Bay of Quinte celebration parades through Picton with Pride

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
“Pride isn’t just a celebration because the fight is over, pride is a celebration because despite everything, we’re still here, we’re still showing up, still choosing love over hate, still building communities so every person knows they belong,” said Maggie Yntema, Bay of Quinte Pride chair, “and that’s why today matters.”

June is Pride Month and the pride of Prince Edward County, and all the colours of the rainbow, were on full display Saturday afternoon for the County’s first-ever formally organized Pride parade.

It saw an exuberant and colourful, and good-sized crowd, come out in all their glory. While there have been a few small and informal Pride-type events in Picton in recent years, this is the first formal organized event of its kind.

Parade participants gathered in the parking lot at the Millennium Trail at Lake Street (by the LCBO) in Picton, with the Pride parade travelling all the way down a closed-to-traffic Main Street, ending up at the Crystal Palace at the fairgrounds.

Hosted by Bay of Quinte Pride, all were welcome at the free, family-friendly community event, where the Bay of Quinte Regional Pride Festival 2026 PEC continued with festivities at the Crystal Palace all afternoon with Pride in the Park.

Along with Yntema, brief opening remarks were also made by Elis Ziegler, Bay of Quinte Pride secretary (and 2026 parade marshall), along with County Mayor Steve Ferguson, and Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette, among them.

“People ask, why do we have a whole Pride month, yet we only have a day for our veterans,” said Malette. “… I tell you why we need a whole month, because clearly the message hasn’t gotten though. Clearly, there is still too much hate, there is still too much intolerance, and until that happens, we are going to have a month of love and inclusiveness.”

Inside the Crystal Palace, as well in the grounds outside, vendors were set up, from food, to crafts and art and jewellery, as well as representation and information from local and regional organizations and groups, interactive vendors too. Family-oriented entertainment all afternoon included games and activities for the kids, a deejay, drag story time, and looking skyward, a couple of flypasts graced the clear blue sky.

Bill Stearman, a self-described “quiltivist”, was in his mid-40s when he came ‘out’, and said today’s Pride event is “incredibly important”.

“I spent most of my life, the first 40-some years, pretending I was somebody else, and living up to what I thought I was supposed to be and not thinking about what I really was,” shared Stearman. “To see this with young people, with the community, as open as it is, it just fills me with joy because it means nobody should have to spend 40 years before they can live their authentic life.”

“I am openly queer and vocally queer and proudly queer; people can take it or leave it… fortunately, in this community, they mostly take it,” he said.

Yntema said Canada is home to 1.3 million 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

“They are your neighbours, your co-workers, your classmates, your health care workers, your teachers, your friends and your family. We have always been here; we always will be. Yet far too many of us have experienced discrimination simply for being ourselves.”

Pride month takes place every year in June and is a time to celebrate, recognize and honour the contributions, resilience and vibrancy of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The municipality recognizes Pride month with a Pride flag raising at Shire Hall during the month, and the painting of the (updated) Pride flag on two of Picton’s crosswalks, at the fairgrounds, and by the Metro plaza.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be standing on this stage during this celebration,” said Ferguson.

In his proclamation made at a recent council meeting, Ferguson said Pride month is an opportunity to celebrate diversity, affirm the right of every person to live authentically and safely, and promote inclusion, equity and belonging – for all people.

He also noted that this year’s theme, ‘Belonging’, centres inter-generational voices across the 2SLGBTQIA+ community throughout Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, and reflects the importance of creating communities where everyone has a place, and where everyone feels welcomed, respected and valued.

“Pride month raises awareness of the on-going realities faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, recognizes the progress made toward equity and human rights, and reminds us that meaningful work still remains,” read Ferguson. “Despite progress, 2SLGBTQIA+ people continue to experience discrimination, harassment, violence, and systemic barriers, and we all share a responsibility to challenge hate, support inclusion, and work toward safer and more equitable communities.”

“Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe, valued, supported, and connected, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,” he said.

The last time the County saw any kind of Pride gathering on a significant scale was seven years ago in the form of a profound and peaceful protest outside Picton’s St. Gregory’s Catholic Church when the church’s priest wrote in a newsletter how gay businesses and the LGBTQ+ community should not be supported because it goes against bible teachings. Around 500 people showed up on Father’s Day in 2019. See that story here:

Community creates rainbow of support and love in face of anti-gay church message