The History of Pride Week in Canada

From the First Demonstrations to the legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

Pride Week 1973 was a national LGBT rights event held in August 1973 in several Canadian cities. In Canada, the first demonstrations took place in Ottawa and Vancouver in 1971. By 1973, Pride events were held in Montreal and Vancouver.

Montreal and Vancouver became the first Canadian cities to host an official Pride march and festival. The first Pride Parade in Canada was unofficially held in Vancouver in 1978. In 2005, Canada became the fourth country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage.