Participate in the Parade

2022 NG Pride Parade Participant Information Package

June 12th starting at 1 pm, from the old college and ending at Riverside Park, where people can enjoy the After Party

REGISTRATION

All parade participants are required to register with NG Pride. The deadline to register for the 2022 Pride Parade is June 1st, but the following is the information you will need.

GROUP LEADERS

Each group must designate one person to act as Group Leader. Groups that have both a vehicle and marching contingent will require two group leaders.
● This leader acts as the official go-between for all matters.

  • Group Leaders must be 18 years of age or older.
  • This person is responsible for their group’s entire entry and MUST be present with their group during the entire event, from set-up to take-down. This person must check in with the Check-In Table, read, and sign off on these Rules, and receive a parade license. That leader is then responsible for ensuring their vehicle(s), drivers, marchers, and other participants comply with NG Pride Parade Rules.

STAGING & ON-SITE CHECK IN

NG Pride is responsible for preparing the parade line-up. Due to the significant number of registrants, we do not accept requests for specific placement in the parade. Instead, NG Pride works to ensure the entire parade is lively and animated by balancing vehicles and marching groups and staggering groups with music. Requests will be considered for community groups that wish to be close to partner organizations.

Staging Time

Each group is assigned a call time. Your call time will be sent to you one week prior to the parade.

Call Time A: 12:15 PM

Call Time B: 12:30 PM

Call Time C: 12:45 PM

Call Time for Marchers: 12:50 PM

With many floats to coordinate and place, it is vitally important that you show up at your designated call time. You may be denied entry to the parade and forfeit your registration fee if you are late. Please do not show up more than 10 minutes before your call time.

All groups will receive a parade license at registration. This license must be in possession of the group leader at all times during the parade. Failure to show the parade license on request will result in immediate expulsion from the parade. 

Check-In

Large Vehicle Registrants

Vehicle Team Leader: Your group’s Vehicle Team Leader and Vehicle Driver will check-in at the Large Vehicle Table at your assigned call time. The check-in table is located at the front of Parish Hall. 

What you need to bring:

  • Driver’s licence
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Copies of materials that you plan on distributing

Marching Team Leader: Your group’s Marching Team Leader will check-in at the Large Vehicle table located at the front of Parish Hall. The Marching Team Leader will be assigned a staging area in the Marchers’ Zone in the Parish Hall Parking Lot. 

Small Vehicles Registrations

Vehicle Team Leader: Your group’s Vehicle Team Leader and Vehicle Driver will check-in at the Small Vehicle table at your assigned call time. The check-in table is located at the front of Parish Hall.

What you need to bring:

  • Driver’s licence
  • Copies of materials that you plan on distributing

Marching Team Leader: Your group’s Marching Team Leader will check-in at the Small Vehicle table located at the front of Parish Hall. The Marching Team Leader will be assigned a staging area in the Marchers’ Zone in the Parish Hall Parking Lot. 

Marching Groups Day-of Registration: Your group’s Marching Team Leader will check-in at the Marching Group table located at the front of Parish Hall. The Marching Team Leader will be assigned a staging area in the Marchers’ Zone in the Parish Hall Parking Lot.

THE PARADE

Parade Time

The parade starts at 1:00 PM:

The first groups enter the parade at 1:00 PM

The first groups finish the parade by approximately 1:45 PM

The last group enters the parade at approximately 1:30 PM

The last group finishes the parade at approximately 2:15 PM

Entering the parade

All vehicles and marching groups enter the parade at Concession Street. The entrance intersection will be managed by a parade coordinator. Large vehicles, small vehicles and marching groups will all be merged into the parade in a predetermined order. Groups with both a vehicle and marching contingent will be merged into the parade at the same time. When you are at the front of the line, groups wait for the parade coordinators to call you into the parade. They will be equipped with megaphones and will have marshals to assist your entry. You MUST follow all instructions from the parade coordinators and their marshals. 

The parade route

The parade begins at Concession Road at College Road. Our Parade Coordinators will be in the middle of the intersection calling in groups. You must follow the instructions of the Parade Coordinators. The parade heads left on Prescott Street from Concession Road. The parade heads through downtown, turning left at the second entrance to Reuben Crescent (by CIBC) and heads into Riverside Park. The parade ends at the After Party location in the park by the skateboard park and the community pool. 

Exiting the parade 

Once you have arrived at the After Party location vehicles will continue around the loop in the parking lot and exit back out to Reuben Crescent. We ask that as the parade makes its way through Riverside Park that vehicles and marchers stay to the right of the road so that we can continue smooth flow of vehicles and marchers exiting the parade on the left side of the road. Everyone is encouraged to stay at the After Party following the parade however there is no room for parking vehicles in the park. Please move vehicles to a designated parking lot or to other surrounding parking areas. 

FLOAT REQUIREMENTS

Large Vehicle Safety Walkers

Each Large Vehicle entry must have 4 Safety Walkers – one for each corner of the vehicle. Safety Walkers must remain with the float for the duration of the parade. The job of the safety marcher is to walk near their designated corner of the vehicle but far enough away to ensure their own safety, and ensure people are kept away from the vehicle and out of the vehicle blind spots at all times – safety is their job. The Safety Walker at the front of the vehicle must walk far enough forward and to the side so that the driver can see them at all times. Those at the back must maintain eye contact with the driver using the side mirrors and ensure the driver can see them. Safety marchers are not permitted to distribute material, must not ride on floats, must not wear costumes that limit their vision or movement, or otherwise be distracted from their task of safety. If you want to distribute materials, you will need additional marchers for this task. 

Sound Systems & Generators 

Registration for using a sound system

All groups wanting to use any type recorded music, sound system, or live music must indicate their use of sound in advance on their registration form and must pay an additional Music Fee, which is used to defray the costs to NG Pride for SOCAN fees. This must be done in advance, changes to entries, including adding music, will not be permitted on the day of the parade. 

Noise Bylaws

Due to Municipal of North Grenville sound bylaws, float sound must not exceed 80 dB, regardless of time of day. This includes sound from sound systems, generators, vehicles, and other sound sources. 

Sound Testing

When setting up and testing your sound system please be considerate to neighbours and other parade groups by limiting both the length and volume of the sound test. Music can be played once you begin to enter the parade at Concession Road. Music should be turned off as you enter Riverside Park.

Generators

Generators are often used to power sound and light on floats. Generators must be mounted outside of vehicle cabs or passenger compartments in such a manner that exhaust from the generator is moving away from the float itself and float riders.

ADDITIONAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Authority of NG Pride Sole Discretion

NG Pride reserves the right to refuse entry into the parade for groups, registered or unregistered, for any reason. Reasons may include but are not limited to: floats or groups whose mission, entries, themes, or any other element of their entry are deemed inappropriate, disrespectful, discriminatory, has violent themes, advocates violence or hate against any group; disobeying parade rules, disrespecting or disobeying Parade organizers; or posing a threat to public safety

Authority Vested by Pride – Requirement to Abide 

The Parade Permit is in NG Pride’s name, and we are here to ensure a safe and orderly parade. The authority vested in NG Pride extends to Parade check-in and set-up staff, volunteers, barricade staff, and all other parade staff. 

Commerce

One Group = One Brand

Each group registered is entitled to display the brand under which they registered and their subsidiaries, if applicable (eg: TJX with HomeSense, Winners, and Marshalls brands). No other brands, logos, or acknowledgement of sponsorship may be displayed. No third-party brands are to be displayed.

EXCEPTION: Large vehicle tow vehicles, such as bobtail tractors, are not required to cover company logo on the door, provided the logo is permanently affixed to the door and does not appear elsewhere on the float.

Use of NG Pride Brand

No group may use or display the logo, trade name, or other marks of NG Pride without previous written authorization from NG Pride. 

Soliciting for Donations

NG Pride reserves the exclusive right to solicit or collect donations during setup, during the parade, and during take-down.

Only Pride and groups specifically authorized by Pride to collect on their behalf may solicit, accept, or collect donations along the parade route.

No groups may solicit or accept donations along the parade route for fundraising or any other purpose.

Selling along Parade Route

No group may offer anything for sale, accept money for goods, peddle, or otherwise sell anything during setup, during the parade, and during take-down.

DISTRIBUTION, LITTERING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The following rules have been established regarding the distribution of materials. NG Pride reserves the right to deny any group the privilege of distributing materials during the parade. A sample of materials for intended for distribution must be presented at the Check-In table. Materials that are discriminatory, advocate violence, show full frontal nudity, or are otherwise deemed inappropriate will not be permitted. 

Projectiles

  • No confetti may be thrown, shot, or otherwise ejected from floats. It creates litter that is difficult to remove from pavement.
  • No feathers may be thrown or released from floats because they are difficult to remove from pavement. Feathers firmly attached to costumes or floats are OK.
  • All balloons must be firmly attached to floats or people. Celebratory release of balloons is not permitted due to the negative environmental impact of plastics on the aquatic environment and because our parade route is along a flight path to the airport. Hanging balloons on strings directly to parade attendees is permitted.
  • Water Guns and Super Soakers make an excellent replacement for confetti. Water guns must be filled with WATER and WATER ONLY. No dyes, flavours or any other additive may be added.
  • Bubbles are allowed and make an excellent replacement for confetti.

Distribution of Food

  • Candy or other food stuffs during the parade must be shelf-stable, not require refrigeration, and be in factory-sealed packages (eg. granola bars in wrappers, lollipops).
  • Open food samples are not permitted because they violate food handling bylaws. 

POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

Politicians running for office may march and distribute materials in the parade but may not campaign or solicit donations along the parade route.

SAFETY, SECURITY, and ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility

Accessibility information will be available from the NG Pride Parade registration tables. Accessible washrooms will also be available, with more info to come. Additional information on accessibility will be sent out closer to the event. 

Restrooms

Portable restrooms (“porta potties”) will be stationed  in Riverside Park.

First-Aid

Volunteers trained with First Aid and the use of Naloxone will be available throughout the site. The location of the first aid station will be sent the week prior to the event.

Weather

The Parade is a “rain or shine event.” No refunds are offered on account of weather. In the event that weather poses a safety or security risk, NG Pride will notify exhibitors of any changes via email.  

Health

Please stay hydrated! Please bring and drink plenty of water. Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays can be harmful.

  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more and reapply every 2 hours or more.
  • Drink extra fluids. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water, fruit juice, or vegetable juice per day. Because heat-related illness also can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to substitute an electrolyte-rich sports drink for water during periods of extreme heat and humidity. Ask your doctor about the best types of fluid and how much you should be drinking.
  • Avoid fluids containing either caffeine or alcohol, because both substances will enhance dehydration.
  • If you have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, are on a fluid-restricted diet, or have a problem with fluid retention, check with your doctor before increasing liquid intake.

Be aware of signs of heat exhaustion:

  • Confusion
  • Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle or abdominal cramps
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Pale skin
  • Profuse sweating
  • Rapid heartbeat

If you are concerned, please seek medical advice from Kemptville Pride’s on-site medical services.

Safety & Security

Ontario Provincial Police, St. John’s Ambulance and the Kemptville Fire Department will be onsite to ensure the safety of Parade and festival goers and exhibitors. Please call 911 immediately if you feel your or someone else’s personal safety or security is at risk. 

BUILDING A FLOAT

Ideas for Marching Groups

  • Consider a theme that you want to emphasize and brainstorm ideas to dress-up a banner, signage, bikes, pets and yourselves.
  • Decide upon a maximum budget that you will work around for materials, props and costumes. Balloons, streamers, candy, water guns, signage, handouts.
  • Consider creating a dance, or cheer to chant throughout the route.
  • Consider if you will be bringing bikes, scooters that may be around the walkers.
  • Bring water (juice) to stay hydrated.
  • Assign roles to those who may be given handouts, candy, holding signs and banners etc. not leaving it to a last minute chaos.
  • Consider footwear selection for long distance walking.

Marching Bands / Flag Bearers / Dancers

  • Consider where you will leave instrument cases and any other equipment (extra flags, or cases).
  • Consider uniform choice for weather (ex: large tunics in the heat are not a good idea).
  • Consider decorating instruments / equipment with Pride decorations.
  • Consider having water walkers behind the band/marchers for short stops.
  • Consider preparing a setlist of songs before the parade (upbeat).
  • Consider footwear for long distance walking. 

Ideas for small vehicles, large vehicles, and floats

  • Decide which type of vehicle you will use as a foundation for your colorful creation. Your choice of vehicle can be anything from an electric golf cart to a flatbed trailer. You may have to rent a larger truck or trailer if needed.
  • Brainstorm ideas to dress-up your float. Consider a theme that you want to emphasize.
  • Decide upon a maximum budget that you will have to work around for materials, props and costumes. Balloons, streamers, paper mâché, and banners are all inexpensive and colorful ways to decorate your artwork.
  • Plan enough time on the day of the parade to properly arrange your float. You don’t want to have to start the parade with an incomplete presentation! You and your crew might want to come to our staging area early (but no earlier than your designated call time) to prepare the float on parade day. 

Where to Buy Supplies

 

Register

NG Pride is a non-profit organization serving and supporting the LGBTQ2 community and their families in the Kemptville - Oxford Mills - Merrickville area in the Municipality of North Grenville and Leeds & Grenville County. Our Mission - NG Pride's goal is to build a community that creates a sense of belonging and connection for our LGBTQ2S+ members so they can live without fear or judgement. Our Vision - An equitable community free from all forms of oppression.

Currently, the primary focus of NG Pride is to support and provide education, promotion, networking opportunities and outreach in support of the LGBTQ2 and supporters. NG Pride will perpetuate the spirit of pride in our community's identity throughout the year culminating in an entertaining, professional Pride Festival and other activities throughout the year

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