Volunteer at the Halifax Pride Festival

Become a Halifax Pride Volunteer!

In 2017, more than 100 community members and allies joined us to host events, greet thousands of guests and coordinate one of the premier pride festivals in Canada. Now it's your chance to help us Make Pride Happen!

By volunteering with Halifax Pride, you become part of a team dedicated to celebrating and commemorating Nova Scotia's 2SLGBTQ+ history and culture. Whether your reason for volunteering is to learn more about our vibrant community or complete volunteer hours, there are many opportunities to explore.

Halifax Pride has open roles whether you're interested in volunteering year-round or just for a few hours during the Parade. Sign up to volunteer here!

FESTIVAL/EVENT VOLUNTEERS

Festival and Event Volunteers work alongside Team Leads to help set-up and run the events and initiatives that make Halifax Pride a fabulous event. Whether you are hoping to assemble stages, direct floats, or greet our guests, there's a spot for you. Festival/Event Volunteers will sign-up to volunteer for a few hours at an event or during the festival. No experience is necessary, but a short training session in the weeks before the festival is required.

This year, we're looking for volunteers in the following areas:

• Parade Set-up/Clean-up Support
• Parade Marshals
• Community Market Assistants
• Support for various events
• Set-up/Clean-up for various events
• Accessible Viewing Area Assistants
• Volunteer HQ Assistants

Click HERE to complete a volunteer sign up form and Halifax Pride will contact you with further information. 

 

Halifax Pride launches 2018 theme and event announcements

For immediate release:
Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Halifax, N.S. (K’jipuktuk) - The Halifax Pride Society has revealed that the 2018 Halifax Pride Festival will be themed “Because of you.” The new theme is a change from and answer to 2016 and 2017’s theme “This is why.”

“We’ve used themes for several years to strike certain tones during our festival,” says Morgan Manzer, chair. “It ties together our messaging and hopefully ties community members together in reflection and shared experience.”

The theme speaks to 2018’s marketing materials which feature creative displays of local community members at past Prides or other 2SLGBTQ+ events. The images of these community members will be prominently used on the Pride Guide, advertisements, and online channels leading up to the festival.

“We wanted to celebrate our local community and show the public what Pride is about,” says Adam Reid, executive director. “Pride happens for and by the community, and without the individuals you see in those photos, and many others like them, Pride would not be what it is today.”

Along with the theme, Halifax Pride will launch their 2018 marketing materials on their website and social media channels. Details about programming, speakers, performers, and panelists will trickle out to the public over the next 10 days, with physical copies of the Pride Guide released at the OUTBid Auction on June 16th at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. An online schedule of events will then go live at HalifaxPride.com on June 17th.

At the OUTBid Auction, Halifax Pride will also announce one of the festival’s most honoured designations, the Parade Ambassadors. Each year, the Halifax Pride Society honours individuals or groups with this special designation in recognition and celebration of the positive impact they have made on the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The Halifax Pride OUTBid Auction takes place at the Marriott Harbourfront on June 16. The Halifax Pride Festival runs from July 19-29, 2018.

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Media Contact: Nick Voutour
nick@halifaxpride.com

Community Event Submissions

In 2017, the Halifax Pride Festival included more than 100 events created for and by our 2SLGBTQ+ community, and now it’s your chance to get involved!

Halifax Pride wants to promote your events. From live performances, art exhibitions, meet-ups and guided tours, to public concerts, wine tastings, and everything in between, we want to feature your events!

Step 1: Check out the Community Organizer Guide for some quick tips and tricks to planning an event during the festival.

Step 2: Submit your event HERE so we can include your event in our online festival schedule. (Note: deadline for submissions to the printed Pride Guide was April 27)

Step 3: Start planning and have fun!

If you have questions or need assistance with submitting your event, contact adam@halifaxpride.com.

Halifax Pride Safer Spaces Training

We need fantastic volunteers to make Halifax Pride possible. With that goal in mind, we have partnered with Avalon Sexual Assault Centre and the Province of Nova Scotia to host free training sessions to help us provide safer spaces at all Halifax Pride events.

Although the workshops have been designed with Halifax Pride volunteers in mind, they are open to the general public. Participants can register for one or all three free sessions. These sessions include:

- 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Language and Safer Space Principles -

Monday, March 12 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
This workshop will familiarize participants with Halifax Pride’s safer spaces policy, safer space efforts, and inclusive 2SLGBTQ+ terminology.

- Project Soundcheck: RECOGNIZE and Address Rape CulturE - 

Monday, March 19 | 6:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Facilitated by Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, this workshop will familiarize participants with skills to help ensure safer space at public events. Project Soundcheck gives volunteers and bystanders the tools to recognize and address rape culture at events. The training will give participants a comprehensive overview of sexualized violence, identifying drug facilitated sexual assault, and bystander intervention.

- Active ListeninG -

Monday, April 30 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Facilitated by Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, this active-listener training gives participants tangible skills to become better listeners and support people who may be feeling triggered or overwhelmed. The training will touch on several important topics in active listening such as setting personal boundaries, trauma, grounding exercises, the importance of utilizing an anti-oppressive approach, and supporting someone in accessing additional resources.

TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOPS PLEASE CLICK HERE.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

• All workshops hosted at the Halifax Central Library
• Snacks and drinks provided
• The Halifax Central Library is a wheelchair accessible space.
• Gender neutral washrooms are identified on site.
• ASL interpretation services may be arranged by emailing adam@halifaxpride.com a minimum of 72 hours prior to the event.
• Those requiring travel assistance may obtain Metro Transit tickets from the organizers at the event.

The Halifax Pride Society recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to offer these skill building workshops for young people and the public.  

Apply for Community Events Funding Support Now!

Applications are now available for the 2018 Community Events Funding Program. 

Do you want to organize an event during the Pride festival, but require a little support? The Halifax Pride Society is eager to support those who wish to create and host 2SLGBTQ+ community events that celebrate our history, build bridges between diverse communities, enrich quality of life for residents, and foster community pride.

The goal of the Community Event Funding Program is to offer financial assistance to help community event ideas become a reality. Funding decisions will be made by a committee of community volunteers. All decisions will be final and applicants will be notified of the results by April 1, 2018.

To learn more about the Community Events Funding Program, see if you and your event qualify, or submit an application, click here.