Pride Toronto employs five full-time staff and two part time staff, and we rely on the leadership and energy of hundreds of volunteers to make this enormous event happen each year. During the year, Pride Toronto's senior volunteers sit on 21 year round committees, managing various aspects of our events and operations. Each of our year round committees is led by one or two Coordinators. The Coordinator acts as the committee chair and works to ensure the goals and objectives of the committee are fulfilled.
Upon successful completion of the coordinator selection process, Coordinators are appointed by the Board of Directors to a two year term. During this term they manage their committee by organizing committee meetings, maintaining a committee budget, defining roles and responsibilities for committee members, attending monthly planning meetings with other Coordinators, providing staff with regular updates on the work of the committee, and mentoring future Coordinators.
If you have experience working with volunteers, enjoy a challenge, and have a keen interest in working closely with community groups and organizations representative of all LGBTTIQQ2S communities this may be for you!
Read on for more information on specific Coordinator roles. If you’d like to get involved, please email: volunteer_program@pridetoronto.com
Our 21 committees are divided into four categories. Click on a category to learn more:
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Pride Toronto is well known for our fabulous musical performers and live stages. This is where that all begins! These committees book our live music & DJ performers and our literary and visual artists. They are also responsible for the production of our stages and stage management as well as artist relations and hospitality. You can find a brief description of the committee below. Click on the name of the Committee to view a PDF describing the Coordinator Role in full detail:
Programming
The Programming committee receives applications for all prospective staged entertainment during Pride Weekend. This Committee selects, books, promotes, and stages entertainment acts for each of the seven performance stages for Pride Weekend. Our Entertainment Committee also works with Toronto's entertainment industry to promote local talent where possible.
Interested in volunteering for the Entertainment Committee?
E-mail your questions to: dj_entertainment@pridetoronto.com or music_entertainment@pridetoronto.com
Alternative Arts
The Alternative Arts Committee programs and coordinates all literary, visual and media arts events held during Pride Week; as well as visual arts exhibits and programs held within Pride Week. The committee is also responsible for the development of the Pride Art Walk, an exhibition of the work of the LGBTTIQ2S Visual and Media Artists throughout the site.
Interested in volunteering for the Alternative Arts Committee? E-mail your questions to:
literary_entertainment@pridetoronto.com or visual_entertainment@pridetoronto.com
Production and Technical Management
The Production & Technical Management Committee manages all aspects of stage management and production that are required to support the eight live entertainment stages that are programmed during Pride Week.
This function includes: a thorough analysis of the technical entertainment needs, contracted suppliers to meet the technical needs, management of the technical production before and during Pride Weekend, management of the personnel stage requirements, including Stage Managers, ASMs and Roadies, and managing the overall operations of eight live stages over two and half days of programming.
Interested in volunteering for the Production & Technical Management Committee?
E-mail your questions to: productionmanager@pridetoronto.com
Artist and Relations Hospitality
The Artist Relations & Hospitality Committee managers all aspects of Artist Hospitality that are required to have the artists brought to Toronto and hosted while they are here. These functions include: Artist travel, hotel accommodations and ground transportation. The committee also manages other Artist related functions such as the sale of merchandise within the entertainment area on the festival site.
Interested in volunteering for the Artist Travel & Hospitality Committee?
E-mail your questions to: hospitality_entertainment@pridetoronto.com
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LOGISTICS
Creating a three day street festival in the middle of Toronto’s busy streets ain’t an easy task. These five committees each contribute to the overall layout and logistical operations for our festival. They are responsible for the site layout and infrastructure, safety and security, managing our beer gardens, booking our food vendors, managing the street fair and marketplace, and accessibility. You can find a brief description of the committee below. Click on the name of the Committee to view a PDF describing the Coordinator Role in full detail:
Site Operations
The Pride Toronto Site Operations Committee plans the layout of the festival, secures government permits and approvals, and purchases most of the equipment and supplies needed for Pride Toronto. The Site Operations Committee works directly with local residents and businesses to ensure that their needs are balanced with Pride Torontos plans, in addition to working with other Committees such as Food & Beverages, Entertainment, Safety & Security, and Media. To this end, the Site Operations Committee oversees locations for first aid stations, security headquarters, information booths, media towers, equipment, volunteer headquarters, registration headquarters, garbage collection and recycling.
Interested in volunteering for the Site Operations Committee?
E-mail your questions to: site@pridetoronto.com
Safety and Security
The Safety & Security Committee is responsible for maintaining the safety of all participants and ensuring that its volunteers are properly trained. This Committee coordinates private and volunteer security for the site, determines zoning for events, and works closely with all other Committees in planning the events surrounding Pride Week.
Interested in volunteering for the Safety & Security Committee?
E-mail your questions to: security@pridetoronto.com
Beverage
The Beverage Committee manages all on-site operations for the set-up and management of the beverage gardens during Pride Week.
Interested in volunteering for the Beverage Committee?
E-mail your questions to: beverage@pridetoronto.com
Streetfair
The Street Fair Committee runs the Community Fair and Marketplace during Pride Weekend. Street Fair answers general questions about these sites, is responsible for receiving applications for vendor spaces, assigning these spaces for commercial vendors and community groups, and administers payments and confirmation of these spaces.
Interested in volunteering for the Street Fair Committee?
E-mail your questions to: streetfair@pridetoronto.com
Dis/Ability Resources
The Dis/Ability Resources Committee exists all year round and works to insure that the activities of Pride Toronto do not exclude any person due to unnecessary barriers. We work to facilitate the participation of persons: who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other assisted devices; who are visually impaired; who are Deaf and hard of hearing; who use the assistance of working animals; who require attendant care; and people with other visible or invisible dis/abilities.
Interested in volunteering for the Dis/Ability Resources Committee?
E-mail your questions to: d.ability@pridetoronto.com
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ON-SITE EVENTS
What would a festival be without all of the fun and glitter of our on-site events? These six committees provide opportunities for the community to get involved with our festival individually, in groups, or as organizations. These six committees bring you the Pride Parade, the Dyke March, Family Pride, Free Zone, Youth visibility, and recruit the extra 1000 people to volunteer during the festival. You can find a brief description of the committee below. Click on the name of the Committee to view a PDF describing the Coordinator Role in full detail:
Parade
The Parade Committee organizes the Pride Parade. This Committee works with the City of Toronto and the community at large to ensure that the Parade is safe and fun for both participants and spectators.
Interested in volunteering for the Parade Committee?
E-mail your questions to: parade@pridetoronto.com
Dyke March
The Dyke March Committee is a vital and integral committee of Pride Toronto that exists to organize the Dyke March. The Dyke March is a participatory, political, visible, safe, community-driven event within Toronto's Pride Week that empowers, inspires and celebrates LGBTTIQQ2S women and trans people in their diversity and strives to host events in the community throughout the year in order to build momentum toward the Dyke March event.
Interested in volunteering for the Dyke March Committee?
Email your questions to: dykemarch@pridetoronto.com
Family Pride
The Family Pride Committee organizes Family Pride, the event at Pride designed for children and families. Located on the grounds of the Church Street Public School (Church and Alexander Street), this child-friendly, interactive space provides an oasis for families of all kinds. Family Pride features crafts, games, professional children's entertainment and face painting on the Saturday and Sunday of Pride Weekend.
Family Pride also features the Annual Pride Family Picnic of the LGBT Parenting Network (FSA Toronto) on the Saturday of Pride weekend. All are welcome. Bring your own picnic; juice, water, snacks, washrooms and entertainment will be provided.
Interested in volunteering for the Family Pride Committee?
E-mail your questions to: family-pride@pridetoronto.com
Free Zone
Free Zone is an alcohol and substance free area on site, where people can enjoy entertainment, dance and relax in a comfortable and safe environment.
Interested in volunteering for the Free Zone Committee?
E-mail your questions to: freezone@pridetoronto.com
Youth Pride
The Youth Committee is a vital part of Pride Toronto – creating youth-positive spaces and visibility during Pride Week. The Pride Toronto Youth Committee is made up of youth organizations and individuals, and produces the Pride Parade Youth Contingent as well as other youth events during, and leading up to, Pride Week. It also serves as a way for Youth to feel welcome at Pride and to meet, and learn about, other queers and their communities.
Interested in volunteering for the Youth Committee?
Please contact us at youth@pridetoronto.com or call us at 416-927-7433 ext. 234
Weekend Volunteer
Volunteers are critical to the functioning of Toronto Pride Week. Pride Toronto itself is a volunteer-run organization, operating 12 months out of the year. There are many opportunities for volunteers to contribute their time, energy, and expertise throughout the year. The biggest need for volunteers, however, comes in May/June when we start getting ready for the big weekend.
As such, the Weekend Volunteer Committee recruits and organizes hundreds of volunteers throughout the year. They also organize the last official event of the annual festivities, the Volunteer Appreciation Party! – a fun, wild, and special get-together for all who have donated our time and energy to make it happen!
Interested in volunteering for the Weekend Volunteer Committee?
E-mail your questions to: weekend_volunteer@pridetoronto.com
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ORGANIZATIONAL
Bringing you the big picture – these six committees work on an organizational level and are responsible for the maintenance of our website, developing our IT initiatives, graphic design, fundraising, media relations and working with community groups who apply for Official Event status. You can find a brief description of the committee below. Click on the name of the Committee to view a PDF describing the Coordinator Role in full detail:
Web
The Web Committee is responsible for the development, maintenance and evaluation of the Pride Toronto Web site and Pride Toronto's online presence. The Web Committee works with Pride Toronto's committees, Staff and Board of Directors to provide information on the Web site about both Pride Week, the event, and Pride Toronto, the organization.
Interested in volunteering for the Web Committee?
E-mail your questions to: web@pridetoronto.com
Information Technology
The I.T. Committee works throughout the year researching and supporting IT initiatives for Pride Toronto.
Interested in volunteering for the IT Committee?
E-mail your questions to: i.t@pridetoronto.com
Art Direction
The Art Direction Committee helps promote Pride Week and the organization, Pride Toronto, through the design and production of the official Pride Guide, posters, signage, and all print advertising. This Committee also supports Pride Toronto's Board, Coordinators, and Staff in all print and digital media capacities.
We have a need for skilled graphic designers with experience in advertising, promotions and publication design. Interested in volunteering for the Art Direction Committee?
Email your questions to: art_direction@pridetoronto.com
Fundraising
The Fundraising Committee works throughout the year, planning events in the community to raise funds for ongoing Pride Toronto expenses, and coordinating the community Toonie Drive over the weekend of Pride. The committee concentrates on raising funds from individuals and local businesses, rather than soliciting corporate donations. A secondary goal of the Fundraising Committee is to promote awareness of the Pride Toronto organization all year long.
Interested in volunteering for the Fundraising Committee?
E-mail your questions to: fundraising@pridetoronto.com
Media
The Media Committee produces Pride Toronto’s corporate media-relations products (e.g. media advisories, news releases, and the Pride Toronto Media Guide) and activities (e.g. photo opportunities, media coverage of Pride Week, and media accreditation). It also provides copywriting and editing services for Pride Toronto publications, including the Official Pride Guide, and on-site media and information services during Pride Week.
We need year-round volunteers with experience in copywriting and editing, publicity and public relations, and information technology (including database development and management).
Interested in volunteering with the Media Committee?
Send your resumé to: media@pridetoronto.com
Official Events
The Official Events Committee of Pride Toronto is responsible for receiving and processing applications for the Official Events designation licensed by Pride Toronto. Official Pride Toronto Events are events endorsed by Pride Toronto but organized and run by partnering organizations. The Official Events volunteers work with community groups, event producers and local organizations to ensure that events that support Pride Toronto and Pride Week are licensed to use the Official Event Logo on their promotional material, are listed in the Official Pride Guide and promoted through Pride Toronto promotional materials.
Interested in volunteering for the Official Events Committee?
E-mail your questions to: official-events@pridetoronto.com
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Pride Toronto adopts and upholds the City of Toronto’s policy statement which prohibits discrimination and harassment and protects the right to be free of hate activity, based on age, ancestry, citizenship, creed (religion), colour, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender identity, level of literacy, marital status, place of origin, membership in a union or staff association, political affiliation, race, receipt of public assistance, record of offences, sex, sexual orientation or any other personal characteristics by or within the organization.
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