Park event shows how to be Small Town Big PRIDE

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Eliza Vivian and Sophia Hennessy ham it up in the photo booth at this past weekend’s PRIDE event. Submitted photo

"This is the way to get a message across to be kind and understanding."

That is how Jesse Gillis, executive-director of North Durham PRIDE described Saturday's Small Town, Big Pride event at Elgin Park. Sitting in an area awash with bright colours, music and a huge tortoise with wanderlust, Gillis said the day was meant "to create awareness in the community and a safe space for people to be themselves."

It turned out to be a safe space as there were no signs of protest to be seen. And people were themselves, dressing up in wildly colourful costumes to have their photos taken, dancing to the music without worrying who was watching and putting colourful tattoos on their bodies.

It was, as one person put it, a gentle event.

Gillis said the event had grown considerably from its first appearance last year. He estimated there were four times as many people in attendance, with more booths and activities.

The event had an unusual petting zoo, courtesy of Zoo To You: a rabbit, a Burmese python, a large lizard and a huge African tortoise who wandered unperturbed around the area. People were invited to make buttons and bracelets, paint rocks and take part in various games such as badminton and giant Jenga, and a free photo booth. A number of booths offered community service resources and information.

Several musical acts were on hand, headlined by Melissa Payne and Friends, whose credentials include opening for Blue Rodeo.