This is a blog post full of people shots from Sunday of Pride week-end. Some taken during Church Street festivities and some along the parade route. There are posed shots, selfies, and a few candids. To me, Pride is about the people – the diversity of the crowd, the non-judgemental ‘come as you want’ attitude. Put on your party hats and join the celebration.
Another June, another Dyke March!
Dykes on Bikes led the parade as usual.
below: Olivia Chow walks in the parade along with a Phenomenal Gaysian!
The crowd was enthusiastic.
The motorcycles were noisy.
The rain stayed away.
And we’re back! After missing two years because of Covid, Pride is back in Toronto.
Hot! ( 30+ C and sunny) but it didn’t seem to slow anyone down!
Instead of pictures of this year’s Pride Parade, I am posting some photos from previous Pride weekends from my archives. I have tried to use pictures that weren’t chosen for prior blog posts. As you know, the fall out from Covid-19 includes cancellation of parades in Toronto this summer. There was a virtual Pride parade online this year (so I hear) but that doesn’t lend itself to photography. We miss the social interactions that normally occur. We miss the atmosphere and the fun. This collection is a poor substitute for the real thing but maybe it will bring back a few memories….. See you in 2021!
Santa Claus Parade photos
below: What could be more appropriate than a few clowns with shovels to follow the police horses?
below: Crazy wabbits didn’t still in one place long enough to let me focus on them
below: Mrs. Claus
below: And at the very end, the main attraction, jolly old Santa Claus himself
Like most summer weekends in the city, this past weekend was a busy one.
below: There was a Thai festival at Yonge Dundas Square with dancers performing in front a screen that was showing a video, in real time, of them dancing.
below: Women carving intricate floral shapes out of watermelon,
below: carrots, and other root vegetables.
below: The colours of the Thai flag
below: A small parade for the Festival of India made its way down Yonge street towards the ferry for Centre Island. Sweepers cleared the streets while other people joined together to pull the floats.
below: This parade for Ratha Yatra is an annual event. A more complete description of the parade, as well as some photos from 2016, can be found on a blog post that I wrote three years ago (how time flies!), or even older, is a post from 2015.
below: A parrot, belonging to one of the men walking in the parade, perches on a policeman’s bike helmet to everyone’s delight.
below: With the parade and all the people on Yonge Street, traffic was slow. This may not be unusual!
below: Yes, I am 6 feet tall!
below: Mellow Dee plays the piano outside the south entrance of the Eaton Centre.
below: Finding shade wherever they can… it was a hot one!
below: It appears that selling bras isn’t a very exciting job?
below: Some people sit and read, while others sit, smoke, and watch the world go by….
… and others go skate boarding past….
I’m a few days late but here are some photos from this year’s Pride Parade, Sunday June 23rd.
below: The crowds line both sides of Dundas at the end of the parade route as the beginning of the parade has just reached them.
below: Thousands of pieces of bright and sparkly mylar.
below: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walked at the beginning of the parade, along with a lot of security.
Dyke March 2019, sunshine and smiles, and a lot of positive energy.
I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
below: Pride over Mannum and a sign for Amma
below: I don’t exist for your pleasure and something about liking girls!
below: Let me be perfectly queer, respect existence or expect resistance
below: Society has Evolved in 2019, Love Wins, catch up!
below: Playing with dolls
below: Many flags! Pink, yellow and blue horizontal stripes for pansexual and pink, purple, and blue for bisexual.
below: Another flag, this time it’s asexual.
below: A large transexual flag and a group from Womens College Hospital
below: Ford Cabinet for sale, real cheap! Just a buck!
below: Proud to be queer and Jewish
below: Still a Pakistani, Still a Muslim, and Still a Dyke, along with a proud Polynesian dyke.
below: Say Know to Sex Ed
as I walk Toronto 