DM Blog

Toronto Pride Parade 2013

by #photography #society #toronto

, Michelle and I went to check out the Pride Parade in downtown Toronto. For many years now, I’ve wanted to check out the parade, but inevitably something comes up at the last minute and I’m not able to go… My health was not the greatest last Sunday and it almost derailed our plans of going, but in the end we were able to make it there after all.

Skip ahead to the photos →

We arrived at the College Subway Station just after 1pm thinking that it would be more than enough time to get a great spot, but we had to walk all the way south of Gerrard before we were able to get a somewhat decent place to stand. More than one million people were expected to attend!

I had heard a lot of mixed things about the parade over the years of living in Toronto and I’ve felt like never going to the Pride Parade would be like living in Calgary and never going to the Stampede… Of course, the Pride Parade was nothing like the Stampede Parade in Calgary, but it turned out to be much more family-friendly and a lot less outrageous than I expected…

The parade started at Bloor & Church at 2pm and took about half-an-hour to get to Yonge & Walton where we were. I was pretty surprised that the parade was almost three hours long! It was a super long time for me to stay standing and I paid for it by being bed-ridden and super sick for the next two days… Argh!

I ended up with just under 1400 photos, (so needless to say it took me quite a while to go through them all), but I was able to narrow them down to about 400 or so. Mid-way through the parade I noticed that my camera settings were messed up, so I expected a lot of the photos wouldn’t turn out that great. The thing is, a lot of people in the parade carry water guns. So with no advance warning, I had to constantly duck and cover my camera so it wouldn’t get sprayed with water – the controls got bumped to another setting more than once and I didn’t always remember to re-check it. Oops.

Normally I only upload a couple photos that "highlight" an event, but this time I decided to just upload the 400+ photos and save myself the hassle of picking and choosing… It also meant that I had to spend some time figuring out how to include so many photos without making the page load ridiculously slow, so I’ve been busy doing some behind-the-scene changes to the site. I’m sure I’ll blog about the process sometime in the near future, probably in conjunction with some other JavaScript or WordPress stuff…

Anyways, without further ado, here are the photos. If you work in an ultra-conservative environment, some of the photos near the end may not be suitable for work. (The photos are still in chronological order for the most part.) And to make things easier if you’re viewing them on a desktop computer, once you click the first photo you can press the spacebar to automatically advance through the photos like a slideshow…

Crowds at Yonge & Walton
Toronto Police on Motorcycles
Dykes on Bikes
Dyke on a Bike
Dyke on a Bike
Gays on a Motorcycle
Dyke on a Bike
The Pride Parade Begins
Paramedics at Pride
Human Rights Are My Pride!
International Grand Marshall
Casey House Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
Pride Costumes
Lick my Nipple
Pride Costumes
Casey House Float
Casey House Float
Casey House Pride Marchers
Pride Costumes
Casey House Pride Marchers
Pride Costumes
Canadian Olympic Team Pride Marchers
Official Vehicle of the Canadian Olympic Team
Official Vehicles of the Canadian Olympic Team
OutSport Toronto Pride Marchers
Stop!
Decorated Pride Truck
Pride Costumes
ROTC Taxi Pride Marchers
Black Eagle Toronto Pride Marchers
Toronto Gay Hockey Association
Toronto Gay Hockey Association
Frontrunners Toronto
Out & Out Club Toronto
Pride Rollerbladers
Pride Rollerbladers
Large Soccer Ball
Downtown Soccer Toronto’s Float
Pride Rollerblader
Malabar Costumes
Pride Costume
Downtown Soccer Toronto’s Float
Malabar Pride Marchers
Malabar Costumes
Pride Costumes
Angels in America
Angels in America Pride Marchers
Angels in America Marching Band
Trombone Player
Angels in America Pride Marchers
don’t Worry Be Sexy
Spectra Talent Contest
Balloons
Pride Costume
True Davidson Acres
True Davidson Bus
Cupe Local 79
Old Fashioned Dress
Super Water Gun
Super Water Gun
Toronto’s First Mayor
Toronto Transportation Services
Proud FM Float
Proud FM Float
Proud FM Cooper Mini
Proud FM Smart Car
Z103.5 Kia SUV
Pride Costume
Pride Banana Costume
Pride Kiwi Costume
Toronto Public Library Pride Marchers
Toronto Public Library Pride Marchers
Toronto Public Library Pride Marchers
Positive Space Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
Loft Community Services
Loft Community Services
David Kelley Services
Vita Community Services
Pride Costumes
Sherbourne Health Centre
Toronto Police Car
Toronto Police Pride Marchers
Serving With Pride
Durham Regional Police SUV
Pride Costume
Durham Regional Police Pride Marchers
OPP Pride Marchers
OPP Truck
Peel Regional Police Pride Marchers
Peel Regional Police SUV
Waterloo Regional Police
Your tip is safe with us!!
Pride Costume
Marching Band in White
Marching Band in White
Marching Band in White
Pride in Corrections
Ontario Nurses Association Float
Ontario Nurses Association Pride Marchers
Rainbow Nursing Interest Group
Aloha Toronto
LGBTQ Doctors and Allies
An apple-a-day keeps the doctor Away…
Pride Parade Marcher
LGBTQ Doctors and Allies
Canadian Aviation Pride
Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Float
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Float
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Float
U of T Faculty of Law
End Sexism in the Legal Profession
AIDS Committee of Toronto Pride Marchers
Toronto Real Estate Board Float
Trojan Man on Duty
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
LGBTQase
LGBTQase Pride Marchers
Lady Godiva Memorial Truck
Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad
Pride Costume
Lady Godiva Memorial Pride Marchers
Cheerleaders
Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad
U of T Pride Avengers
U of T Pride Avengers Band
U of T Pride Avengers Band
U of T Pride Avengers Band
Pride Marcher
RyePride Float
GO Transit Safety Car
GO Proud Truck
GO Transit Pride Marchers
York Federation of Students Float
Unity Warriors
Pride Costume
Super Water Gun
Forever Proud
TD Forever Proud Float
TD Forever Proud Float
Pride Montreal
Aérobie a Pieds Levés
Aérobie a Pieds Levés
Woman on Stilts
TDSB Pride Marchers
TDSB Pride Float
Aérobie a Pieds Levés
OSSTF/FEESO Pride Marchers
We Support our LGBTQ Students
Pflag Canada
Proud Family Pride Marchers
Pflag Gay Day Pride Marchers
Durham Regional Pflag
Grand Marshal
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto Pflag Pride Marchers
Toronto City Council Marches With Pride
Lesbian Gay & Trans YouthLine Pride Marchers
Lesbian Gay & Trans YouthLine Pride Marchers
Gay York Region Float
Gay York Region Float
York Region Gay Straight Alliance
Pride Costume
Coming Out Being Out Pride Marchers
UFCW Pride Marchers
UFCW Pride Marchers
UFCW Pride Truck
Pride Costumes
Ontario Public Service Pride Marchers
Ontario Public Service Pride Marchers
UFCW Pride Photographer
Ontario Public Service Pride Marchers
Ontario Human Rights Commission
DJ Dallas Pride Float
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
DJ Dallas Pride Float
Pride Float
Pride Parade Motorcycle
Boycott Gay Tourism to Israel
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Parade Crowds at Yonge & Walton
Pride Parade Marchers
Global Nuclear Shut Down!
Idle No More
Millions Against Monsanto Toronto
Your Donations Make Pride Happen
Pride Parade Donations
Pride Parade Donations
Toronto. Our Pride is Everywhere.
Pride Costume
Toronto Welcomes the World
WorldPride 2014 Float
WorldPride 2014 Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Parade Crowds at Yonge & Walton
Grupo Latino Hola
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Grupo Latino Hola Pride Float
Grupo Latino Hola Pride Marchers
Grupo Latino Hola Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Clean Sober Proud
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Pope Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Parade Float
Pride Rob Ford Costume
USW Pride Float
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Parade Float
Pink Triangle Committee
Kathleen Wynne & Justin Trudeau
Pride Costume
Kathleen Wynne & Justin Trudeau
Liberal Party Pride Marchers
Liberal Party Pride Float
Pfizer Pride Marchers
Pfizer Pride Float
Winners HomeSense Pride Float
Winners HomeSense Pride Marchers
NDP Party Pride Float
NDP Party Pride Float
NDP Party Pride Marchers
Show Your Colours
Show Your Colours Pride Dancers
Support Hotel Workers
Communist Party of Canada
Young Communist League Pride Marchers
Young Communist League
TTC Wheel-Trans Bus
Decorated TTC Pride Bus
Canadians for Equality
Green Party of Canada Pride Marchers
Green Party of Canada Pride Marchers
Amnesty International Toronto
Amnesty International
Human Rights Are My Pride
Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees
Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees Pride Marchers
Ismaili Queers
Ismaili Queers Pride Marchers
African in Partnership Against AIDS
APAA Pride Marchers
Rob Ford’s Pink Slip
APAA Pride Marchers
APAA Pride Marchers
End AIDS Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Ms Gay Philippines Canada
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costumes
HanQ Pride Marchers
HanQ Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
ASAAP Pride Marchers
South Asian Gays
Living well with HIV?
Friends for Life Pride Marchers
Friends for Life Pride Float
Friends for Life Pride Float
Pride Costumes
Pride Costume
Friends for Life Pride Marchers
Toronto Fire Pride Marchers
Toronto Fire Pride Truck
Toronto Fire Pride Marcher
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Toronto Fire Pride Truck
Polyamory Toronto
Polyamorous and Proud
Polyamory Toronto Pride Marchers
Pride Costume
Asexual Visibility & Education Network
Pride Costume
Too Asexy for Sex
Asexual Orientation is Not a Disorder
Heterosexuals for Same Sex Equality
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Costume & Snake
Dyke March Toronto
SOY – Supporting Our Youth
SOY Pride Jeep
Support Baltic Pride
Queer Youth Community
Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens
Loblaws Pride Float
MTV 1 Girl 5 Gays
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
MTV 1 Girl 5 Gays Pride Marchers
Ms. Pizza Pizza
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Steamworks Baths
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Ms. Leather Toronto
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Cannabis Costume
Pride Cannabis Costume
Pride Costumes
Pride Costumes
Pride Cannabis Costume
I Love my Foreskin
NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada Pride Float
NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada Pride Float
I Love my Foreskin
Foreskin is Fabulous
Foreskin Pride
Totally Naked Toronto Men
Totally Naked Toronto Men
Pride Costume
Totally Naked Toronto Men
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Pride Parade Marchers
Totally Naked Toronto Men
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Costumes
Pride Parade Marchers
Oasis AquaLounge Pride Float
Oasis AquaLounge Pride Float
Pride Parade Marcher
Kulanu Toronto Pride Marchers
Kulanu Toronto Pride Marchers
City Shul Proud
MCC Toronto
Priest at Pride Parade
Pride Parade Marchers
MCC Toronto Social Injustice Network
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Parade Marchers
Pride Costume
Pride Parade Float
Pride Costumes
Zipperz Cellblock Hummer
Pride Costumes
LGBTQ Catholics
Great Dane Pride Marcher
Proud Anglicans
Proud Anglicans Pride Marchers
The Glorious Roman Catholic Church
Pride Costume
Pride Costume
Proud Anglicans Pride Marchers
Proud Anglicans Bus
Unitarian
Unitarians
2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations
Pride Parade Marchers
First Nations Pride Float
Pride Costume
Pride Costumes
Pride Costume
Pride Costumes
Pride Costume
United Church of Canada Pride Float
Pride Costume
United Church of Canada Pride Marchers
Queer Ontario
Heart & Stroke Foundation
Heart & Stroke Foundation Pride Float
Heart & Stroke Foundation Pride Float
Heart & Stroke Foundation Pride Bikers
Inspire Awards Pride Truck
Inspire Awards Pride Float
Inspire Awards Pride Float
Heart & Stroke Foundation Pride Float
Pride Costume
Pride Thailand Costume
Pride Thailand Costume
CIBC Run for the Cure
Pride Boxing Costumes
Pride Thailand Costumes
TKM Pride Float
TKM Pride Float
Toronto Police Motorcycle
Toronto Police Officer – Pride Parade Ends

Fun times for sure!