Photo 1 : Tristan MacAlpine (left), member of the Fierté CLARE Pride committee, and Ronnie LeBlanc, Warden for the Municipality of Clare, stand in front of the pride flag during the pride flag raising ceremony at the municipal office on June 8, 2020. // Photo 2 : Members of the Fierté CLARE Pride committee keep their distance during the pride flag raising ceremony on June 8, 2020, at the municipal office. From left to right: Amy Paradis, Sheila LeBlanc, Réanne Titus, Natalie Robichaud, Evelyn LeBlanc-Joyce, Adrien Comeau, Joline LeBlanc and Tristan MacAlpine

PRIDE FLAG RAISED AT MUNICIPALITY OF CLARE TO KICK OFF PRIDE WEEK

Little Brook, NS – June 8, 2020: The Municipality of Clare, in partnership with Fierté CLARE Pride, held a pride flag raising ceremony to usher in the first edition of pride week in Clare.

The goal of Fierté CLARE Pride, which runs from June 8 to 12, 2020, is to show love and support from and towards the LGBTQ2 community with a week of fun, informative and inclusive programming for everyone. Due to physical distancing directives, the event was broadcast live through the group’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FierteClarePride ).

Ronnie LeBlanc, Warden for the Municipality of Clare, spoke about the value of inclusion. “This evening, we celebrate the diversity of our community and we affirm the importance of friendship and respect for all our neighbours, including those in the LGBTQ2 community. We are here to share and we are here to listen.”

Last year, the Municipality of Clare was one of 50 municipalities across Canada to hold a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada as well as to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. This initiative helped encourage more events that promote inclusion within the community of Clare.

Tristan MacAlpine, member of the Fierté CLARE Pride committee, reflected on the changes he has seen in the community in the last year alone, including the inauguration of a rainbow crosswalk at Université Sainte-Anne, where he studies Social Work.

“That night inspired me to keep pushing for progress. So earlier this year I approached Natalie Robichaud of the Société acadienne de Clare to talk about a couple of ideas that we could bring to the community. And long story short, here we are today at our second official pride flag raising and our first ever Fierté Clare Pride.”

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Settled in 1768 and incorporated in 1879, the Municipality of Clare is located at the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia with approximately 8,000 residents. The Municipality of Clare is the only municipality in the province that conducts business and offers services in both official languages, French and English.

The Acadian community of Clare, Nova Scotia, is hosting its first ever Pride Week from June 8 to 12, 2020. A partnership between the Municipality of Clare, la Société acadienne de Clare, Université Sainte-Anne, the Enchanté Network and Rising Youth, the goal of the event is to show love and support from and towards the LGBTQ2 community with a week of fun, informative and inclusive programming for everyone. In order to respect physical distancing directives due to COVID-19, the event is taking place entirely online. Let’s celebrate Clare Pride Week 2020: physically apart, together in heart.

Media Contact / Interviews:
Ronnie LeBlanc
Warden
Municipality of Clare
902-769-2031
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Amy Paradis
Communications Officer
Municipality of Clare
902-778-2079
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