The Thunder Pride Association warmly invites everyone to join us for the 14th annual Pride Parade and Festival, themed “All In For Love: Global Pride, Infinite Friendship.” We are excited to celebrate love, justice, and equity while fostering a sense of community among all individuals.
The theme for 2025, “All In For Love: Global Pride, Infinite Friendship,” underscores our commitment to love and friendship, highlighting the importance of these values in our lives—whether online, in politics, at work, or within our homes and communities. The International Friendship Gardens have, for generations, beautifully symbolized these principles, reminding us that everyone, regardless of their background or home country, can find acceptance and camaraderie here in Thunder Bay.
This year, we’re making a joyful change by moving our event to Friendship Gardens Park on the Fort William side of town, a location close to our new offices and our partnership with Community Living Thunder Bay. This shift allows us to bring the celebration to a fresh and vibrant space that everyone can enjoy.
We recognize that the Fort William area has a lot of potential and could use more free community events and parades. Our goal with this festival is to create a fun addition to beloved happenings like the Teddy Bears Picnic at Vickers Park and the Westfort Street Fair and Winter Carnival. We want to make these events super accessible for everyone, especially for our elderly neighbors and families nearby. We’re excited to bring together vendors, music, and delicious food in a way that everyone can enjoy! Plus, being located on a well-established transit route and main streets means it’s easy for everyone across the city to join in the fun.
We also want to celebrate our rich history, especially the 1970s when the Ogden Bar was a vibrant gay hotspot in the Simpson Street neighborhood. Bringing Pride back to Fort William allows us to honor our past while looking forward to an inclusive future.
The flag-raising ( and Pride celebrations hold special meaning, especially for newcomers to Canada, many of whom identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and may have arrived here seeking safety and acceptance. Hosting these events at the International Friendship Gardens will create a powerful and welcoming experience for everyone, reinforcing that Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Canada are beautiful places to call home.
We stand in solidarity with those facing challenges elsewhere, such as Hungary’s recent legislation banning Pride events, which has faced global criticism, and other countries with ongoing discrimination against 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. We want to celebrate those from diverse backgrounds living authentically and joyously amongst us here in Thunder Bay.
We welcome everyone to come to all events hosted by various community groups and businesses along with joining in on the Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday July 5th!
