It’s very exciting news that Toronto has been chosen as the host city for World Pride in 2014. An international showcase for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues, World Pride Toronto will feature three parades - a Trans March, a Dyke March, and Pride Parade, an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony, a human-rights conference, an AIDS candlelight vigil, festivals, cultural events including Canada Day and the US Independence Day celebrations, and many other activities.
World Pride began in Rome in 2000. The second event was scheduled to take place in Jerusalem in 2006 but was unfortunately cancelled due to unrest in the region. The next World Pride will be held in London in 2012, and in 2014 Toronto will be the host city. The timing couldn’t be more perfect with World Pride Toronto taking place at the same time as Toronto Pride Week in 2014. In addition to the World Pride events, the traditional Toronto Pride Week events will continue as usual.Toronto’s Pride Week is a huge event, both in attendance and in economic terms. Last year over 1 million people attended and generated $136 million for Toronto’s purse, while only costing $4 million to put on. Organizers estimate that it will cost $10 million to host World Pride but that will more than be compensated by the amount of money that the event will generate. Estimates on how many will attend World Pride Toronto 2014 and how much money it will bring to Toronto are off the charts but conservative guess-timates have attendance at least at 1.25 million. Planning has already begun and it promises to be an exciting time for Torontonians and all of the attendees. Will you be participating?
