Minto Council welcomed the Minto Pride organization to this week's meeting to discuss then group's year of operation in 2019, and what is planned moving forward.
Minto Pride was started as a branch off of the cultural round-table, and the goal was to celebrate the local LGBTQ community and further the message of inclusion in Minto. Minto Pride representative Rosie Krul said the support from local government has been great.
"From the beginning, we've had the town's support, but it's great that now we're going a bit further and getting the local MP's support and town council, as well," she said.
Minto Mayor George Bridge and Perth-Wellington MP John Nater have both been very supportive of the Minto Pride initiative, and both were in attendance at the inaugural Pride in the Park event last summer.
Krul said the goal this year is to once again host the Pride in the Park event, which will be June 13, and they're also hosting a winter event coming up called the Rainbow Social. That free event will be February 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the basement of the Harriston Library, with refreshments being served.
After establishing Minto Pride, Krul said she and her fellow members wanted to spread the message that members of the LGBTQ community are absolutely part of the fabric of small rural towns, and not just big cities.
"In a small town, you kind of get that perception that 'Oh well, we don't have queer people in this town' but that's absolutely not true," she said.
Minto Pride came to council this week to give them an update on their work and also help educate and make council members aware of the vital work they're doing to make Minto as inclusive as possible. Krul said the inaugural Pride in the Park event last year was a really positive showing of support from not only council, but the community at large.
"So having a pride event in a more rural area kind of signals that we want our community to be a safe space for everyone, and that we all want the right to live without persecution, wherever you live in the country," she said
You can get more info on Minto Pride by searching them on Facebook and Instagram, or by emailing MintoPrideCommittee@gmail.com. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, or getting your business involved with their events, they would happily take messages on any of those platforms. If you're interested in making a donation, Minto Pride is able to give charitable tax receipts to donors through the Town of Minto.
The inaugural Minto Prides Pride in the Park event in Palmerston was a great success in the summer of 2019, and it will return this year. Photo submitted by Jessica Rowden)
