The OCDSB is excited to once again participate in the Capital Pride Parade on Sunday, August 27th.
Students, staff and families are encouraged to join us! To keep the experience safe and enjoyable for all our participants, we wanted to share some information.
Parade route and meeting point
This year’s Parade will start at Elgin Street and Laurier Street at 1:00 pm with OCDSB leading the parade and carrying the Progress Flag (maybe a second flag as well).
Participants are encouraged to:
- arrive onsite no later than 12 noon (look for the school bus!);
- enter at either end of Laurier Street at the intersections of Elgin Street and Laurier Street or Nicholas Street and Laurier Street.
The parade will proceed south on Elgin Street, west on Gladstone Avenue and north on Kent Street, and will end at Kent Street and Laurier Street.
All marching groups will exit the parade east on Laurier Street. All vehicles will exit the parade by heading north along Kent Street. Visit the Capital Pride website for a map of the route: https://capitalpride.ca/events/capital-pride-parade/
Safety & Security
Capital Pride works closely with the City of Ottawa through its Special Events Advisory Team and developed a comprehensive emergency plan. There is a community safety plan that includes the use of community safety marshalls designated at areas throughout the parade route.
This plan also includes the presence of private security, private first aid, Ottawa Police, and Ottawa Paramedic Services who will all be onsite during the parade.
Egale Canada and Fierté Canada Pride, with support from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, have developed a Pride Safety Toolkit to promote safety at Prides and other 2SLGBTQ+ events: https://egale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pride-Safety-Toolkit-Attendees-3.0.pdf
The organization It Gets Better Canada has also produced this helpful guide if it’s your first time at pride: Pride 101: The First-Timer’s Self-Care Guide to Pride
Additional information
Accessibility and Restrooms
- You are welcome to ride the school bus that will move with the OCDSB participants (as a float) through the parade route.
- Portable washrooms that are wheelchair accessible will be located at the Marion Dewar Plaza (accessible off of Laurier Avenue), as well as throughout the street festival.
- Any questions related to accessibility can be directed to: [email protected]
First Aid
- First Aid Services will be available within the parade area by both first aid providers and City of Ottawa Paramedics. In an emergency, please inform a Capital Pride volunteer who can alert first aid responders.
- Two first aid stations will be set up within the Street Festival, a short walk from most of the parade route: at Bank Street & Slater Street and Bank Street & Somerset Street.
- Volunteers trained with First Aid and the use of Naloxone will also be available throughout the site.
Weather
The Parade is a “rain or shine event.” In the event that weather poses a safety or security risk, Capital Pride will notify parade participants of any changes via email as soon as possible.
Health
- Please stay hydrated! A water refill station will be installed at the entrance to the Marion Dewar Plaza (off of the Laurier Avenue parade staging area) and throughout the Street Festival.
- Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays can be harmful
- Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more and don’t forget to reapply every two hours or more.
- If you feel overwhelmed by the heat, take a break in the shade and feel free to seek advice from Capital Pride’s on-site first aid services.
Live Broadcasting
Rogers will be live streaming the parade on Youtube and live broadcasting it on TV.