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3mo ago

Pride Toronto Confronts $900,000 Funding Gap as G7 Summit Tightens Security in Alberta

U.S. diversity backlash has prompted major sponsors to withdraw support from Pride Toronto with potential scaling back of next year’s festivities.

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Runners hit the streets in the 46th Manitoba Marathon, in Winnipeg on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Volunteers played a vital role in the festival’s success. Over 150 individuals—locals, former residents, and museum supporters—helped run everything from meals to entertainment, ensuring the event operated smoothly from start to finish.
Robert Parent, Ronald’s son and the current president of the Musée St. Joseph, helped lead the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Montcalm Heritage Festival, a milestone in preserving the region’s cultural and agricultural roots.

Overview

  • Pride Toronto announced a $900,000 funding gap caused by sponsor withdrawals and rising festival costs.
  • Corporations including Google, Nissan, Home Depot and Clorox withdrew sponsorships, a decision Kojo Modeste attributed to a U.S. diversity backlash under President Trump’s administration.
  • Modeste cautioned that the shortfall could force a scaling back of next year’s festival, threatening its reputation as North America’s largest Pride celebration.
  • Community members are urging Pride Toronto to divest from corporations that fail to support queer people globally in places such as Palestine.
  • In Alberta, G7 leaders are set to convene in Kananaskis for a three-day summit under stringent security measures that include airspace restrictions, drone bans and designated protest zones with live broadcast feeds of demonstrations.