06-07-2025
Hudson, Que., holds its first ever suburban Pride event
Hudson, Que., held its first ever Pride this year, and organizers say it's important to make everyone feel included. (Christine Long/CTV)
Rainbows took over Hudson, Que., has the community held its first ever Pride event on Saturday.
The Hudson and Vaudreuil-Soulanges Pride was put together by local volunteers to celebrate diversity within their suburban communities.
Evie Haugland, one of the event's organizers, says the goal is to educate.
'That's our whole vibe. Our whole mission is to bring people together, to show up, to have that visibility in order for young people to know that we exist, that we're here and we're here to support them and help them through their journey,' she said.
Organizations like The West Island LGBTQ2+ Centre were on site, letting people like Elora Gorman know they are welcome as they explore their identity.
'One thing I really love about the LGBTQ2+ community, it's very pretty. And I love the music,' Gorman said.
Local artists with messages of inclusion were on-site selling their work.
Martha Randy uses her photography to recreate the Pride emblems with colours found in nature.
'Diversity is a natural part of our world, right? From the forests to our families to everything. And if we start homogenizing the world that we live in, it's not going to be good for anybody and we're all going to suffer,' she told CTV News.
In a bit of synchronicity, The Hudson Village Theatre next door is in rehearsals to stage a comedy that revolves around a gay couple moving into a small community.
Don Anderson of the theatre said Bed & Breakfast is a play in which 'some people are very accepting and ready to welcome them into their community, others maybe not so much.'
He added that whatever the current production may be onstage, the theatre has always been a safe space for everyone.
'It's really apropos that I'm so glad that we were able to participate in today's event, the inaugural Hudson Pride Event. It's so it's so important!' he said.
Many at the Pride event said it's especially important now as some humans rights have come under threat.
'In the States right now, there's so much homophobia and transphobia. So we wanted to make sure as Canadians that we were saying, 'No, this is not what we want. That does not represent us,'' said organizer Haugland.
