Dozens march as Southwest Sask. Pride shows its colours

The ninth annual Pride Week in Swift Current concluded this past weekend but not before one of its more popular events helped wrap it up.

Southwest Saskatchewan Pride held their march through Swift Current's downtown core on Saturday at noon bringing out an estimated 60-80 people to participate.

Theo Houghtaling, a member at large with Southwest Saskatchewan Pride, said the rainy conditions earlier in the day might have dampened attendee numbers, however, spirits and enthusiasm were sky-high for those in attendance.

"There's an issue with people feeling isolated in our community and having things like that march and Pride Week events, it's an opportunity for people to gather and be shown they're not alone here. We have this vibrant community here in Swift Current."

Before the group set off for its march, they had a booth set up at Market Square for visibility and awareness while offering up pride merchandise, face painting, temporary tattoos, and stickers.  

The week that ran from July 7-13 featured 14 events and Houghtaling was impressed with attendance numbers across the various events. A number of the events were hosted at their new Drop-in Centre which was unveiled on July 6.

"It's hard to describe how it feels to be in a room full of people that you know are accepting you," he said. "For a lot of these people, they don't have that same acceptance at home, they might not have it at work, they might not have it at school. Getting to be in a room full of people that see them, accept them, and relate to them on a deeper level is just so powerful."