On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ community and our allies filled the streets of downtown for the Edmonton Pride Parade and Trans March, the centrepiece of the Edmonton Pride Festival held August 21 to 23. Last year, in 2025, the parade and Trans March returned to the streets for the first time since 2018. This second year back showed that the community’s commitment to marching together remains strong.
The Rainbow Story Hub Foundation is grateful to Paula Kirman of Radical Citizen Media for allowing us to embed this video in our collection. Paula has spent years documenting social justice and activist events in Edmonton, including rallies, protests, and conferences, creating an invaluable record of our city’s activist history.
“I never thought I’d still be here to tell this story — but maybe that’s exactly why I need to.”
In Part Two of this biographical series, Edmonton’s Ron Byers continues his remarkable journey — one defined by survival, advocacy, and the power of storytelling to build community and preserve memory.
As the AIDS crisis deepened through the 1980s and 1990s, Ron witnessed the loss of countless friends and community members. Then, in 1998, he himself was diagnosed with AIDS, facing both the stigma and the steep challenges that came with navigating a medical system often unprepared — and at times unwilling — to meet the needs of those living with HIV. Through it all, Ron’s resilience and determination became acts of quiet defiance and hope.
Decades later, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ron once again turned to storytelling — this time through writing. He began contributing to the Edmonton City as Museum Project, documenting the History of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose and the History of Gay Bars in Edmonton. These projects inspired the creation of his own non-profit foundation, the Rainbow Story Hub, dedicated to preserving and amplifying Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ history.
His work soon caught the attention of Explore Edmonton, who invited him to author the Guide to Pride in Edmonton. That collaboration sparked the founding of Pride Edmonton, reviving local Pride initiatives and connecting organizations across the city.
Building on these partnerships, Ron worked with Explore Edmonton and other community leaders to raise awareness of Queer History Month, ensuring that Edmonton’s queer stories were celebrated and remembered. His leadership also extended internationally when he joined a team developing Edmonton’s bid to host the 2030 Gay Games, highlighting the city’s inclusive spirit on the world stage.
Today, Ron reflects with gratitude on the journey that brought him here — from survival to storytelling, from activism to recognition. His decades of work have been honoured with numerous accolades, including being named a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his service to community and culture.
Part Two celebrates Ron’s ongoing legacy: a story of perseverance, creativity, and the belief that by telling our stories, we make it possible for others to tell theirs.
After 7 long years, the Edmonton Pride Parade made its return — more colourful, and fabulous than ever before!
Thousands of 2SLGBTQ+ community members, allies, and supporters lined the streets as the Pride Parade made its way back to the streets of downtown Edmonton in a dazzling celebration of love, identity, and unity.
The 2025 Edmonton Pride Parade was lead by Edmonton’s first Trans Parade!
In Part Two Retired Major John McDougall of the Canadian Armed Forces and soon retired Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission talks with Activist and former Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission about his time with the Canadian Armed Forces and being arrested for being gay.
Retired Major John McDougall of the Canadian Armed Forces and current Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission talks with Activist and former Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission about his time with the Canadian Armed Forces and being arrested for being gay.
Vernon’s Podcast Episode 16 Edmonton’s Queer History is now streaming on all major platforms! For easy access go to vernonspodcast.com Rainbow Story Hub Foundation and Edmonton Queer History Project‘s ROB BROWATZKE stops by to share a few things! Author of Through the Mirrorball and owner of Evolution Wonderlounge. His knowledge of Queer history in Edmonton Alberta is immense. Too much for just one session, but listen to us try. We talk about the #gaybars, #gayrights, #pride, #devision, #unity, #comingout, #sobriety and so much more.
This is a Baker-Park montage from Pride 2009’s show at Churchill Square. What performers do you recognize? The theme for Pride 2009 was Age of Aqueerious with the Pride Festival running from June 12 – 21, 2009. The performances in this video montage are from the main stage on Churchill Square on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
Fifteen years ago, Aaron Granley and Daren Kavich were sitting at Boots, sharing a few pitchers of beer, and bitching how no one came out. Daren was recently back from Vancouver, where he’d attended one of the successful Bearracuda events that happened regularly there, and they lamented that nothing like this happened in Edmonton. There’d been bear groups before, but nothing was active. As Daren told Aaron stories about what the scene was like at Bearracuda, Aaron got more and more irritated that local bears and bear-admirers and bear-adjacents had to travel elsewhere for a party like that. Or…
2018 was the last Pride Parade held in the City of Edmonton. The Parade – held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 – ran east on 82 Avenue (Whyte Avenue) to 104 Street where it then turned North to Gazebo Park Park where it disbanded and Parade attendees then headed East to End of Steel Park for the Pride Festival grounds. At about 10 minutes after the start of the Parade reached 104 Street it was blocked by protesters who held up the parade for over 30 minutes while officials from the Edmonton Pride Festival Society attempted to negotiate a resolution while considering the “Demands” of the protesters.
Edmonton Pride Parade 2017 – ShawTV This is a full length edition of the Edmonton Pride Parade filmed by Shaw TV Edmonton on June 4, 2016. The presentation was hosted by Shaye Ganam and Darrin Hagen with Reporter On The Street – Vanity Fair with special Guest Marni Panas Check out the @ShawTVEdmonton YouTube Channel Viewing time 1:18:29
Edmonton Pride Parade 2016 – ShawTV This is a full length edition of the Edmonton Pride Parade filmed by Shaw TV Edmonton on June 4, 2016. The presentation was hosted by Dana Giesbreicht and Darrin Hagen with Reporter On The Street – Vanity Fair and Jordan Hertner Check out the @ShawTVEdmonton YouTube Channel Viewing time 1:24:02
Edmonton Pride Parade 2015 – ShawTV This is a full length edition of the Edmonton Pride Parade filmed by Shaw TV Edmonton on June 6, 2015. The presentation was hosted by Alexa MacLean and Darrin Hagen with Reporter On The Street – Vanity Fair Check out the @ShawTVEdmonton YouTube Channel Viewing time 1:15:54
This is a collection of short clips of the Edmonton Pride Parade recorded on June 15, 2003.
Thanks to Times.10 Magazine for copyright permissions for including in our video catalogue.
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This is a collection of short clips of the Edmonton Pride Parade recorded on June 19, 2004.
Thanks to Times.10 Magazine for copyright permissions for including in our video catalogue.
Remember to click SUBSCRIBE to follow our channel!
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Radical Citizen Media
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