Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo hosts Pride weekend

Despite the cold and rain in Winnipeg on Saturday, hundreds flocked to a Pride event at the Assiniboine Park Zoo – even if it had to move indoors.

Organizers wouldn’t let the bad weather rain on their parade.

“We preferred to have a nice, sunny day,” said Ray Brickwood, the Assiniboine Park Conservatory marketing coordinator. “It would be great to have this outside. We had plans for a nice, big chalk circle as well today, but the weather didn’t cooperate.

“But yes, we are undeterred. We were planning on celebrating Pride and we’re going through with it.”

There was not a lack of activities to do at the “Gateway to the Arctic” section of the zoo, from watching polar bears, to making Pride buttons, and even face painting.

Dozens of families came out to participate in the Pride events and take in some extra activities at the zoo.  

“This is one time a year where it’s a little bit more visible, when we’ve got Pride Week happening in Winnipeg and the kick-off of Pride month in June,” Brickwood said. “I think it’s really important to celebrate it all year round. I think we should always be celebrating Pride. The park, the zoo, The Leaf, we want to be a welcoming place for all members of our communities, including those from the Pride communities.”

Pride in the Park celebrations continue through the weekend. On Sunday, the party moves to The Leaf, where artists Orion Sbelt, Traycee, and Zova Da Silva will be performing.

“They’re doing a show called ‘Pride Among the Plants,’ so in our Mediterranean biome we’re gonna have a spectacular drag show happening and it’s gonna have a lot of energy, a lot of colour, and we’re very excited to welcome those artists to The Leaf,” Brickwood added.

A portion of admission sales (15 per cent) from the Zoo on Saturday and The Leaf on Sunday will be donated to two Manitoba 2SLGBTQ+ organizations: Sunshine House and Rainbow Resource Centre.

The Winnipeg Pride Parade takes place downtown June 2.