Pride month begins with advancements and controversy
Several organizations across London honoured the start of Pride month by hoisting either the Pride or Progress Pride flag.
For the first time, King’s University College lifted the Progress Pride flag to honour Pride Month.
“We want it to be inclusive, we want it to be diverse, and we want to send the message, which we believe the flag does, sends the message that everyone is welcome here at King's,” says Principal David Malloy.
The Thames Valley School Board, OPP headquarters and London Police Service (LPS) also raised the Progress Pride flag Tuesday. The latter did so after announcing Monday that London Pride's board of directors had welcomed LPS to participate in this year’s virtual festivities.
LPS Chief Steve Williams says that decision came after discussions with the board, “We just had conversations really, developing some understanding and some trust, which underpins everything we do.”
London police were asked by Pride in 2020 not to fly the flag, as the group stood with Black Lives Matter (BLM) in their call for systematic change to policing.
BLM representatives were disappointed with the reversal of that decision.
“It’s quite disrespectful to the communities that have come forward and said, ‘We have an issue here, we need to solve it, we need to talk through it, we need work through it,’ and none of that has...I\t’s only been a year, none of that has been done yet,” says Alexandra Kane.
Williams however defends the decision to participate, “I know that everybody is not on board with our participation, but I also know that many are, and this is part of an ongoing effort to forge relationships with communities that may be marginalized, that may feel like they’ve been unfairly treated by police in the past -- and they may have been indeed.”
Kane says police could have used the opportunity to do something tangible to make inroads with those communities.
“Why don’t we host a talk? Why don’t we host a town hall? Why don’t we hear from people and see what’s good? You don’t need to be in a parade, and you’re just making people angry, and that does nothing. That does nothing, it changes nothing.”
CTV News London made several attempts to contact the president of Pride London to discuss the decision to allow London police to participate and did not receive a response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.