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PHOTOS: Kamloops Pride Parade fills downtown with people, rainbows and support

Downtown turned into a colourful affair
Brendan Kergin
Brendan Kergin

Even though Kamloops was sunny today (Aug. 25), the city was filled with rainbows.

That's because the third annual Kamloops Pride Parade took place, with a slightly altered route. Hundreds, if not thousands, of participants and onlookers, filled the city's core, along Second Avenue, Seymour Street, Fifth Avenue and Victoria Street (the parade's route). Stuart Wood's field was filled as well, as the mustering area and ground zero for a festival with music, food and more.

Sam Numsen, president of Kamloops Pride, says the parade went off without any major hitches.

"The turn out has been amazing," he tells KamloopsMatters. "We haven't calculated all the numbers, but it looks like we've got easily more than last year."

"The weather is beautiful, we have no complaints. It's a perfect day."

The first Pride Parade, in 2017, was a smoky affair, due to the wildfires in the area. Last year clouds brought a little rain.

Numsen and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Chief Roseanne Casimir addressed the parade as they got going. Both had positive messages for the crowd, mixed with a reminder that LGBTQ2S+ rights and safety are not a given all the time.

"Throughout my life, I have seen bullying, the exclusion and taunting of anyone who is perceived as different," Casimr told the crowd. "Today is much better than yesteryears, as people are more accepting, inclusive and most of all accepting of each other's identity."

"We can (also) attest it is still not perfect."

More photos will be uploaded later this afternoon.