Celebrating National Pride Month in Ottawa

This month, Ottawa joins communities across Canada in celebrating National Pride Month. June is a time to uplift the voices, histories and contributions of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

This month, Ottawa joins communities across Canada in celebrating National Pride Month. June is a time to uplift the voices, histories and contributions of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. It is both a celebration of progress and a moment of reflection to recognize the resilience of queer communities while also acknowledging that the path to equality continues.

Throughout June, residents and visitors are invited to take part in a range of activities that highlight the 2SLGBTQQIA+ experiences. 

Drag the Archive

Drag the Archive is an exhibition that brings Ottawa’s queer history to life through collaboration, research and art.

Peaches LaTour se produisant sur scène.Photo, album de Peaches LaTourArchives de la Ville d’Ottawa | CA028540

Developed by Carleton University students in partnership with the City of Ottawa Equity Team and the City of Ottawa Archives, Drag the Archive offers a powerful visual exploration of queer identity and expression. Through photography, the exhibition shines a spotlight on drag performer Paul “Peaches Latour” Fournier and queer rights advocate, editor, journalist and diplomat Philip Hannan.

Their stories are on display until Saturday, December 12 at the City of Ottawa Archives’ Gallery 112 located in the James K. Bartleman Centre (100 Tallwood Drive). They depict the depth and diversity of not just Ottawa’s queer past, but of Canada’s. The project celebrates drag performance and queer gender expression across the country. Through carefully curated selections of archival records, students bring forward a powerful visual narrative that highlights local histories while connecting them to broader traditions of queer gender expression.

Photo, Armando/Armandette collectionCity of Ottawa Archives | CA028548 History of Gays Ottawa

The Historical Society of Ottawa will be hosting The Historical Society of Ottawa presents: "History of Gays of Ottawa"  at the Main branch of Ottawa Public Library on Saturday, June 20 at 1:30 pm. The talk explores Gays of Ottawa (1971–1995), the city’s first 2SLGBTQQIA+ organization, highlighting its role in providing social services, leading activism and awareness efforts and building community.

While Pride Month is nationally recognized in June, Ottawa’s Pride celebrations take place in August. In 1971, activists gathered on Parliament Hill on August 28 to present the federal government with a list of ten demands for equal rights. Known as the “We Demand” rally, it marked one of Canada’s first major public demonstrations for 2SLGBTQQIA+ rights and laid the groundwork for decades of advocacy and progress. 

Pride in Ottawa brings both celebration and reflection. From archival exhibits to community gatherings, the city offers countless opportunities to learn, connect, and most importantly, take pride.