Show your Panther Pride during the PEI Pride Festival

While Pride Month is celebrated in June in many areas of Canada, Pride is recognized on PEI and at UPEI in July as part of the national summer-long “Pride season.” Pride PEI—a not-for-profit organization that celebrates and promotes inclusion and diversity and educates and advocates on behalf of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—organizes the PEI Pride Festival, which this year runs from July 12–21.

One of the signature events of Pride PEI’s festival is the Pride Parade, when individuals, families, friend groups, and organizations join a colourful line-up to walk through the streets of Charlottetown. Thanks to the leadership of the UPEI Student Union, and support from UPEI Alumni and UPEI Communications, UPEI is proud to participate in the 30th annual parade.

The 2024 Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, July 20, and all students, staff, faculty, and alumni are invited to join alongside the Panther Patrol van! Participants are asked to meet at 11:00 am on parade day in the parking lot behind the provincial government buildings on Terry Fox Drive, Charlottetown. The parade begins at 12:00 pm and ends at approximately 1:00 pm.

UPEI participants are asked to wear bright rainbow colours and be ready to wave and cheer! As an option, UPEI Pride t-shirts can be purchased from the UPEI Bookstore, or UPEI shirts and hats can be dressed up with a little Pride colour. 

For those who are unable to make it to the parade, they can express support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in other ways such as wearing bright rainbow colours during the 10-day PEI Pride Festival.

Also in celebration of Pride season, the Robertson Library has created a special exhibition in the lobby, which highlights the colourful tapestry of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Drop by and discover powerful stories, influential figures, and pivotal moments that have shaped and continue to inspire the movement. All material in the display is available for borrowing. Highlighting love, diversity, and acceptance, the Library also has a free assortment of Pride buttons and flags at the service desk.

UPEI will also recognize PEI Pride by flying the Progress Pride Flag at the flag plaza near Kelley Memorial Building and at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place from July 12–22. 

The 2024 PEI Pride Festival is an opportunity to celebrate and embrace equity, diversity and inclusion; show our Panther Pride; and visibly acknowledge that we continue to move forward together as a University community.

Happy Pride!