskatoon’s City Hall.

The annual flag-raising for Pride Week embodied the focus of storytelling, and the theme of “Pride in all of us, sharing our stories, celebrating our Lives.”

The Flags are officially up at City Hall in #yxe #yxepride pic.twitter.com/EaNwnTkJhc

— brady lang (@BradyLangSK) June 17, 2019

A number of speakers took to the podium to share their stories and discuss what work still needs to be done, while reflecting on the groundwork that has already been laid for acceptance.

Amy Rees, chair of the Saskatoon Pride Festival, said the decision on the theme was created when organizers took a look back at history of acceptance and two key cornerstones.

“This year is really amazing, in celebrating 50 years (since) the Stonewall Riots, and the decriminalization of homosexuality,” Rees said. “We wanted to take that and make it our own — taking New York out of it, taking Canada out of it, but bringing it back into Saskatoon.”

Leading up to the Pride Parade on Saturday, Rees says that a big emphasis will be put on the “Trailblazers of Saskatoon.” She said it’s all about celebrating the history, where they’ve come from, and where they’re going.

“Anybody that feels like a trailblazer, anybody that feels like they’ve been part of history in Saskatoon, we welcome them,” Rees said.

Events will continue throughout the week in Saskatoon, and everything will wrap up on Saturday with the Pride Parade.

The parade will begin on Spadina Crescent East, and go through downtown Saskatoon at noon.