Inaugural Pride Walk held to celebrate Caledon Day

June 21, 2023 · 0 Comments

Great turnout for walk, which took place on Caledon Trailway

By Zachary Roman

The Caledon community was proud to celebrate Pride last weekend.

On Saturday, June 17 a Pride walk was held in Caledon for the first time. It was hosted by IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Caledon, a group of local community partners.

IDEA Caledon includes members like Caledon Community Services, Caledon Pride, Caledon Meals on Wheels, Volunteer MBC, Caledon Parent Child Centre, Caledon Public Library, Caledon OPP, and the Town of Caledon.

The walk began at 2:15 p.m. and around 100 people gathered at the Trans Canada Trailway Pavilion in Caledon East and walked to the Caledon Day Cultural Stage, which was in the field behind the Caledon East Community Complex.

Julia Bertola of Caledon Pride said it was awesome to have the walk be planned by IDEA Caledon and Caledon Pride was very happy to be included.

“Being able to rely on a partner to organize was really great,” said Bertola. “They brought together a bunch of organizations.”

Bertola said the Pride walk was the first time the LGBTQ community in Caledon has really made its presence known in a public place.

“We’ve raised the flag at Town Hall and in Downtown Bolton, but we’ve never really walked the community with a bunch of people and signs,” said Bertola. “It feels a little scary… but I imagine myself as a kid, even if I wasn’t able to participate fully, it would have been something I’d remember for a long time.”

With Caledon Day being such a big event, and the Pride walk coinciding with it, Bertola said it was a great chance for Caledon Pride and the LGBTQ community to be visible. Caledon Pride had a booth at Caledon Day.

“It’s important for us because we belong here… that’s what Pride month is, bringing the community together,” said Bertola.

Jason Schildroth, the Town of Caledon’s Manager of Community and Cultural Development, was key in helping set up the Pride walk.

Schildroth said IDEA Caledon’s goal is to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion work while making Caledon as welcoming and accessible as possible.

“It’s an important moment in Ontario right now to make sure that Pride stays at the forefront,” said Schildroth. “This is a relatively small gesture, but it matters.”

He said the walk was an opportunity for the community to come together and show its allyship while enjoying a nice walk on the Caledon Trailway.

“Pride matters, and [so does] showing that this is a community for everybody,” said Schildroth. “If you are not a member of the Pride community yourself, you quite possibly have a family member, loved one or friend who might be. It’s important to show some support during Pride month.”

Schildroth said he wanted to extend a sincere thank you to all the members of IDEA Caledon for embracing the idea of a Pride walk and working so hard to make it a reality.

“We’re all so passionate about building and showcasing how welcoming and inclusive Caledon is,” said Schildroth.