The diversity of Clearwater was in full display and celebrated over the May long weekend as the community embraced the May Day Parade Saturday morning.
Kalen Jones, executive director of Valley Pride, addressed the crowd at the Dutch Lake Community Centre following the very successful ‘first’ Valley Pride sponsored May Days in Clearwater on May 20 to 21.
After the parade, Jones expressed his gratitude to those gathered, as well as participants and sponsors, in a brief, but heartfelt speech. Jones first acknowledging the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Secwepemc and Simpcw nations and paid respect to the First Peoples of these territories as well as extending further acknowledgement and respect to all Indigenous Peoples.
“This has been a great opportunity to show that we are, Valley Pride, another not for profit organization like many others here in Clearwater. We have our own mission/vision statement, as does any other organization. We hope that by bringing back a great community event after a few years of this having been missed, that this event will become an event that includes everyone all under the banner of inclusivity. That is why we chose the theme of the 2023 May Day Parade of - ‘Embrace your Heritage’.”
Jones explained that along with his role with the Valley Pride Society, and a local business owner, he is also part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community personally, has a family background that is made up of many different heritage backgrounds such as European, African and First Nations and he is the father of three “beautiful people.” He also is co-owner of Gateway Grill and Catering with his best friend and mother of their children.
When asked by Black Press about the mission and vision of Valley Pride, Jones said they want to be proud to live in a community where you don’t have to be brave to be yourself.
“Just saying that rings out. Why should a person have to feel brave to be who they are? To be themselves? Whatever that is. They should not. Nobody should.”
Jones believes that everyone should be proud to be themselves, whether that is embracing your heritage, sharing your culture, being proud of the colour of your skin or being part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Since Valley Pride is a new non-profit only formed in August of 2022, Jones feels the conversations surrounding inclusivity are also fairly new for Clearwater and surrounding areas.
“It has to start somewhere, right? It’s not always easy and I can speak for myself when I say I’m new to all of this as well. I’m learning every day and there will always be issues around inclusivity that arise.”
He feels that hard conversations need to happen for change to happen and that change is happening in the valley thanks to community support.
“We are changing the dial here in Clearwater. The District of Clearwater’s new working group for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, DEI, is proof of that change. Today, May Day sponsored by Valley Pride is proof of that change. We have such a great core community and I am finding out every day just how great it is and can be. Thank you for coming out and supporting inclusivity in our community.”
In an emotionally-authentic conclusion to his speech, he said, “Look around, we are community. For a time in my life I was not sure if I was proud to live in a place like Clearwater. Especially coming out at 35. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I can tell you, everyday I am feeling more and more proud to call Clearwater home. Love you all!”
The May Day parade followed a new route on the old highway in Clearwater where there would be less commercial traffic and conducive to the gathering of families with young children and a safer, more relaxed area where people could watch.
With many local organizations, groups and non-profits as well as the District of Clearwater, and first responders that included fire, RCMP, ambulance, and search and rescue, the parade was a colourful event with many walkers carrying Valley Pride flags, wearing costumes that reflected the parade theme of ‘Embrace your Heritage’ and a lot of goodies being thrown for the kids along the way.
The sense of community spirit continued throughout the two days of May Day events such as; the colourful parade, two farmer’s markets, ball games, music, games and a dance at the local ski hill that seemed to have something for everyone.
Even tourists previously unaware, seemed to enjoy the events, the friendly and inviting ambiance of local restaurants, stores and accommodations, that once again showed that Clearwater, also known as Wells Gray Country, really is a place where people ‘love where they live!’
Mayor Merlin Blackwell of the District of Clearwater, summed it up after hearing Jones’ speech.
“Clearwater is a community made up of all types of people all across the human spectrum. We need all of them to feel welcome in this community and we need all of them to feel comfortable here - those who operate businesses, who heal us, feed us and do good things. We need a positive, progressive community to keep us moving and healthy.”
