Conception and Early Years

Family Pride was born of a grassroots initiative led by Shona Fraser, a parent who attends Pride with her children. In 1998, Fraser sought a good space to celebrate Pride Weekend with her eighteen-month-old son, Justin, and found her way to the grounds at the Church Street Junior Public School. Fraser and her friends returned to the grounds in 1999, with kids, toys, and buckets of ice in tow. After two successful years of “unofficial” kids-friendly activities, Fraser approached Pride Toronto hoping to make the event “official.”

In 2000, Pride Toronto boasted its first Junior Pride, named with the help of Fraser's six-year-old daughter, Jillianne. Since then, the family-oriented festivities have become a staple of the ever-evolving Pride Week. Renamed as Family Pride in 2004, these events have become a home base for visitors who would like to enjoy Pride Week with their families and is now boasts an attendance of over 1500 and family friendly activities of all kinds.

Visit the Pride Gallery over various years to view pictures from previous events.