The pride flag was raised in a ceremony Tuesday in Patterson Park in downtown La Ronge.
The annual ceremony was hosted by the Lac La Ronge Regional Pride committee and saw a crowd adorned in rainbows.
Colin Ratushniak, pride committee member and mayor of La Ronge, explained why he was happy to be raising the flag in front of the crowd of about 50 people.
“I’m so happy that you are all here to celebrate with us in our continued fight for equality, human rights and our education for (why) we celebrate.”
He also told the crowd that to him, the flag raising is about LGBTQ+ children.
“For me, this is about our youth and showing them that we are visible, that we matter and that we are essentially here so that we can give support.”
Committee member Dylan Menard, who recently moved to the area, also spoke to the crowd.
Menard explained the difficulties faced growing up in Saskatchewan as a Métis, two-spirit and gay person.
“As a young Métis person, growing up in Saskatchewan was not always the easiest thing,” Menard said. “Hiding my Métis-identity, hiding my two-spirited, gay identity, was a constant thing growing up.”
Menard continued to explain that it’s been nice to see a shift in how LGBTQ+ people are treated in the province.
The ceremony began with a prayer then had another volunteer read two poems.
Once the flag had been hoisted to the top and people had a chance to clap and celebrate, it was brought to half-mast in honour of the 215 children found in a mass grave site on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, followed by a moment of silence.
The flag will be flown for the entire month of June, also known as Pride month.
In addition to the flag flying, the committee has contests and events that are being planned, including a pride parade and festival in July.
(PHOTO: Top, the pride flag was raised during a ceremony in Patterson Park. Bottom, it was then moved to half-mast. Photos by Sam Campling.)