My First Pride

This year French Accent had the chance to collaborate with Chocolate Zen Bakery and Planned Perfectly on a dinner party inspired float for Pride Winnipeg 2018. It was a good deal of planning, steadfast preparation, a whirlwind of fun and completely worth the hustle.

Pride is more than a party, it’s an opportunity to participate in an energy of acceptance. Just being there, your walls and the bubble you live in disappear. All of a sudden it doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, what you wear, what you look like, you just simply are. And that’s okay. In fact, it is more than okay. It’s the most amazing feeling that everyone should be able to experience.

The theme this year was “My First Pride” and as Sacha and I were assembling the decor, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my own first Pride.

My first Pride experience wasn’t even in Winnipeg, it wasn’t even planned. I was working for Via Rail at the time and we had a few hours in Toronto before making our trip back home. I heard a roar of cheers, so I peeked through my window and saw a parade of colour in the street. There was a party happening. Still exhausted from my trip, but too intrigued to rest, I went to see what was going on. It didn’t take long for me to be completely immersed into the excitement. The creativity, the energy and everyone expressing their pride completely pulls you in. Moments later I found myself cheering on a community that has since then, won my love and support.

If 2018 wasn’t your first Pride, we wholeheartedly encourage you to participate next year so that we can continue to show our support and our love for our neighbours, friends and community.

Happy Pride!