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Pride flag raised at City Hall ahead of Thompson march Sept. 22

Pride North of 55 committee chairperson Susannah Mueller and Mayor Dennis Fenske raised the Pride flag Sept. 17 in front of Thompson City Hall where it will fly for a week, including Sept. 22, the date of the committee’s Pride march and barbecue.
pride flag raising sept 17 2018
Pride North of 55 committee chairperson Susannah Mueller, to left of flagpole, and Mayor Dennis Fenske, second from right, raised the Pride flag at Thompson City Hall sept. 17 accompanied by other committee members, deputy mayor Colleen Smook and members of the Thompson RCMP and Thompson Fire & Emergency Services.

Pride North of 55 committee chairperson Susannah Mueller and Mayor Dennis Fenske raised the Pride flag Sept. 17 in front of Thompson City Hall where it will fly for a week, including Sept. 22, the date of the committee’s Pride march and barbecue.

“I appreciate that we have the rights to do this in Canada where there’s still people out there in the world that are fighting for those rights to be able to express themselves and be who they are and I’m grateful for the acceptance and the acknowledgement that we have here in Thompson for the Pride North of 55 committee and the support that we’ve had from the community and the outlying areas so far,” said Mueller, who was joined for the flag raising by other members of the Pride Committee, deputy mayor Colleen Smook and members of the Thompson RCMP and Thompson Fire & Emergency Services. “I feel that it’s important for us to be out there, to shine a light for other people who are not able to be out or don’t feel safe or accepted where they are, knowing that there are people out there that will accept them and allow them to feel included as opposed to marginalized and not a part of the community or Canadian society.”

Mueller became the Pride North of 55 chairperson when Harlie Pruder stepped down from the position at the group’s annual general meeting in April.

“Initially, when the past chairperson stepped down, I was not keen to take on that role but I did feel it was important that we have this group continue in the community and have it out there for ourselves to move forward and pay it forward to others so that they can feel part of an inclusive Canadian society,” said Mueller. “Our inclusion enhances us – as a country, as a city, as a province – not detracts and I think that’s an important statement to put out there, that being together is not going to take away from anybody else’s beliefs. We can make room for everyone in Canada.”

“I want to congratulate yourself for stepping up and taking on the chairpersonship of this very important committee,” said Fenske. “We are a welcoming community. We want to become a safer community than we already are. It takes a lot of hands to make it happen. I want to very proudly acknowledge today and wish you best of luck in the parade.”

Pride march participants will meet at the Thompson Regional Community Centre at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and march to MacLean Park by City Hall at 11 a.m., where they will hold a barbecue and have performances by Between the Ditches and The Zogs.

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