June is Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month: Help Georgian celebrate

There is a lot to acknowledge and celebrate in June!

As we enter June, it’s a time to come together in community to celebrate, introspect, and advocate.

June marks Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month, two significant occasions that hold deep meaning for Georgian College and our communities.

Pride Month is a time to honour the diverse identities and experiences within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, celebrate progress made in the fight for equality, and recommit ourselves to fostering a culture of acceptance and inclusion for all. It’s a reminder that every individual deserves to live authentically and proudly, free from discrimination and prejudice.

National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to recognize and honour the rich heritage, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. It’s a time to deepen our understanding of Indigenous history, acknowledge the ongoing struggles for justice and reconciliation, and amplify Indigenous voices and perspectives in our collective narrative.

As we participate in the various events and activities planned for June, let us come together in solidarity, empathy, and respect.

Below you will find many activities going on in each of our campus communities. 

For folks interested in walking with us in our many community Pride parades, please reach out to aisha.oconnor@georgiancollege.ca.

Blue background with Pride rainbow and Indigenous designs. Text: Georgian celebrates National Indigenous History Month. Join us in celebrating. Happy Pride! Georgian.

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Activities at Georgian

The Pride Progress Flag will be raised at all campuses, along with additional flags representing different groups of Indigenous Peoples.

Some campuses will hold a flag-raising ceremony and host other activities. Don’t forget to take a stroll across the colourful rainbow crosswalks at all our campuses!

Here are some campus-specific events all are welcome to attend. Times noted are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Progress Pride flag

Barrie Campus

  • Pride and National Indigenous History Month flag raising: Tuesday, June 4 at 9 a.m. at the Georgian Cenotaph. Rain location is the Georgian College Students’ Association Lounge in C building, first floor.

Georgian’s Centre for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and Indigenous Services are working together to recognize Pride and National Indigenous History Month at the Barrie Campus. It’s important to acknowledge the unique histories and stories of each initiative, as well as the intersecting identities involved.

Barrie’s flag raising will be a joint flag raising. Indigenous Services will be honouring the history of the Huron-Wendat with this year’s Barrie flag raising.

Midland Campus:

  • Pride Progress Flag: The flag will be raised the morning of Monday, June 3.
  • Métis flag raising: Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at the flagpoles.

Muskoka Campus:

  • Raising of Pride Progress Flag: Wednesday, June 5 at 9 a.m. at the flagpoles.

The flag will be raised in the morning and there will be a Pride table set up on campus for people to check out.

  • Indigenous flag raising: Monday, June 17at 10 a.m. at the flagpoles.

Orangeville Campus

  • Raising of Pride Progress Flag: Tuesday, June 4 at noon at the flagpoles.
  • Indigenous flag raising: Monday, June 17 at 10 a.m. at the flagpoles.

Orillia Campus

  • Raising of Pride Progress Flag: Wednesday, June 5 at 10 a.m. at the flagpole.
  • Nunavut flag raising: Friday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at the flagpole.

Owen Sound Campus

  • Raising of Pride Progress Flag: Monday, June 3 at 9 a.m. at the flagpoles.

The flag will be raised in the morning and there will be a Pride table set up on campus for people to check out.

  • Owen Sound Indigenous flag raising: Friday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at the flagpoles.

South Georgian Bay Campus:  

  • Pride Progress Flag: The flag will be raised the morning of Wednesday, June 5
  • Indigenous flag raising: Monday, June 17 at 10 a.m. at the flagpoles.
A group of people in Georgian-branded and Pride-themed clothing gathered together with a #GeorgianProud banner at the Barrie Pride Parade on June 3, 2023

Community events

This list isn’t exhaustive; we encourage you to look for other activities happening in your community: 

What does 2SLGBTQIA+ stand for?

2SLGBTQIA+ stands for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, additional sexual orientations and gender identities.  

History of Pride in Canada 

Pride began as a protest, even here in Canada. Many people are familiar with the famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, which marked a significant turning point in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in America. 

Not as many people know that Canada has its own Stonewall: On Feb. 5, 1981, police officers enacted what was known as “Operation Soap”. More than 150 officers raided four gay bathhouses in Toronto’s Village, arresting 286 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians; it was the second largest mass arrest in Canadian history. 

Massive protests took place in the weeks that followed and on March 6, 1981, Toronto held what it now considered to be its first Pride event (even famed Canadian author Margaret Atwood attended and spoke out against the persecution of 2SLGBTQIA+ people). 

Although significant progress has been made in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, it’s important to know that many 2SLGBTQIA+ people – both in Canada and around the world – continue to face significant levels of discrimination, abuse, and even violence. 

Pride advocates for the continued advancement of human rights and inclusion of all 2SLGBTQIA+ people and commemorates those who have been lost to violence, prejudice and stigma. 

History of National Indigenous History Month in Canada

June was declared National Indigenous History Month in 2009, following the passing of a unanimous motion in the House of Commons.

This provides an opportunity to not only recognize the historic contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the development of Canada, but also to honour their rich heritage and cultures, and amplify Indigenous voices and perspectives in our collective narrative. Each June 21 is also National Indigenous Peoples Day.

We acknowledge the ongoing struggles for reconciliation and encourage everyone to learn more about Indigenous history in Canada, amplify Indigenous voices, and take steps on their personal reconciliation journeys to show up in genuine allyship.

Designs for Georgian employees

Georgian created an email signature and Microsoft Teams backgrounds that recognize Pride Month and Indigenous History Month that employees can download for use.

Community resources and support 

Here are a few resources; this list isn’t exhaustive.  

Local 

Outside our region 

Crisis and phone support 

Learning opportunities and allyship

Articles

Videos

This article was originally published in May 2023. It was updated and re-shared in May 2024.

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