A free community barbecue celebrating Pride Month is set for June 18 in the parking lot of the Boys and Girls Club of Thompson on Thompson Drive, as local organizations come together to host the lunchtime event. Running from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the barbecue is a joint effort of the Boys and Girls Club and Pride North of 55, the volunteer group that serves the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Thompson and northern Manitoba.
Organizers note the event was originally set for June 19, but the date has been moved up by one day. The meal is free, and everyone in the community is welcome to attend.
Iris Chan, an education and training coordinator with the Canadian Mental Health Association Manitoba and Winnipeg Thompson office, is among those helping pull the barbecue together. Donations of hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, chips and soft drinks are still being accepted, and volunteers are needed to help serve food during the event.
Pride North of 55 has faced challenges in recent years. In 2024, the group announced it would not hold any public gatherings during Pride Month because a small number of volunteers were struggling to manage the workload. The return of this barbecue, now co-hosted with the Boys and Girls Club, signals a renewed effort to bring the community together for Pride. The partnership may help ease the burden on volunteers by spreading the work across more hands.
The Boys and Girls Club has been part of Thompson since 1993, offering after-school, weekend and summer programs for children and youth. Hosting the barbecue gives the group another way to welcome the broader community while showing support for its 2SLGBTQ+ neighbours.
