Heavy police presence at PRIDE event

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Law enforcement officers - some local bylaw, some Durham Regional Police - stand next to a protester across from PRIDE events on Saturday afternoon. Photo by John Cavers

At least a dozen law enforcement officers - some from Durham Regional Police and some municipal bylaw officers - were on the scene on upper Brock Street on Saturday for the third annual Uxbridge Pride Celebration.

Chief bylaw officer Hilary Williams said the number of officers in attendance came about as a result of an incident last week at a similar event in Port Perry.

The event itself, held on the municipal parking lot next to Wixan's Bridge, featured music, dancing, drag queens, crafts for children, snacks and an inflatable unicorn that sprayed unsuspecting passersby with water from its horn. Given the heat, no one complained.

The only complaints came from a half-a-dozen protesters across the street who stood on the curb outside of Domino’s Pizza and used a microphone and loudspeakers to harangue the event and the attendees. At one point, someone parked their black pickup truck in front of the protesters and revved the truck’s engine to drown out the protest leader every time he tried to speak. However, a police officer came over and told the truck driver to cease. Then he and Williams told the group of protesters that they could not use the loudspeakers because they had not acquired a permit from the Township. Shutting the speakers down, the leader of the group then attempted to yell his message at the top of his voice, but soon gave up and the group disappeared.

Following the afternoon event, PRIDE moved to The Second Wedge Brewing Co. for more entertainment, and then finished the day at 9 by Tin restaurant. No further incidents were reported.