Pride Saskatoon picked to host 2018 InterPride Conference

The world's largest Pride meeting and conference is coming to Saskatoon.

Members of Pride Saskatoon spent the week in Montpellier, France attending the annual general meeting and world conference for InterPride, an international organization tying Pride together worldwide.

Over the course of the week, Saskatoon Pride put in a bid to host the annual meeting and conference at home in the Bridge City.

On Sunday, Oct. 16, Danny Papadatos, chair of the Saskatoon Pride Festival, told CBC News Pride Saskatoon got its wish and will be hosting the InterPride AGM and Conference in 2018.

"We're going to have that opportunity for our community to engage with these world leaders that are paving the way in LGBTQrights," Papadatos explained.

InterPride's mission is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride on an international level through networking and communications among Pride organizations. It's by far the largest Pride conference in the world and from Oct. 4 to 7, 2018 InterPride will call Saskatoon home.

Papadatos said while conference is very different from the Saskatoon Pride Festival, it's still a celebration of diversity.

Part of those celebrations will include a party put on by WorldPrideNew York

"We wanted to show Saskatoon what it's like to go to a big-city Pride."

The InterPride conference will also feature a wide range of guest and keynote speakers, as well as networking opportunities connecting some of Saskatchewan's smaller Pride organizations with larger, national and international groups in an effort to draw inspiration and advice on how to grow the smaller Pride chapters.

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Coming off one of Saskatoon's largest and most successful Pride festivals in the city's history, Pride Saskatoon in partnership with OUT Saskatoon said they're expecting a huge celebration next year as Pride Saskatoon turns 25.

KrystalNieckar, co-chairof the Saskatoon Pride Festival who was also in France with Papadatos,expects thatmomentum to carry into the2018 event, continuing to the WorldPridecelebration in 2019.

"The inspiration for the people of Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon specifically, will carry that momentum through. And maybe, eventually, one day we could throw a WorldPride."

With the conference still a couple of years away, Papadatosand Nieckarsaid planning for the conference is underway and Pride Saskatoon is looking for volunteers. Anyone looking to offer their time is encouraged to contact Saskatoon Pride through its website.