NORTH BATTLEFORD - Battlefords Area Pride group and supporters came together on July 21 to officially launch Pride Week in the Battlefords.
The Pride flag was raised outside North Battleford city hall to mark the week.
The week includes a variety of activities open to the public, and wraps up with fun entertainment and live music at Kinsmen Park in North Battleford on July 26.
Kelly Waters, Battlefords Area Pride secretary, said this marks 10 years of Pride Week in the Battlefords and she's excited to see the week's events.
She said it's important for the community to celebrate Pride Week.
"There are still a lot of misconceptions, a lot of prejudice and hateful attitudes that haven't been dealt with, so it very much has an important place in the community," Waters said.
North Battleford Mayor Kelli Hawtin said Pride Week is a good opportunity to celebrate inclusivity in the community.
"The city is a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities, which really signals that we want to celebrate being a diverse and unique community, and all the roles that all individuals play in our community," she said.
Saskatoon Fairview NDP MLA Vicki Mowat, deputy leader of the Official Opposition, also attended the flag-raising ceremony.
"It's really important to us in the Opposition to have a good presence across the province," she said. "So, we wanted to make sure we had someone at the kick- off for Pride Week here in the Battlefords. It's really important to us that everyone feels like they have support in this province, that we have a unified province and that we have a government that brings people together."
