On Thursday June 1, Niagara College proudly raised the Progress Pride flag at both the Welland Campus and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake in recognition of Pride Month.
Speaking at the flag raising ceremony at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, Pam Skinner, Senior Vice President, College Operations, highlighted the College’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.
“Our NC community is one where all are welcomed and where respect for each other is of the utmost importance,” said Skinner. “Your presence this morning is a strong signal of support for fellow colleagues and students and Niagara College’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It represents a great stride by our whole community to bolster the strong culture of inclusion and belonging that is so central to our NC identity.”
A representative from NC’s Rainbow Knights and Senior Vice President, College Operations Pam Skinner raise the Progressive Pride Flag at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake in recognition of Pride Month.
This spring, Niagara College launched its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint which represents the College’s shared commitment to accessibility, equity and inclusion where all members of the College’s diverse community are engaged, valued and supported.
NC’s Vice-President, International, Sean Coote referenced the importance of the EDI Blueprint in connection with Pride Month at the Welland Campus flag raising ceremony.
“Recently, the College launched our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint, which is guiding our continuous commitment and actions to ensure a learning environment and workplace that is respectful, inclusive, and welcoming for all,” said Coote. “Raising the Progress Pride Flag is an example of our commitment to creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive College.”
Last year, Niagara College adopted the Progress Pride Flag to better represent the College’s inclusive environment. The Progress flag features the “traditional” rainbow colours, and black and brown stripes, which represent those lost to HIV/AIDS and those currently living with AIDS as well as the inclusion of pink, light blue and white which pay homage to the Transgender Pride flag.
Representatives from the Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC) and the Rainbow Knights – a club comprised of both 2SLGBTQIA+ and allies dedicated to promoting acceptance at Niagara College – also participated in the flag raising.
During his remarks, Coote also noted that the NC Rainbow Knights were recently awarded the Outstanding School/Gay-Straight Alliance Award from Pride Niagara at the 2023 Niagara UNITY Awards celebration. This award is given to an academic institution or student-run group that focuses on supporting the young members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community of Niagara.
“Flying the Progress Pride flag at both NC campuses for the month of June highlights the College’s commitment to creating an inclusive community for everyone,” said Dipal Patel, NCSAC President. “Not only does the flag acknowledge the hardships members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community face, but it also celebrates their achievements and reminds NC students that we are part of a supportive and welcoming community.”
Niagara College will continue the recognition and celebration of Pride Month through various events and activities, along with the NC Recruitment team who will be out in the community at various Pride events throughout June.
Please see below for a list of upcoming Pride Month activities and events this month.
ncLibraries will host a Living Library event on June 7 in honour of Pride Month.
June 7 – Living Library: “A Journey Taken Together” with Alison Ryder and her mom, Ellen Schmidt
Join ncLibraries for its seventh Living Library, a virtual talk with NC’s Alison Ryder on June 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. titled, “A Journey Taken Together,” featuring NC Outreach and Education Coordinator Alison Ryder and her mom, Ellen Schmidt.
A strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion at Niagara College, Ryder has a reputation of going above and beyond for NC students and has worked tirelessly to promote a safe and inclusive school environment for all students. In 2022, she wrote an article for a local newspaper which chronicled her own experience of coming out and the unwavering support she received from her mother – a story that mother and daughter will share during the Living Library event.
Register for the free virtual event here.
June 27 – NCSAC hosts Coffee for a Cause for Pride Niagara
Mark your calendars for June 27 and stop by The Shack (Welland Campus) or The Undergrounds (NOTL Campus) for a hot beverage. NCSAC will donate one hundred per cent of hot beverage sales to Pride Niagara.
Community events
The NC Recruitment Team will be in and around the community this month at various Pride events:
June 3: Pride Niagara
Montebello Park, 64 Ontario Street, St Catharines
June 24: Fort Erie Pride
350 Bertie Street, Fort Erie
