Uptown Waterloo kicks off Pride month celebrations

Uptown Waterloo's Pride month kicked off with opening ceremonies held at Waterloo Public Square.

The ceremony included words from the executive director of Spectrum, Scott Williams, and the co-director of Willow River Centre, Amy Smoke.

The Willow River Centre concluded their presence with a drum circle where they playeda Mohawk friendship song and a women's warrior song.

The Uptown BIA and Spectrum came together to unveil the repaired and updated rainbow crosswalk.The new crosswalk has been updated to what's called the Pride Progress flag, which includes more 2SLGBTQ+ groups.

The two organizations also heldan open call for Pride-related banners to be hung on light posts throughout Uptown Waterloo and along the Waterloo Park Promenade. Several of those banners and their artists were present at the ceremony.

While the ceremony only lasts for a day, the banners can be seen any time over the course of Pride month.