Premier Brian Gallant is going to be the first premier ever to march in the Saint John Pride Parade when he does so this weekend as part of Saint John Pride Week.
That’s according to press secretary for the office of the premier Julie Robichaud who also confirms that Gallant will be the first premier to march in the Moncton Pride Parade on Saturday, August 20. Gallant also marched in the Fredericton Pride Parade last year.
Also going to be in attendance at the Saint John Pride Parade on Saturday is Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long, MLA Ed Doherty and mayor Don Don Darling who will be serving as grand marshal of the parade which begins at 1pm.
Saint John Pride president Mike Cummings says there’s going to be an increased police presence at the event for several reasons.
“In Saint John…everyone’s generally accepting and we’ve never had any trouble in the past. We’ve asked the police to have a couple extra officers to show our participants that they are here with us and to protect us as well,” says Cummings, who says they’re also expecting a larger group this year.
“We are expecting a larger group this year both because of the increased support in the community and because of the attacks in Orlando. So the community is really coming together so we have asked the police as well for that reason.”
The parade assembles on Saturday at 12:30pm at the parking lot behind the fire station at the corner of Carmarthen and King Street East and the parade continues around half of King Square following the flow of traffic down King Street, left at the bottom of King Street onto Water Street and then into the Coast Guard parking lot where the post-parade gathering will take place.
The pride flag is raised outside of Saint John city hall, marking the official start of pride week. pic.twitter.com/YrJuUIyAGO
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) August 3, 2016
