PRIDE
MAY 23 – JUNE 1
7
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Karlenzig has been part of it for 15 years, starting out as a driver and working his way eventually to the position of president of Pride Winnipeg, the first officially noted bisexual chair on the board. “When I started, it was a male-dominated organization,” he says. “Now it’s non-binary, female — the board has become more diverse. Year after year, we try to diversify more.” Over time, Karlenzig has seen significant change, including the creation of the Manitoba Pride Alliance, an increase in rural Pride events and virtual Pride events during the pandemic, as well as a move to a downtown office with a community meeting space. He is grateful to his supportive husband and thankful to his equally supportive employer to be able to take time away from his full-time job to dedicate to Pride. And he’s proud to emphasize that Pride Winnipeg is a 100 per cent volunteer-run organization. There are 16 board members, 30 managing
We are the fourth- largest Pride in Canada
and one of the few Prides that is 100 per cent free.”
members who help organize Pride Winnipeg’s year- round activities and approximately 200 additional volunteers who help deliver the colourful and lively Pride Week activities, all of it fuelled entirely by their commitment. “We have 80,000 to 90,000 individuals,” Karlenzig says. “We are the fourth-largest Pride in Canada and one of the few Prides that is 100 per cent free.”
– Barry Karlenzig
He’d like to see more core funding in place to be able to pay out honorariums and ensure that the festival remains admission-free. The festival continues to evolve, and organizers have increased their focus on comfort, accessibility and environmental sustainability over the last couple of years.
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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