Story by Michelle McChristie, Photo by Keegan Richard

Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay (RCTB) and Thunder Pride Association (TPA) are partnering to produce Pride Month 2022, presented by the Waterfront District BIA  and TD Bank Group. Pride Month will take place in June and feature a wide variety of exciting and meaningful events for everyone to enjoy. The partnership between RCTB and TPA shows that working together is always better than doing things separately—both organizations believe that working together will further strengthen and build a more vibrant and inclusive community through teamwork, with a strong focus on the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

“As the new chair of Thunder Pride Association, I, along with the new board of directors, are very thrilled to be working along with Rainbow Collective in order to support all people in Thunder Bay who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We hope to create a fun and safe environment during Pride Month and to be able to meet again in person, considering all the ‘lockdowns’ during the pandemic. We invite you to review the lineup of events that we are collectively offering and hope that there is something there for everyone,” says Valentina Donoso (she/her), chair of the Thunder Pride Association.

This year’s theme for Pride Month is “REUNITE!” and it couldn’t be more fitting as RCTB and TPA work together and bring the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities together after two long years apart due to the pandemic. Pride 2022 will feature events for the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and its allies to come together via hybrid and in-person events, such as the very popular Pride Street Festival which will move to the Waterfront District and be held on June 17, the Flag Raising at City Hall on June 10, and later that evening there will be an official Pride Launch Party with a ’90s theme celebrating Love at Goods & Co. Market.

Photo from @tynomibanks Instagram

Other Pride Month events include bingo and trivia nights, story time with drag queens at the Thunder Bay Public Library, zumba classes, a film night, a literary and poetry night, a pride pool party at the Canada Games Complex, a small business educational awareness workshop, and The Unicorn Glitter Ball, featuring Canada’s drag race superstar and drag legend, Tynomi Banks, from Toronto.

“As we kick off Pride Month in Thunder Bay, my heart is bursting with love as we announce that we have partnered with Thunder Pride Association on Pride 2022, to stand together as one, solely focused on making life better for the Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit communities here in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. As a former chair of Thunder Pride it is especially meaningful to be reunited to build a more inclusive community, working together for a common goal,” says Jason Veltri (he/him), president, Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay.

To highlight Pride in Thunder Bay, use and follow the hashtag #YQTPRIDE2022.
For additional information on Pride Month events, visit Rainbow Collective’s website or Thunder Pride’s website