Montreal Pride returns for 15th year with large-scale shows, new main site
The Montreal Pride Festival will hold its 15th edition from Aug. 1 to 7 with nine free large-scale shows, 150 artists, a hundred community activities with more than 200 organizations – as well as the traditional parade to mark the last day of festivities.
Organizers held the official launch of its programming Tuesday, saying they want it to be 'exuberant' and 'full of life', after a year as a virtual event and another in hybrid formula. The return of Pride Montreal is essential for the LGBTQ+ communities, according to its executive director, Simon Gamache.
“In the last few years, it hasn't been easy for anyone, but even more difficult for marginalized communities, including the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. So, to come together, to celebrate, to feel good, to feel safe, it's fundamental," said Gamache.
DIANE DUFRESNE TO OPEN SHOW
During the seven days of festivities, several great free shows will be presented on the Esplanade at the Olympic Park, the new main site of Pride Montreal.
The opening night will feature singer Diane Dufresne, Montreal DJ Pierre Kwenders, Les Femmes au tambour de Wendake and the Montreal Kiki Ballroom on Aug. 3.
The following day, the event promises the largest free drag show in the country hosted by Rita Baga, proclaimed Montreal's queen of drag. Nearly 20 artists from Canada, the United States, France and the United Kingdom, most of whom have participated in RuPaul's Drag Race and Queen of the Universe, will be on stage.
Many Quebec artists such as Côeur de Pirate, Corneille, Pasty Gallant, Alaclair Ensemble, Ariane Moffat and Sarahmée will also take part in one of the nine full-scale shows.
The Pride Parade to celebrate the progress of LGBTQ+ rights will take place on René-Lévesque Boulevard on Sunday, Aug. 7, with only hybrid, electric or biofuel vehicles allowed. A minute of silence will be observed at 2:30 pm.
The festival will close with performances by two DJs and Brazilian singer-songwriter and drag queen Pabllo Vittar.
CALLS FOR SUPPORT
In addition to the festivities, Pride Montreal is committed throughout the event to ten demands established by the Quebec LGBT Council. These include adequate financial support for 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations, free gender affirming surgery and care, decriminalization of sex work, free HIV/AIDS care, and government funding for 'positive, empowering and inclusive' sex education.
“We are amplifying the demands of the community sector. We know that we have more visibility than all the community organizations put together. So we have to use that as a platform," Gamache said.
Just before the festival begins, Montreal will host the 24th International AIDS Conference from July 29 to Aug. 2. As part of this event, Pride Montréal will present 'Capture,’ a creation by Dave St-Pierre and a collective of artists.
It is a contemporary dance work that looks at the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Performances will be held at Le Monastère cabaret from July 27 to Aug. 6.
---
This story was written with the financial assistance of Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for news. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 26, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Economists predict a 'mild recession,' but what would that look like in Canada?
With inflation on the rise and central banks poised to increase rates, CTVNews.ca speaks with experts on whether Canada will experience a recession, and if so, what it would look like.
Medical investigator rules Baldwin set shooting an accident
The fatal film-set shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin last year was an accident, according to a determination made by New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator following the completion of an autopsy and a review of law enforcement reports.
'We've been abandoned': Man dies in B.C. town waiting for health care near ambulance station
For the second time in less than a month, a resident of Ashcroft, B.C., died while waiting for health care after having a heart attack mere metres from a local ambulance station.
'I have to fight for myself': Quadriplegic man says N.S. government told him to live in a hospital
A diving accident at 14-years-old left Brian Parker paralyzed from the chest down. Now at age 49, he's without the person who was caring for him full-time until just last week, after his 68-year-old mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Minister asks Canadians not to fake travel plans to skip passport application lines
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada Karina Gould is discouraging people from making fake travel plans just to skip the line of those waiting for passports.
Canadian home sales fall for 5th month in a row, down 29 per cent from last July
Canada's average resale home price fell 4.5% from a year ago in July and was down 5.4% on the month as buyers continued to sit on the sidelines amid rising borrowing costs.
Wet'suwet'en pipeline protest blocks Vancouver traffic
A large rally planned in Vancouver to protest the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern B.C. blocked traffic Monday morning.
Thousands of Afghans who helped Canada trapped in Afghanistan, struggling to leave
The federal government needs to do more to help thousands of Afghans who assisted Canadian Forces but remain trapped in Afghanistan a year after the Taliban seized Kabul, aid groups and opposition parties say.
New COVID-19 booster targeting Omicron, original variants approved in U.K.
British drug regulators have become the first in the world to authorize an updated version of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the omicron variant.
Toronto
-
Traveller 'disheartened' to see 'mountains' of bags and lines back at Toronto Pearson
Toronto Pearson International Airport has shown signs of improvements in recent weeks, but a traveller and aviation expert says he was disheartened to see 'mountains' of bags and triple stacked security lines at the airport over the weekend.
-
Airbnb rentals almost as expensive as hotels bookings, new data finds
When Airbnb first launched 14 years ago, it changed the way many people book their vacations as they travel locally and around the world.
-
Police identify 3rd suspect in Etobicoke shooting that left two dead
Toronto police have identified a third suspect wanted in connection with a triple shooting in Etobicoke that left two people dead back in January.
Atlantic
-
N.S. reports increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations for month of July, decrease in deaths
Nova Scotia is reporting a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations for the month of July, while the number of deaths decreased compared to previous months.
-
Saint John Police investigate possible link between missing person and human remains
Rocca said an examination of dental records was being conducted Monday afternoon in hopes of identification.
-
‘I feel positive about the whole thing’: Growing number of Maritimers opting for medical assistance in dying
Five years after it was introduced in Canada, it seems more Canadians are seeking a doctor's assistance in ending their own lives.
London
-
Vehicle crashes into South London cannabis store Monday evening
Multiple emergency crews responded after a vehicle crashed into a One Plant cannabis store in south London Monday evening.
-
'Broken collarbone and road rash': London cyclist describes alleged hit and run
In serious pain, Randy Van Puyenbroeck had trouble sleeping. He was cycling with a group of members from the London Cycling Club on White Oak Road Sunday morning when he and a fellow rider were involved in a crash with a truck.
-
Homicide suspect arrested: London police
Antony Centeno-So, the man wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of Devon Cherrey-Rooke earlier this month, is in the custody of London police Monday.
Northern Ontario
-
Lisa LaFlamme is leaving CTV News
Lisa LaFlamme is leaving CTV News. The network announced today that the Chief Anchor and Senior Editor is departing after more than 30 years with the company.
-
Recycling brings North Bay record profits
Recycling not only benefits the earth, but record prices of certain recyclable products are generating some extra cash for the City of North Bay.
-
Long-time downtown Sudbury businessman running for mayor
A 72-year-old downtown Sudbury businessman has entered the pool of candidates running for mayor in the City of Greater Sudbury, bringing the number of contenders to nine.
Calgary
-
Death of 63-year-old woman at Strathmore care home declared a homicide: RCMP
The death of a 63-year-old woman last Friday at a Strathmore care home was a homicide, said Strathmore RCMP in a release issued Monday.
-
Body of Calgary man recovered from B.C.'s Cultus Lake
An Alberta man drowned over the weekend at a popular lake in British Columbia, Mounties confirmed Monday.
-
Calgary-based refugees look back at Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
It’s been one year since the Taliban took over the Afghan capital of Kabul, seizing control from a government that was widely acknowledged around the world.
Kitchener
-
-
Low volunteer turnout has local non-for-profits feeling the pinch
As staffing shortages affect several sectors across the province, local non-for-profits say they’re facing a shortage of volunteers.
-
Parents call for transparency following WRDSB hack that saw student data accessed
Some parents are calling for the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) to disclose more details about a data hack that saw what the board describes as “certain” student information accessed.
Vancouver
-
B.C. man found not-guilty of 2019 Williams Lake kidnapping, murder
A B.C. man who was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and kidnapping in connection to an incident near Williams Lake in 2019 has been found not guilty on all counts.
-
Police shoot, kill man near Kamloops after alleged abduction of woman and child
A man was shot and killed by Mounties near Kamloops, B.C., early Monday morning after police say he came out of a trailer holding both a child and a weapon.
-
Man charged in caught-on-camera assault of woman on Vancouver bus
A man has been charged in a shocking, unprovoked assault on a woman riding a Vancouver bus that was caught on camera back in June.
Edmonton
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Edmonton river valley gondola project halted by city council
Edmonton City Council decided to halt the Prairie Sky Gondola project for the time being.
-
Driver charged in crash that killed 2 motorcyclists east of Edmonton
The 29-year-old was charged with two counts of impaired operation causing death, impaired driving and possession of an illegal substance.
-
RCMP searching for 14-year-old boy in pond northwest of Edmonton
The boy Mounties are searching for in a pond in Whitecourt, Alta., on Sunday has been identified as a 14-year-old from Edmonton. The teenager, Hassan Mohamed, was last seen in the pond area of Rotary Park Outdoor Waterpark around 3 p.m.
Windsor
-
Man shot by Windsor police officer succumbs to injuries
A 70-year-old man has died following a police-related shooting in downtown Windsor on Monday.
-
Windsor politicians push for more community benefits from Ambassador, Gordie Howe bridges
Amid reports of possible delays with the Gordie Howe Bridge Project, Windsor West New Democrat Brian Masse is pushing the federal government to provide any cost penalties levied upon the contractor to go back into the community.
-
Squash on display at Devonshire Mall
With a thriving Windsor Squash and Fitness Club, the city has played host to many tournaments but none like the one currently taking place at Devonshire Mall.
Regina
-
Province no longer requires SLGA permit from First Nations-owned cannabis retailers
A recent regulatory amendment now allows First Nations to operate on-reserve cannabis stores without a permit from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA). However, some First Nations do not think it will change the way current shops already operate.
-
Sask. RCMP report 1 death, 2 injuries after Highway 1 crash near Qu'Appelle
A Regina woman has died following a two vehicle collision near the town of Qu’Appelle on Highway 1.
-
'It was scary': Severe weather wreaks havoc among southern Sask.
Severe thunderstorms brought tennis ball and golf ball sized hail to parts of southern Saskatchewan overnight.
Ottawa
-
Two Kemptville, Ont. residents file judicial review of proposed jail
A proposed correctional facility in Kemptville, Ont. has some residents concerned about how it might change the look of their small town and they are taking steps to prevent it from happening.
-
Ford expanding 'strong mayor' powers to more cities
Addressing municipal leaders in Ottawa this morning, on the first full day of events at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, Premier Doug Ford said the 'strong mayor' powers he initially said would be granted to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa will be expanded to other municipalities.
-
Lisa LaFlamme is leaving CTV News
Lisa LaFlamme is leaving CTV News. The network announced today that the Chief Anchor and Senior Editor is departing after more than 30 years with the company.
Saskatoon
-
'There were families on the ground and people were crying': Ex-goer describes bear spray attack
Bear spray incidents at the Saskatoon Ex have prompted Prairieland Park to look at beefing up security measures at the gates.
-
Judge reserves decision in animal abuse case
A judge is reserving decision in an animal abuse case that saw a dog die after being thrown into a metal clothing rack.
-
Missing Sask. mushroom picker found dead
The search for a 74-year-old woman lost in the forest northeast of Smeaton has come to a tragic end.