This past weekend, Portage la Prairie marked the 10th annual Portage Pride festival, a milestone that reflected just how far the community has come over the past decade.
The day opened with heartfelt speeches and a colourful 3-kilometre Pride Walk that wound through the city. As evening fell, crowds gathered at Prairie Fusion for a free, all-ages drag show, the first in Portage to feature an all-Indigenous performer lineup. The celebration concluded with a dance party at Diamond Nightclub, where drag show attendees were invited to extend the festivities into the late-night hours.
At the centre of it all were Callie McArthur and William Garrioch, long-time friends and co-founders of the Portage Pride Committee. Garrioch, who performs in drag as Cheron, grew up in Portage but left the city years ago in search of acceptance. Coming home to help organize and headline the event was deeply meaningful.
“Growing up here was difficult back in the day. There was no one else like me,” Garrioch shares. “I felt that Portage was too small, and I needed to go and spread my wings elsewhere. But there are so many people here who still need support, guidance, and someone to relate to."
Over ten years ago, driven by a shared desire to support the local 2SLGBTQ+ community, Garrioch and McArthur sat down for a drink to brainstorm what that would entail, and Portage Pride was born.
"Every year, we've had different people join our small committee, usually between two and five people. It's still grassroots ten years later, but I'm confident that it will continue to grow and become bigger and better than ever," Garrioch continues.
For both McArthur and Garrioch, Pride is about far more than a single day of celebration.
“People are getting tired of being on the wrong side of history,” McArthur says. “Especially for a small rural community, it's unbelievably important to promote inclusivity, love, joy, and acceptance. Everybody has the right to love who they love. That's why we do this, and we will continue to do it until nobody bats an eye at it.”
That mission was felt throughout the day as new faces joined longtime supporters, waving flags, holding hands, and cheering for performers on stage.
Samantha Martinussen, who contributed a bold, colourful mural as the festival backdrop, says the sense of connection made this Pride event special.
“I’ve done backdrops for my local skating club before, and when my mom, who’s volunteering here, told me they needed something, I figured I could help,” Martinussen explains. “I went to Winnipeg Pride, and it was amazing, but I love the smaller community events. You get to know people, and it’s always a lot of fun.”
Her mother, Brenda Martinussen, is the executive director of the Portage Clinic, which sponsored this year’s Pride Walk. She says their involvement reflects a broader commitment to supporting people as they are.
"We thoroughly believe in everybody’s right to be unique and to be who they are. Events like this show how important it is to support each other year-round," she explains.
Brenda also spoke openly about her personal connection to the cause and how her daughter’s experiences opened her eyes.
“One day, my daughter, who was the co-chair of her GSA club in high school, told me that she walked down the hallway at school and got barked at,” she says, holding back emotion. “As a parent, the only thing that hurts you to the core is when your child is hurt. I wanted to thank everybody at Pride for the resilience they have, and I’m so sorry they have to develop that resilience in the first place."
She adds that, despite being raised to value acceptance, she hadn’t realized how persistent bullying still is for younger generations. Supporting Pride, she says, is about showing up for families, friends, and future generations.
For Garrioch, that ongoing support is what Pride is all about.
“Pride shows people that not only do they belong, but they have a chosen family and resources here if they want it or need it,” he explains. “Pride is not just one day, it's all year long. I think in small places like Portage, where small-town mentality is abundant, you're seeing a shift in tolerance, love, and acceptance. I think that's why it's so important.”
All day long, the atmosphere was one of celebration and reflection of how far Portage Pride has come in 10 years, and how far it still plans to go.
“The community has truly stepped up for us,” McArthur adds. “It’s been overwhelming in the best way. If anyone wants to get involved or learn more, they should follow our Facebook page because we already have big plans for next year.”
With growing support and a clear vision for the future, Portage Pride is ready to keep transforming the community, one year and one celebration at a time.
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