Federal funding is flowing to North Bay Pride.
The 7th edition of the event this September is receiving just over $52,000 through Ottawa’s Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage fund.
“I am proud to see support for the local North Bay Pride festival,” says Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming. “These festivals bring people together to celebrate our local arts and culture and heritage and it is important to continue to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community here in Nipissing-Timiskaming.”
Rota says festival programming includes musical and drag performances, Indigenous drumming and dance performers, a DJ dance party, Comedy Night and a theatrical production, along with heritage performances and storytelling from members of the Nipissing First Nation.
The funding is going towards the operational costs of the festival.
“These types of grants help keep us visible in our community and remind people within our own community, that they are seen while they see people just like them in all communities,” says Jason Maclennan, Communications Director for North Bay Pride. “It also helps us combat the rise of hate toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community, which has been on the rise over the last three years.”
He also says Pride Festivals across Canada have a direct economic impact on their communities as well, with North Bay Pride contributing $4 million in economic spinoff in 2022.
On June 20, North Bay Pride will be announcing the lineup of entertainment for September’s festival.
