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From the Office of the Mayor

June 3, 2023

For the fourth year, the Pride flag is flying in Mississippi Mills and Council has unanimously proclaimed June is Pride Month. Today, I was happy to celebrate with members of Pride in Mississippi Mills and Lanark County Wide Pride before their Drive-Out Parade!

Why celebrate Pride Month in Mississippi Mills? Here are a few reasons:

  • We celebrate Pride to recognize the value of diversity in our municipality. 

  • We celebrate Pride as a commitment to promoting a safe, respectful and inclusive community.

  • We celebrate Pride because we embrace what makes each of us unique.

  • We celebrate Pride so that groups who may have not felt seen in the past know that they are valued people in Mississippi Mills.

  • We celebrate Pride to honour the strength, resiliency and courage of all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities (Two Spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual +). 

Although Canada has some of the most advanced rights, freedoms and protection in the world, some members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities do not feel welcome, safe or accepted.  Research has found that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are 5x more likely to consider suicide and 7x more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.

This is why it’s important to show 2SLGBTQIA+ people that they are supported, and why it’s important to be an ally.  This is also why there is no “straight colour” on the Pride flag or special day celebrating heterosexuals. Never has a straight person been persecuted or judged for wanting to marry. Never has a kid been kicked out of their family for being straight. Never has it taken courage to be straight. 

This year, the Pride flag is displayed in the front window of the Municipal Office while we wait for our new community flag pole to be installed.  New this year, we have just launched our 2SLGBTQIA page on the municipal website which provides tools and resources on how to be an ally, inclusive language as well a list of Local Pride events and where to go if you need support or help.

We’ve also launched our “What does Pride Mean to You” campaign! Tell us, what does it mean to be genuinely accepting, or to be genuinely accepted? To me, being accepting means our whole community is a more peaceful, positive place where everyone feels safe to be who they are. From now until June 13th, share your thoughts about what Pride means to you, and have your thoughts featured on a community banner that will be unveiled on June 20th and displayed at the Municipal Office. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for events by Pride in Mississippi Mills and Lanark County Wide Pride this month and all year round!

Love is too beautiful to be hidden in the closet.  The world needs love more now than it has ever needed before.

Sincerely,

Mayor Christa Lowry

Municipality of Mississippi Mills