PRIDE WINNIPEG View online at winnipegfreepress.com/fp-features MAY 26 – JUNE 7 • 2026
Proud sponsor of the 2026 Pride Winnipeg Festival.
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CELEBRATE YOU!
BY TONY ZERUCHA AT WINNIPEG PRIDE FESTIVAL
ISITORS TO 2026 WINNIPEG PRIDE FESTIVAL events on June 6 and 7 should come pre- pared to enjoy a busy two days, filled with events, displays and
entertainment highlighting the diversity and cre- ativity of Winnipeg’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Drobot Dean / Adobe Stock.com
IN OUR HERD, EVERY BISON IS WELCOME. JOIN US AT THE PARADE ON JUNE 7.
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The theme of this year’s Pride Festival and Pride Parade is ‘Celebrate You!’, which Pride Winnipeg president Barry Karlenzig said can mean something different to everyone. “For me it goes back to being able to celebrate your authentic self,” Karlenzig said. The weekend will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Sat., June 6 with a Winnipeg Pride History walking tour that starts at Vimy Ridge Park and concludes at The Forks, the site of the 2026 Pride Winnipeg Festival. Participants will learn about Winnipeg’s Pride his- tory through visits to significant sites in Winnipeg’s 2SLGBTQIA+ history. At 10 a.m., a Trans March begins at the Manitoba legislative building, runs east along Broadway and
concludes at The Forks, hosted by a coali- tion that includes Pride Winnipeg, 2Spirits in Motion MB, Trans Manitoba, and Sunshine House. Evening events begin with Cocktails on the Rooftop at 7 p.m. at 862 Dufferin Ave. The cocktail party is a fundraiser for Our Own Health Centre and will feature food from Capital Grill & Bar, entertainment, a silent auction, and a 50/50 draw. From there, it’s on to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for Saturday Night Pride at 9 p.m. Local drag artists will join Canada’s Drag Race Season 6 run- ner-up, Eboni La’Belle and Canada’s Drag Race Season 6 finalist, PM.
At 10 a.m., a Trans March begins at the Manitoba legislative building, runs east along Broadway and concludes at The Forks, hosted by a coalition that includes Pride Winnipeg, 2Spirits in Motion MB, Trans Manitoba, and Sunshine House.
Supplied photo
Graphics by aditya / Adobe Stock.com
TDS is proud to support Pride Winnipeg. As one of TDS’s Core Values, diversity is at the forefront of all that we do.
While we are celebrating the rights and freedoms that 2SLGBTQ+ persons enjoy today, we continue to reflect on those barriers that exist for 2SLGBTQ+ persons, both in our community and abroad.
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The parade attracts around 10,000 people, with the festival looking to double or triple its pre-pandemic attendance of 30-35,000.
through the windows on the second floor of the Canada Life Centre. A similar quiet area is planned at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. There will also be described audio descriptions at the parade and festival stages. A food-truck runner will deliver orders to people with limited mobility. “We’re focusing on building access,” Karlenzig said. Winnipeg Pride events will also aim to minimize their environmental impact through initiatives such as a waste sorting station in partnership with GFL, meaning organiz- ers will divert as much trash as possible from landfills. Groups will sort all garbage into groups so it can be prop- erly recycled and composted. When you attend Winnipeg Pride events, you’ll also be supporting local and Canadian businesses. Karlenzig said the beer tent will feature some of the best Canadian beer available. Local egg suppliers have been recruited. At Pride Mart, local artisans will showcase a range of locally-produced wares. Karlenzig said 90 people and groups applied for the 44 available spaces. Some groups pooled their resources and jointly reserved a space. That’s all part of a focus on expanding the community zone and offering something for everyone. “What we’ve tried to do is to take the corporate space away from the festival,” Karlenzig said.
Photo by Jin Lee
On Sun., June 7, the 2026 Winnipeg Pride Rally begins at the Manitoba legislative building at 10 a.m., with the 2026 Winnipeg Pride Parade starting at 11 a.m. Once again, The Forks will host a day full of entertainment on three stages — the mainstage, the Mamawi stage and a kids’ stage — highlighted by a performance from Simone Denny, the four-time Juno Award-winning singer for Love Inc. “She is a queer icon and queer person of colour from Toronto,” Karlenzig said. Regular attendees will notice many changes designed to make the weekend enjoyable for everyone. Before the parade, people will be able to fill their water jugs at Memorial Park. Parade lovers who prefer a quieter space can watch the parade pass by along Portage Avenue
PRIDE WINNIPEG PRESIDENT BARRY KARLENZIG (RIGHT) WITH HUSBAND EMERY WILSON AND DOG SCOOBY-DEE. Supplied photo
On Sun., June 7, the 2026 Winnipeg Pride Rally begins at the Manitoba legislative building at 10 a.m., with the 2026 Winnipeg Pride Parade starting at 11 a.m.
Photo by Jin Lee
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Beaver Bus Lines, festival goers without transportation can attend events and show their support to fellow 2SLGBTQIA+ community members in towns like Gimli and Winkler. “That shows the need for Pride events outside of Winnipeg,” Karlenzig said. “In the past, many felt that to be their authentic selves, they needed to leave their commu- nities. That shouldn’t be the case in 2026. Now, more can celebrate in their home communities.” ❤
Karlenzig said the Winnipeg Pride Festival continues to grow every year. The parade attracts around 10,000 people, with the festival looking to double or triple its pre-pandemic attendance of 30-35,000. That mirrors what Karlenzig sees across Manitoba, where 33 communities now host Pride events. The Manitoba Pride Alliance supports those events with grants that help organizers provide the logistics needed to make their plans successful. The Alliance also promotes them via social media. “We can reach thousands of followers,” Karlenzig said. “It helps build up those small community events.” Further promotion comes via an app that showcases Pride events year-round. Karlenzig said it’s one of three operating year-round in Canada. “The goal is that someone comes into Winnipeg, down- loads the app and sees what is happening in town for the next few days,” Karlenzig said. Karlenzig credited a growing number of community partnerships for contributing to the growing number of successful Pride events across Manitoba. Thanks to
For more information on Pride Winnipeg, visit www.pridewinnipeg.com. Download the Pride Winnipeg app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Miktoria Matynia / ViDi Studio / aditya Adobe Stock.com
Your true self is welcome here.
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POINTS OF PRIDE PRIDE WINNIPEG LOOKS AHEAD TO ITS 40TH YEAR BY JANINE LEGAL
to preparations for an annual Pride season that reflects the voices, creativity, and resilience of Manitoba’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. “We are thrilled to welcome Justin Fernandes as Pride Winnipeg’s new managing director,” Barry Karlenzig, president of the Pride Winnipeg board of directors, said in a statement when the appointment was announced. “Justin brings passion, leadership, and a deep commitment to community that aligns strongly with Pride Winnipeg’s mission and vision. He has been a valued member of the team in various roles for many years, and we are excited for the future and the energy he brings to this role.” A second-generation Portuguese-Canadian and proud resident of Treaty 1, Fernandes resides in Winnipeg’s historic West End with his partner Travis, their dogs Marko and Lindo and cat Migo. In his pre-beard days, Fernandes once performed drag under the name Selena Dijon. With a background in banking and financial administration, and more recently in the non-profit sector with Rainbow Resource Centre, Fernandes has first-hand non-profit experience in communi - cations, design, capital campaign management, event planning and development. He was one of the facilitators of New Pride of Winnipeg – a group for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers to Canada. “I am so proud to be Pride Winnipeg’s managing director,” said Fernandes, who has served in several roles on the organization’s board of directors, including special events director, fundraising co-ordinator, finance co-ordinator and executive assistant to the vice-president of programming. “This year’s 2026 Pride Winnipeg parade, festival, vigil, and flag-raising marks 39 years of our volunteer team putting on an iconic summer festival in this city,” Fernandes said, looking ahead to this year’s Pride season, which begins May 29 and culminates
RIDE WINNIPEG IS BURSTING WITH ENERGY and excitement. On the verge of the 2026 Pride Winnipeg season, anticipation is building, both within the grassroots organiza- tion and the community. The recent appointment of Justin Fernandes as manag - ing director of Pride Winnipeg has added momentum
JUST LIKE OPERA, LOVE COMES IN ALL DIFFERENT COLOURS HAPPY PRIDE FROM
WHEN INCLUSIVITY THRIVES,
Happy Pride, Winnipeg!
L-R: Angel Blue (Violetta), La Traviata , 2018. Elliot Madore (Figaro), The Barber of Seville , 2019. Andrea Lett (Zerlina), Don Giovanni , 2018. Ileana Montalbetti (Leonore), Fidelio , 2014. Gregory Dahl (George), Of Mice and Men , 2016. Lara Ciekiewicz (Countess), The Marriage of Figaro , 2015. Photos 1, 2: C. Corneau; Photos 3-6: R. Tinker
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with the 2026 Pride Winnipeg Festival on June 6 and 7. “The Pride Winnipeg team dedicates countless volunteer hours to make sure our festival, and events throughout the year, are perfect.” He reflected, too, on Pride Winnipeg’s commitment to champi - oning inclusion, celebration, advocacy, and community connection across Winnipeg and Manitoba. “It isn’t a role I take lightly – Pride Winnipeg creates spaces for folks to feel their authentic self, and celebrate our resilient, vibrant 2SLGBTQ+ community. There is no better feeling than creating space and watching folks unwind and feel comfortable in the queer space you’ve created,” he said.
Fernandes began his new role in April, which led to immediate, full-steam-ahead festival planning. Until the end of June, priorities include sponsorship, logistics, and leading the volunteer board of directors to execute festival planning.
“There is no better feeling than creating space and watching folks unwind and feel comfortable in the queer space you’ve created.”
– J USTIN FERNANDES, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRIDE WINNIPEG
Supplied photo
Photo by Jin Lee
Happy Pride Month! Proud supporter of Pride Winnipeg mb.bluecross.ca
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“My hope is to strengthen our seat at the table among our community partner organizations and to continue creating Pride all year. Pride is a celebration of the rights our community has had to fight for, but it’s also a reminder of the rising homophobia and transphobia throughout the world.”
– J USTIN FERNANDES
to help with the costs of Pride planning, and we’re a part of the Trans Coalition, creating events throughout the year (Two Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility, Trans March). “My hope is to strengthen our seat at the table among our com - munity partner organizations and to continue creating Pride all year. Pride is a celebration of the rights our community has had to fight for, but it’s also a reminder of the rising homophobia and trans - phobia throughout the world,” he continued. “While it’s important to celebrate your Pride, I would also encour- age folks to use the Pride season to remember our community who walked with bags over their heads at Vimy Ridge Park for the first Pride and the heavy steps they took so we could walk, out-and-proud, down Portage.”
“Post-festival, I will be on the lookout for grant opportunities, working with our finance team budgeting, strategic planning, and representing Pride Winnipeg with our community partners and stake- holders,” Fernandes said. Next year marks Pride Winnipeg’s 40th anniversary, and the orga - nization hopes to mark the milestone with a three-day festival. “We’re also hosting the 2027 Fierté Canada Pride conference in March,” Fernandes said. Fernandes wants people to know Pride Winnipeg has been a regis - tered non-profit in Manitoba for 39 years, working intently year-round. “We have community groups that meet at our office. We fundraise throughout the year for our scholarship fund, which we award to two- to-three Manitoba students attending post-secondary,” Fernandes said. “Manitoba Pride Alliance creates funding for rural Prides
MAY 26 – JUNE 7
Happy Pride! Pride is about community, and ours is stronger because of the 2SLGBTQIA+ artists, students, and audiences who are part of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. We celebrate you, this month and always.
“I couldn’t be prouder, seeing his drive and passion for commu- nity and special events,” Karlenzig said of Fernandes. “He’s good at public speaking. He’s great with attention to detail and giving feedback. He’s young and passionate with guns a-blazing.” Karlenzig, 40, has volunteered his time with Pride Winnipeg for 17 years. As president, he explained the organization is working strategically with a five-year plan to ensure its suc - cess. Fernandes’ new role as managing director is a part-time paid position now, and he will become full-time executive director in 2027, which will allow Pride Winnipeg to grow and expand its year-round operations in its new home at 926-294 Portage Ave., complete with paid staff, thus balancing the hours of its volunteer board and volunteer executive team. “It’s a great team, and it’s a future-proofing organization,” Karlenzig said, adding that about 460 volunteers contribute to every aspect of Pride. The theme of this year’s Pride festival is ‘Celebrate You!’, and Karlenzig hopes that it will be a meaningful motivator for everyone in attendance. “For me it goes back to being able to celebrate your authentic self,” Karlenzig said, emphasizing the importance of doing so at a time when hate rhetoric directed at the trans and queer move - ments continues. “It gives you a chance to be your true self, gives freedom to folks and also to allies, to build up the community. It means something different to every single person, but we want it to resonate with everybody in the community.” Karlenzig is proud of how far the organization has come over the years and grateful to every volunteer who has made it what it is. “I sit back every year, and I look at the office space we have now — a meeting space for community members — the passion of the community year after year—the passion of the team. I think about the next generation… looking ahead to getting charitable status. We’ve done so much,” he said. “This is a volunteer organization. These are people giving up time with family and friends. Look at what we’ve been able to do as com - munity group members.” ❤ “While it’s important to celebrate your Pride, I would also encourage folks to use the Pride season to remember our community who walked with bags over their heads at Vimy Ridge Park for the first Pride and the heavy steps they took so we could walk, out-and-proud, down Portage.” – J USTIN FERNANDES
RWB SCHOOL ALUM AND FORMER RWB DANCER PARK LONG (2019-2026); PHOTO BY MICHELLE BLAIS
Your pride is our pride. The WCB proudly supports diversity, equity and inclusion.
Visit www.pridewinnipeg.com
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2026 PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL EVENTS
FRIDAY, MAY 29
Noon PRIDE FLAG-RAISING Winnipeg City Hall
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
9:45 a.m. WINNIPEG PRIDE HISTORY WALKING TOUR Originates at Vimy Ridge Park, concludes at The Forks. 10 a.m. – TRANS MARCH Begins at the Manitoba legislative building, runs east along Broadway to The Forks.
The best way to keep up to date with Pride events and activities is to download the Pride Winnipeg app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Noon
PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL
Photo by Jin Lee
The Forks Featuring entertainment including: Ace Burpee; Art City; Booter & housepanther Tegan and Sara Tribute; Charlie Redstar; Drag Bingo; Drag Storytime with The Yellow Belle, Aria Zero & Waaseyad Haze; Haus of Lube; Kilusan; LTI; Mama Cutsworth’s Family Dance Party; Manitoba Children’s Museum; Mariana Canadas; M.C. LUV & Wanda G; Manitoba Theatre for Young People; Musicians of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; Miss Sandi Bay and the Rainbow Tornadoes; Rainbow Harmony Project; Rainbow Harmony Project Youth Choir; Simon Miron; Strawberry Punch; The Stanley County Cut-Ups; The Trans Coalition
7 p.m.
COCKTAILS ON THE ROOFTOP
862 Dufferin Ave.
9 p.m. SATURDAY NIGHT PRIDE Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 85 Israel Asper Way
MAY 26 – JUNE 7
BELONGING MATTERS. WINNIPEG SCHOOL DIVISION IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE EVERY CHILD, EVERY IDENTITY, EVERY VOICE.
Photo by Jin Lee
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
10 a.m. PRIDE WINNIPEG RALLY Manitoba legislative building 11 a.m. PRIDE WINNIPEG PARADE Parade runs from Memorial Boulevard, east along Portage Avenue to The Forks.
Noon
PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL
The Forks Featuring entertainment including: Amby; Art City; Banana Crisis; Bannock Babes; Big Broadway Sing-Along Binesi Ikwéwag Singers; Chrissy Troy; Croakinole and Croakette; Drag Storytime with Traycee & Zova Da Silva; Flora Luna; House of Gold Diamonds; Jessee Havey and the Banana Band; Kristen McKay; Kymera; Lady Muse & The Inspirations Play Dolly Parton; Manitoba Children’s Museum; Manitoba Theatre for Young People; Miss Indigenous Canada; Paige Drobot; Reign 26 of the Imperial Court of Winnipeg and All of Manitoba; Ruby Chopstix; SheQue; SUPERFUN; The Haileys; The Haus of Wolves; The Iconic International Kiki House of PinkLady Winnipeg Chapter
TWO-SPIRIT ARCHIVES AT UWINNIPEG
The Two-Spirit Archives is proud to recognize, centre, document, and preserve the legacy of Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ people.
Explore the Archives today at:
(All events subject to change. Check the Pride Winnipeg app for schedule updates.)
uwinnipeg.ca/2spirit-archives
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PROUD SUPPORTER OF PRIDE WEEK
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