PHOTO OP | MEDIA ADVISORY Capital Pride 2008 ­ Media Preview Ottawa,…

PHOTO OP | MEDIA ADVISORY

Capital Pride 2008 ­ Media Preview
Ottawa, August 13, 2008 ­ Capital Pride is revving up in anticipation of another
exciting edition of the Capital Pride Festival. The capital's most colourful
celebration, this festival takes place from August 18 to 24 and features a week
full of activities for the queer and queer-friendly community, leading up to the
annual Capital Pride parade on August 24, 2008.

This year's theme ­ Live Your Pride ­ celebrates the various ways in which Ottawa
and Gatineau's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people live their
pride not only during the week-long festival, but everyday of the year.

An overview of major events and story ideas follows:

Monday August 18, 2008

7:00 a.m. ­ 9:00 a.m. - Ottawa Police Headquarters, 474 Elgin St.
Ottawa Police Service GLBT Liaison Committee annual flag unfurling & pancake
breakfast. A pay-what-you-can event with all proceeds going to Camp Ten Oaks and
Capital Pride.
**Story ideas ­ Get the inside scoop on how Ottawa Police is working with the GLBT
community.


4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W
Official kickoff of Capital Pride Week with the raising of the rainbow flag at
City Hall, and proclamation. Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien and Ottawa Police Services
Chief Vernon White in attendance. A Mayor's Reception at City Hall follows the
flag raising ceremony.
**Story idea ­ showcase the 30th anniversary of the Pride "rainbow" flag; Profile
of civic leaders' support of the GLBT community.


Tuesday August 19, 2008

7:00 p.m. ­ 9:30 p.m. ­ Ottawa City Hall and Human Rights Monument, 110 Laurier
Ave. W
Queer Community town hall event with Ottawa--Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi, in
partnership with EGALE Canada. Film screening and discussion at Ottawa's City Hall
from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. followed by the 2nd Annual Human Right's Candlelight
Vigil at Elgin Street's Human Right's Monument at 9:00 p.m.
**Story ideas ­ Photo opportunity; interview vigil participants and Ottawa--Centre
MPP Yasir Naqvi.


Wednesday August 20, 2008

7:30 p.m. ­ 9:00 p.m. ­ Ottawa Public Library, 120 Metcalfe St.
Public lecture by Professor Dan Irving, a FTM scholar at Carleton University about
"The Self-Made Man"
**Story ideas ­ interview Dan Irving; get insignts about transgender persons
living their pride in Ottawa.




                                                     OTTAWA  GATINEAU | www.capitalpride.ca
                                       PO Box 2428, Station D, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W6 613.421.5387
4:00 p.m. ­ 7:00 p.m. ­ Brewer Park, Ottawa
A celebration of the diversity of families in our community. Family Services
Ottawa hosts a good old fashioned picnic. Bring your own basket of goodies.
** Story ideas ­ profile gay and lesbian families and get the inside scoop on
Family Services Ottawa programs and services.


Thursday August 21, 2008

6:00 p.m. ­ 11:00 p.m. ­ SAW Gallery/Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St.
Capital Pride Sponsor Reception - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Capital Pride Gala Cabaret presented by Jer's Vision: Canada's Youth Diversity
Initiative and sponsored by Public Service Unions. The Gala will include a Cabaret
show. Special Guests: Degrassi TNG star: Adamo Ruggiero, Capital Pride's Parade
Marshall Kevin Hatt, community activist Kerry Beckett, and the Hon. Sheila Copps.
This is an alcohol free, no charge, all-ages event.
**Story ideas ­ profile community activists and supporters; interview gay and
lesbian youth about the particular challenges they face.


Saturday August 23, 2008

2:00 p.m. ­ 8:00 p.m. ­ Ottawa City Hall,
Women's Stage III at City Hall's Festival Plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Comedienne Christine O'Leary hosts performers Nancy Rancourt, DJ Jen, Tara
Holloway, Jenna Taggart, Mad June, Nikki Gregoire and more. Follows the Dyke March
at 2:00 p.m.
**Story ideas ­ profile local artists and women performers.


Sunday August 24, 2008

1:00 p.m. ­ Garden of the Provinces, Wellington Street to Ottawa City Hall
22nd Annual Capital Pride Parade. Starts at 1:00 p.m. Grand Marshall ­ Kevin Hatt,
community leader and spokesperson for persons living with AIDS. Lead off with
Amazon Dykes on Bikes. Over 1200 Parade participants march in front of the three
levels of government and celebrate the past 22 years of our movement with over
35,000 spectators.

3:00 p.m. ­ 11:00 p.m. Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W.
Capital Pride Festival with MC Christine O'Leary. Featuring Nancy Rancourt, The
Habit, Amanda Rheaume, Drag King Nat King Pole, Mad June, Disco Inferno, Drag
Queens, and a performance by 'Wicked'.
Family Services Ottawa's Around the Rainbow project will be hosting the 2008 Kids
Can section.
**Story ideas ­ profile community groups participating in the parade; interview
parade spectators or family and friends; profile parade Grand Marshall Kevin Hatt;
interview parade organisers.


For further information visit www.capitalpride.ca or contact:

Marion Steele, Capital Pride at 613.421.5387 (marion@prideottawa.com)
Julien Lavoie, Communications Coordinator at 613.265.1841 (julienlavoie@gmail.com)




                                                     OTTAWA  GATINEAU | www.capitalpride.ca
                                       PO Box 2428, Station D, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W6 613.421.5387