69传媒

Today marks the beginning of the . While Pride Month is celebrated in June in many areas of Canada, we recognize Pride on PEI and at the 69传媒 in July as part of the national summer-long 鈥淧ride season.鈥� Every year, 鈥攁 not-for-profit organization that celebrates and promotes inclusion and diversity and educates and advocates on behalf of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community鈥攐rganizes an annual festival, which this year runs from July 21 to 30.

 

One of the signature events of the 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 69传媒Student Union, and efforts by 69传媒Campus Life, 69传媒Alumni, and the 69传媒Faculty Association to promote participation, 69传媒will have a strong community presence at the parade. I hope everyone will join in as we gather on parade day, Saturday, July 29, at 11:00 am, in the parking lot on Terry Fox Drive behind the provincial government buildings. Look for the Panther Patrol van! The parade begins at 12:00 pm and ends approximately at 12:30 pm.

 

69传媒will also recognize the PEI Pride Festival by flying the Progress Pride Flag at the flag plaza near Kelley Memorial Building and at 69传媒Alumni Canada Games Place all next week. You may have also noticed the recent addition of the Progress Pride rainbow colours to the pedestrian crosswalk near the W.A. Murphy Student Centre and quadrangle (thank you to the Facilities Management team for making that happen, and for touching up the Pride flag painted on the steps outside the Student Centre).

 

While some may view these actions of raising a flag or painting a crosswalk as hollow gestures, they are symbolic of UPEI's commitment to removing barriers and welcoming everyone to the University. These symbols are important as they demonstrate an official declaration of support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. However, we must always strive to do more and work together to create spaces where everyone knows they can fully participate and belong.

 

69传媒values equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and all that makes each of us unique, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We are grateful for the contributions of 69传媒community members engaged in EDI academics and research, support services, and advocacy work鈥攁s well as those who endeavour to live UPEI鈥檚 values and support our EDI strategy.

 

The PEI Pride Festival is an opportunity to celebrate and visibly acknowledge that we continue to move forward together. With the recent release of the Rubin Thomlinson report, there has never been a more important time to unite as a university community, embrace EDI, wear our rainbow colours, and show our Panther Pride than during the 2023 PEI Pride Festival. Happy Pride!

 

Regards,

 

 

Greg