News from Ontario/New York Niagara Falls Illumination Board
(A Brief Foreward Note from NAL publisher Doug Draper – As I post this, I can’t help but think of how much has changed over the years in some ways.
The Horseshoe Falls, with nature’s rainbow over it, will be lit up in rainbow colours this June 20th night to ring in the World Pride Festival in Toronto over the next week. File photo by Doug Draper
When I was beginning my studying academic year in journalism at the Univesity of Western Ontario 36 years ago this spring and summer, one of the other students in our class of about 35 decided to take a chance and come out of the closet about his sexual orientation. It was a very risky and courageous act at that time that could have cost him a career in the field, although he was a brilliant person and I don’t believe he was hurt by coming out in the end.
Now here we are, 36 years later, and an organization working with major tourist industries aroound a world destination like Niagara Falls, Ontario and New York decide to light up the Falls in rainbow colours to honour the start of the International Pride Festival in Toronto – even at a time when that city’s own mayor continues to shun this event which brings so many visitors to Toronto.
But never mind the mayor. Sometimes you can say that things have changed in favour of more tolerance for all of our fellow citizens.)
Niagara Falls, Ontario, June 20th – To officially welcome the WorldPride Festival to Toronto, the Niagara Falls Illumination Board will light Niagara Falls in the colours of the rainbow from 9:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., on Friday, June 20, 2014.
This will be the first time WorldPride is held in North America, as previous hosts have included Rome, Jerusalem and London. WorldPride is a celebration of progressive human rights and diversity. In 2014, events will include a street fair, human rights conference, concerts, march and parade. WorldPride expects to host two million individuals for its events and may be the largest WorldPride gathering ever.
Celebrating Gay Pride in the streets of Toronto
The WorldPride Festival in Toronto is supported by Pride Toronto, which has hosted a festival annually since 1981. Pride Toronto is the not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, one of the largest pride celebrations and pre-eminent arts and cultural festivals in Canada.
Niagara Falls is expecting to welcome thousands of international visitors who will be in Toronto for World Pride. These visitors will be able to experience all that Niagara Falls has to offer, including the Falls illumination in rainbow colours, during the course of this Festival.
Established in 1925, The Niagara Falls Illumination Board is made up of representatives from the City of Niagara Falls Ontario, the City of Niagara Falls, New York, Ontario Power Generation Inc., The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and The Niagara Parks Commission. It is the Illumination Board’s responsibility and mandate to finance and maintain the nightly illumination of both the Horseshoe and American Falls.
(Nagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
This is good news. I have volunteered with the local PFLAG organization for years, to assist families dealing with LBGTQ issues, and it has been most rewarding. I walked in two T.O. parades years ago, along with other older folk, church groups, all staggering along under the hot sun. Let me tell you this: PFLAG and the churches and religious organizations got the most applause and appreciation, way more, than any of the ‘glamour’ floats the media covers. So, the tide has turned. And about time too. Pride groups held the second annual day in the park (Montebello) last weekend, as an example of growing inclusivity. For Niagara folks, our chairperson of PFLAG Niagara has just received a recent award, and our founder won the Mayor’s award years ago.
Onward and upward.
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I say the world is still pretty intolerant if we can’t respect another person’s opinion or choice. Why bother taking yet another shot at the mayor of Toronto here? If everyone were jumping over the falls, it seems there would be harsh criticism for the one who wouldn’t. For myself, I prefer far less hoopla, far less bandwagon, and natural rainbows. Live and let live is the only illumination needed.
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