On Saturday, the community of Southwest Saskatchewan came together at Walker Place to celebrate diversity and inclusivity at a Pride drag workshop and show.
The event, organized by Southwest Saskatchewan Pride, showcased the artistry and talent of local performers while providing a safe space for self-expression.
The workshop kicked off the day's festivities just before 4:00 p.m., with approximately ten attendees eagerly observing the three skilled drag performers.
Dawn Caswell, a member of Southwest Saskatchewan Pride, said that those in attendance were captivated by the intricate steps and stages involved in transforming into drag.
“It is an incredibly intensive procedure and our audience quite enjoyed that,” she elaborated. “It's not only an intense procedure, but it takes some time as well. So, it was a couple of hours that they got to watch this whole transformation happen, it was really quite remarkable.”
The show, consisting of two performances, took place in the evening and drew a substantial crowd for both the all-ages and 19+ events.
The weather cooperated, allowing the event to take place in the courtyard at Walker Place.
Caswell expressed her gratitude for the ongoing support of the community, emphasizing the unwavering backing they had received throughout the years.
“We've always had really good attendance at the events that we've had, and our community has been so uplifting and so supporting,” she elaborated. “It's just hard to envision sometimes when you look at current political atmospheres, but we just have had such incredible support in Swift Current and the surrounding area. It's been quite a remarkable experience to be a part of.”
She also emphasized the importance of providing visible support for LGBTQ+ youth.
“When people understand that the community is just regular people doing regular things, it's less of a step towards the acceptance that is needed in our youth, who are much braver and more courageous generally than our older generations are,” Caswell explained. “I'm glad that they get to grow up with this level of acceptance for them.”
Southwest Saskatchewan Pride's drag workshop and show was an outstanding example of a community coming together while encouraging further growth, understanding, and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community.