Salmon Arm will hold its first community Pride event this summer.
City council unanimously approved a request Monday for a Pride Picnic, to be held at Canoe Beach on Saturday, July 29.
Patrick Ryley explained to council he was told the Gender Sexuality Alliance at Salmon Arm Secondary had requested a Pride event.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœFurther discussion with yourself (Mayor Nancy Cooper) and others, led to the collective brain trust coming up with the possibility of a picnic in the park, all-inclusive, family and friends91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦ welcome to everyone.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
Council also received a letter from Ryley and Patricia Thurston with the Shuswap Family Resource Centre requesting approval for the picnic.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœWe ask that this be considered 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ family-style, games, no protests, no speeches, family and friends coming together to the park 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ under the umbrella of the family resource centre.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. under the banner of 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ˜Pride does not divide.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™
To end the evening, he said, it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s hoped a dance can be held at Canoe Victory Hall from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Proceeds would go to the resource centre as well as the SAFE Society.
Ryley also invited council to be part of the first Pride event at SAS, which was held on Wednesday, June 14.
Ryley noted he had hoped to speak to council earlier, but his request was bumped to Monday, June 12 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ which turned out to be one year to the day of the Orlando shooting, where 49 people were killed inside a gay nightclub in Florida.
Following the approval, Coun. Tim Lavery made a notice of motion that he would like a cost estimate of a rainbow crosswalk to be included in Salmon Arm91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s fall budget deliberations.