Statement on City's commitment to continued support of 2SLGBTQI+ communities

The City of St. Catharines values its ongoing relationship with Pride Niagara and remains committed to supporting and celebrating 2SLGBTQI+ communities. While discussions were ongoing about how the City can best support Pride Niagara through the many challenges it faces in delivering its important programming, we share in the community’s disappointment over the announcement of the cancellation of Pride in the Park, and are committed to working with our community partners to ensure future celebrations remain in St. Catharines.

The City of St. Catharines did not cancel Pride in the Park, nor is it restricting the annual event in any way. Celebrating Pride Month and Pride in the Park at Montebello Park has long been a tradition in St. Catharines, one that the City has supported. Following $15,000 in support of last year’s event to erect fencing and enhance security to ensure that those attended could feel safe and celebrate without fear, the City continued exploring ways to further support the organization.

City staff, as per a request from City Council, were also working on a report by April 2025 to look at ways to work with Pride Niagara and other community partners to build a sustainable safety plan and to provide general event support, be it in kind or financial, for future Pride in the Park celebrations.

We appreciate the contributions of the organization, and the way the annual festival and other Pride Niagara activities foster an inclusive and vibrant community – an objective we recognize as a guiding principle of our City’s strategic plan. For more than 20 years we have welcomed 2SLGBTQI+ communities and Pride Niagara to City Hall to hold a flag raising and launch Pride Month each June. In addition to the funding for fencing and security, the City provided $5,000 and $6,000 in years 2023 and 2024 respectively to support to Pride Niagara’s Pride in the Park celebration, in addition to attending and supporting activities such as the Pride Unity Awards.

We remain committed to continuing to seek meaningful ways to collaborate in the future and examining opportunities to continue to show our support to Pride Niagara, other local organizations, and the 2SLGBTQI+ communities who call St. Catharines home.