On May 29, students, employees, and community members gathered at both Niagara College campuses in a show of solidarity and support as the Progress Pride Flag was raised to mark the beginning of Pride Month.
The NC community gathers to raise the Progress Pride Flag at the Welland campus.
The Pride flag serves as a powerful symbol of inclusion, visibility, and recognition, honouring and uplifting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across NC and beyond.
At the Welland Campus, Dr. Chris McGrath, Vice President, Students, opened the event with a land acknowledgment and welcomed attendees to the ceremony. He spoke about the significance of Pride Month and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels seen, respected, and valued.
“Today we not only celebrate the start of Pride month, but we also acknowledge June as Indigenous History Month,” said Dr. McGrath. “As I drove to campus this morning, I was reflecting on our relationship to the land, and it’s not lost on me that the movements for queer and Indigenous rights are so deeply connected. Since immemorial, Indigenous cultures around the world have celebrated and lifted up people in their communities who see the world through multiple perspectives — those who experience the world beyond the male/female binary, and they contribute the best of both worlds to their community’s flourishing.”
Dr. McGrath also shared his personal experiences with those gathered.
“Growing up gay, I always knew there was something different about how I saw the world, and in turn, how I experienced it. I could never quite describe it or quantify it, but it always seemed that others around me knew what that something different was,” he shared. “That ‘something different’ informs how I see the world to this day–in my interactions with other queer people, radicalized people, people with disabilities, women, and folks from other marginalized groups, and helps me to better connect, collaborate, and understand. Happy Pride, everyone!”
Additional remarks were shared by NCSAC Director of Media Peter Almounauar and Pride Niagara Board member Enzo De Divitis, who both emphasized the importance of allyship, community support, and continued advocacy for equal rights for all.
At the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Vice President, Enrolment Dorita Pentesco and NCSAC President Hish Clifford addressed attendees, speaking about the importance of Pride Month and NC’s ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students and employees.
The Progress Pride Flag will continue to fly at both campuses throughout the month of June as a visible reminder of Niagara College’s support for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
The NC community celebrates the raising of the Pride Flag at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.
June Pride Events
Celebrate Pride with the Niagara Queer Run Crew
New this year, the Niagara College community is invited to take part in an event with the Niagara Queer Run Crew hosted in partnership with Niagara College’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team, Where Pride Meets Community: NQRC x NC, on June 1 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Welland Campus.
The Progress Pride Flag flies at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Tie-dye with Student Engagement
Join NC’s Student Engagement team for a tie-dye t-shirt event. You can bring your own shirt or purchase one using NC cash.
June 2 | Daniel J. Patterson Campus | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Courtyard
June 4 | Welland Campus | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Courtyard
Community events and resources
- Pride Niagara events calendar
- LGBT support line
- Niagara Falls Community Health Centre
- 2SLGBTQ+ Support
- Niagara Transgender Action Coalition
- OUTniagara
- pflag Niagara
- Queer Events
- Quest Community Health Centre
- Rainbow Niagara 2SLGBTQ+ Services
- Senior Pride Network Niagara
- Transgender Niagara
NC Libraires and Learning Centres display
Additional educational resources available through the Libraries and Learning Centres Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Sources guide.
Throughout June, the NC Libraries and Learning Centres at both campuses will feature dedicated Pride Month displays showcasing books and resources connected to Pride. These curated displays will include both print and eBooks to encourage deeper exploration and learning.
