Orillia is among two nominees for Community of the Year in this year’s Simcoe County Pride Awards.
The Sunshine City is up against Bradford West Gwillimbury for the award, which will be handed out during a gala in August.
Fierté Simcoe Pride president Brandon Rhéal Amyot, who is from Orillia, said all nominations come from the community. However, the person behind the nomination is always kept confidential.
"However, we can share that the City of Orillia was nominated because of its long support for Pride in the form of a flag raising," said Amyot. "The nomination also highlighted the city raising the Pride flag in solidarity with the international LGBTI community during the Sochi Olympics in 2014."
Amyot also noted elected officials, city staff and residents have participated in "different educational sessions (such as panels) to learn more about issues facing our community. In terms of Pride celebrations and advocacy, the city has been more than supportive of the Trans Pride March, which is a big deal to many small-town and rural community members."
The municipality has also supported various businesses and organizations in pursing greater inclusion.
Amyot cited Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, which recently helped establish the Trans Health Hub at Couchiching Family Health Team.
"This work was thanks to advocacy and research done by local trans community, the hospital's LGBTQ2S committee, various physicians (including Dr. Rodway-Norman, who is nominated for Fierté Simcoe Pride's Person of the Year), and the Gilbert Centre," said Amyot.
One of the businesses that has supported the Pride movement is downtown Orillia's Apple Annie's Cafe, a nominee for business of the year.
"Apple Annie's has supported the monthly Pride social since January of this year, and before then had shown itself as a welcoming business by displaying the rainbow flag on its door," said Amyot. "Staff often engage with those at the event and they have created a safe and welcoming environment. Community members really need these sort of welcoming spaces to thrive, so their support, coupled with their workplace culture, is great."
Amyot said many support the organization's efforts. It's important to recognize that.
"These awards recognize the accomplishments of gender and sexually diverse individuals, allies and supportive organizations, businesses, and communities within Simcoe County," Amyot told OrilliaMatters. "Making this work visible fosters community engagement and rewards our community for its contributions."
The awards also serve to inspire others.
"I have heard from previous nominees and recipients who have told me that the awards have encouraged them to do better, to enhance the work they were already doing," said the group's president. "We do, of course, still have a lot of work left to do, so having a venue to bolster this work is important."
While strides have been made, more needs to be done "when it comes to improving health care and mental health care for our community, especially youth, trans, and intersex community members," said Amyot. "Also reducing barriers in other places such as employment. Not to mention everyday misconceptions and discrimination.
"While polices and legislation go a far way, changing hearts and minds – culture – takes longer," Amyot acknowledged. "It's about taking a multi-pronged approach. That's why the year-round work these nominees and many others do is important."
Fierté Simcoe Pride runs across the county July 30 to Aug. 12.
The other Pride award nominees include:
Youth of the Year
Nelson Morgan
The Two-Spirit Youth of Chimnissing (Beausoleil First Nation)
Person of the Year
Keenan Aylwin
Dr. Marissa Rodway-Norman
Randy Davis
Steven Lewis
Organization of the Year
The Borden Pride Network
Simcoe County District School Board
Business of the Year
Apple Annie's Cafe
The Grilled Cheese Social Eatery
The Lazy Tulip Cafe
Community of the Year
Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury
City of Orillia
– With files from Jenni Dunning
