Ottawa’s annual Pleasure parade was cancelled on Sunday after it was halted by a native pro-Palestinian advocacy group that blocked the highway and demanded to barter with organizers.
The group Queers for Palestine — Ottawa (Q4P) halted the parade “with the permission” of the grand marshal, the group mentioned in a press launch issued Sunday afternoon simply because the parade was stopped.
“This is what a village looks like!” protesters chanted from Parliament Hill, referencing the “We are a village” theme that Capital Pleasure was utilizing for 2025.
Q4P issued a number of calls for for the organizers, Capital Pleasure, together with that the group maintain a “boycott, divestment and sanctions” corridor and decide to an ongoing cultural and tutorial boycott of Israel.
Masha Davidović (left), a member of Queers for Palestine Ottawa, argues with a Capital Pleasure attendee. (Nathan Fung/CBC)
In addition they demanded Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and different elected officers apologize for the 2024 boycott of Capital Pleasure and known as on them to “stand with us and all oppressed peoples, including Palestinians.”
“We are in the parade today to affirm very clearly that our Pride is not for sale, and that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities will not accept sponsors and elected officials dictating what we stand for, how we celebrate ourselves, and how we claim our space,” the press launch mentioned.
Capital Pleasure introduced the parade had been cancelled simply earlier than 3 p.m. on Instagram.
In addition they mentioned Capital Pleasure didn’t have time for an interview.
2024 controversy
In 2024, Capital Pleasure issued a letter which condemned each “the acts of terrorism” dedicated on Oct. 7 and Israel’s “endless and brutal campaign in Gaza,” which it mentioned had brought on the deaths of “innocent Palestinians.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa known as the assertion “antisemitic” and mentioned it could boycott the Pleasure parade in response.
Different teams and people withdrew their assist and sponsorship from some Pleasure Month occasions, together with Sutcliffe.
A protest signal studying ‘No pride in genocide’ is seen outdoors Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Aug. 24, 2025, through the metropolis’s annual Pleasure march. (Maxence Bahaban/Radio-Canada)
The parade went forward regardless, however this 12 months the assertion was faraway from Capital Pleasure’s web site.
Capital Pleasure government director Callie Metler informed CBC the removing was a part of an internet site replace however that it nonetheless stood by its “principles and values.”
Nonetheless, the group has confronted a marketing campaign by Q4P to revive the assertion and recommit to supporting Palestinians.
The marketing campaign pushing Capital Pleasure to reinstate its Professional-Palestine assertion
Capital Pleasure is dealing with backlash after eradicating its 2024 assertion of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza from its web site and social media. Government Director Callie Metler says the removing is a part of the group’s annual means of “refreshing their online environment.” Masha Davidovic, a member of Queers for Palestine Ottawa, explains the marketing campaign launched to stress Capital Pleasure to reinstate the assertion and what the group is looking for.
The route
This 12 months’s parade route takes folks up Elgin Road, previous Parliament Hill on Wellington Road. It’s deliberate to finish on Kent Road, not removed from the road competition on Financial institution Road.
Drivers ought to anticipate site visitors delays downtown and test the highway closures. For these touring by public transit, OC Tranpso has an inventory of the detours on its web site.
The Capital Pleasure Road Pageant and Parade will trigger some disruption to site visitors this weekend from Friday afternoon onwards. (Capital Pleasure)
The same old size of the parade route was halved in 2024 as a result of there weren’t sufficient law enforcement officials to cowl the total route.
This 12 months’s route is roughly the identical size because the shortened route from final 12 months, although it is going to journey alongside totally different roads.
Regardless of the parade’s cancellation, the competition on Financial institution Road remains to be slated to proceed till 8 p.m., stretching from Gladstone Avenue to Slater Road.
