The Capital Pride Festival of 2021 has begun, with this year’s event including a mix of online and personal celebrations from 22 to 29 August.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, CEO of Capital Pride Osmel B. Guerra Maynes and elected officials made remarks and raised rainbow flags at the festival to officially kick off the festivities.

With the theme “We Demand Demand!”, Capital Pride is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first large-scale queer rights protest in Canada that took place in Ottawa. According to Capital Pride, the festival aims to remember “the voices that helped us achieve and enjoy the rights and freedoms we cherish today.”

Featured image of Spencer Colby