UFCW Canada joins official launch of World Pride 2014

Toronto – June 25, 2014 – “Unity, Peace, Love and Celebration” was the theme for the World Pride 2014 Opening Ceremonies, at Nathan Phillip’s Square in downtown Toronto. UFCW Canada joined with thousands of activists, revelers, celebrities and honoured guests to officially kick off the week-long festival, which is anticipated to be the biggest World Pride ever seen on the planet.

Grammy Award winning musician Melissa Etheridge headlined a star-studded concert, which also included Grammy Nominee Deborah Cox, Steve Grand, Tom Robinson and Gavin Hope, a soloist with the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto Choir. The opening ceremonies included the Official Proclamation of Pride Week by the City of Toronto and the raising of the rainbow flag at City Hall, featuring an appearance by Gilbert Baker, the artist who designed the rainbow flag.

Members of the nation’s most progressive union, UFCW Canada, are playing a big role from start to finish in this year’s Pride Week, from the opening ceremonies through to the World Pride march and closing ceremonies on June 29. OUTreach, a constituency group with UFCW International, will be teaming up with the Mayworks Festival for a labour-themed LGBTQ arts showcase. The free drop-in event – Come and Celebrate Your UFCW Pride – is from 10AM to 4PM on June 28 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel – all are welcome!