Downtown Toronto was transformed into a sea of rainbow colours as upwards of a million people, including Local 1000A members and staff, gathered on Canada Day to celebrate the 2012 Pride Parade.
Wearing rainbow-coloured leis and gold UFCW t-shirts, participants danced, waved flags, handed out condoms and magnets as they marched along side the UFCW Canada Local 1000A float from Church and Bloor down to Jarvis and Gerrard streets.
Steward Jackie Graticola said it was an honour to represent Local 1000A at Pride.
“The union’s positive support of the LGBTQ community made me feel proud and empowered.”
Paul Cadiente, a Local 1000A steward and a member of the local union’s Pride Advisory Group, was thrilled about his experience at Pride weekend.
"You know what? I've worked and volunteered with a fair number of organizations for Pride since 2008 but for once, I truly felt like I belonged somewhere,” Cadiente said. “I truly felt the love and family that is Pride … I hope to do this for a very long time with the union and ensure a big presence at Pride for Labour!"
Local 1000A steward Bill Fowlie said “the atmosphere was unreal” and noted it was great to see the smiles on the faces of the marchers as well as the public.
“I love the fact that the union gets involved with the community,” he said. “As the first year for our union in the parade, we did awesome and I can’t wait for next year.”
“It was an amazing feeling to be part of the parade,” said Pearl Sawyer, President of Local 1000A. “On behalf of our local, I want to thank all our volunteers for their hardwork and dedication in making this weekend memorable.”
On June 30 and July 1, the local union also had a booth set up at the street fair on Alexander Street, and distributed condoms, magnets and literature raising awareness about LGBTQ issues at work.
