City committed to fostering safe and inclusive communities for all
Celebrate Pride 2023, presented by TD, in Garden Square this June.
Garden Square will be transformed on June 4, with electrifying performances, curated by Brampton Arts Organization and Performing Arts Brampton, and free activities.
Headlining this year’s Pride is Ryland James , platinum-certified singer-songwriter with over 85 million global streams and Vivek Shraya, an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, TV and film.
Support local downtown businesses and grab a bite to eat at one of our official food partners: Little Shop, Segovia Coffee Co., Fanzorelli’s Restaurant & Wine Bar, Pepper Shack and Mi Churros Pâtisserie.
The City of Brampton is committed to addressing the unique challenges that the LGBTQIA2S+ community face and champions to create a safe and inclusive space where the community and Pride can be recognized and celebrated.
Attendees will have the chance to meet with local LGBTQIA2S+ organizations who work every day to make our community an inclusive place for all.
Safety and comfort are priorities throughout Pride. City Hall Conservatory will be a dedicated safe-space and accessible and all-gender washrooms will be available on-site.
Pride 2023 is sponsored by Algoma University, Fido and Sheridan College.
In addition to Pride programming, the City of Brampton Clerk’s Office will be officiating pre-booked marriage ceremonies every 30 minutes between 2 to 5:30 pm.
Visit www.brampton.ca/pride for full event details and scheduling.
Save the date
Celebrate Pride 2023
June 4, 2 to 7 PM
Garden Square
Brampton, ON
About Ryland James
In 2019, Ryland emerged on the global stage with his breakout single “In My Head.” It notably soared to #1 on Shazam Canada’s Top 200 chart and also went platinum in Canada. Captivating audiences, he supported multiplatinum superstar Alessia Cara on a sold out North American tour and performed at festivals such as Life Is Beautiful and Bumbershoot. On the heels of his self-titled 2020 debut EP, Ryland James, he exceeded 80 million global streams. In the middle of a pandemic, Ryland started 2021 with the single “Blame,” which tallied another 6 million-plus streams, and the dancefloor banger “Save Me” with Shaun Frank. He kicked off 2022 with his latest 2022 single “I Give Everything,” and performing the Canadian National Anthem at the NBA All Star Game, receiving shoutouts from legendary Snoop Dogg and powerhouse vocalist Jennifer Hudson.
Along the way, Ryland fell in love for the first time and publicly came out as queer with a heartfelt Instagram post. These moments indelibly impacted his creativity. “Everything aligned exactly at the right time,” he observes. “I put out my first EP, got into my first relationship, and came out to the world. Now, I can just be myself, because everything comes from a place of love and wanting the best for me, my audience, and the world. I started to go into sessions open-minded. I wasn’t afraid of trying different things or failing. I stopped holding on to a perfectly planned timeline. I learned to let things flow more. I was finally in a place where I could write personal songs and talk about my direct experiences.”
About Vivek Shraya
Vivek Shraya is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, TV, and film. She is a Canadian Screen Award winner and a Polaris Music Prize nominee, and her best-selling book I’m Afraid of Men was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.” She is also the founder of the award-winning publishing imprint VS. Books, which supports emerging BIPOC writers.
Vivek has been a brand ambassador for MAC Cosmetics and Pantene. She is a director on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and is currently adapting her debut play, How to Fail as a Popstar, as a digital series with CBC. Vivekshraya.com is the digital archive for a living trans artist of colour, featuring her music, writing, visual art, theatrical and film works, from 2002 to present.
Quotes
“Let’s gather as a community to celebrate Pride and make it clear that each and every day Brampton is a City that is safe, inclusive and welcoming to all. We are excited and honour to host this incredible lineup of performers in Garden Square and gather as a group to foster a sense of belonging, to learn and to grow. I hope to see you at Pride 2023.”
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton
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As one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, Brampton is home to nearly 700,000 people and more than 90,000 businesses. People are at the heart of everything we do. We are energized by our diverse communities, we attract investment, and we are embarking on a journey to lead technological and environmental innovation. We partner for progress to build a healthy city that is safe, sustainable and successful. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn more at www.brampton.ca.
MEDIA CONTACT
Media Relations, City of Brampton
mediarelations@brampton.ca
