We Are The Village
Capital Pride’s four foundational pillars are to Educate, Advocate, Celebrate and Connect. For our 2025 festival, we have decided to keep these pillars in mind through our theme. We Are The Village is a celebration of our Ottawa-Gatineau 2SLGBTQ+ community, one that recognizes the historical and current, public and private, urban and natural spaces that we call home.
This summer’s theme is also a nod to the “gay villages” that exist in many major cities around the world. Though once vibrant with spaces such as bathhouses and Staubi’s Grotto, the historic gay village of Ottawa was centered around Bank and Somerset. These neighbourhoods provide shelter, support, and a sense of belonging.
We Are The Village extends past streets and stop signs. If it “takes a village” to nurture one’s needs, Capital Pride recognizes the importance of addressing and dismantling systemic oppression many in our community face within and outside of our spaces. Local organizations, grassroots movements, and activists such as these work tirelessly to ensure that every voice within the 2SLGBTQ+ community is uplifted.
And so, Capital Pride encourages festival-goers to not only come together this August in celebration, but also acknowledge the importance of continued advocacy and activism. This year, celebrate the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Ottawa and join us in saying “We Are The Village” and we are here to stay.