For immediate release
Fort Frances, ON / International Falls, MN - Today Borderland Pride announced that Trevor Bonot (he/him) has been named Grand Marshal of the organization’s LGBTQ2 Pride March, as part of 2019's PRIDE WEEK+ festival in the Fort Frances and International Falls area.
Bonot was born and raised in Stratton, Ontario. He made a name for himself and his community through his local curling club. He now resides in Thunder Bay, where he graduated from Lakehead University with a sociology degree. Curling continues to be his passion, and he is involved in numerous volunteer initiatives related to the sport. In 2017, Bonot’s team took home silver from the World Mixed Curling Championship in Switzerland.
Bonot will be the first-ever Grand Marshal of Borderland Pride’s Pride march. The organization plans to name Grand Marshals each year in order to recognize the achievements of an LGBTQ2 individual or ally from the Borderland region or with ties to one of its communities. Identifying visible queer and ally role models that our community is proud of is a critical to supporting young people who identify as LGBTQ2.
Borderland Pride’s Grand Marshal is the ceremonial leader of the Passport to Pride March, which is the only cross-border LGBTQ2 Pride parade in the world. This year’s Pride March will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 10:30 AM. It begins at Smokey Bear Park in International Falls, Minnesota, and ends at Rainy Lake Square in Fort Frances, Ontario. A community barbeque and concert will follow the march.
The march is approximately 1 mile in length, and participants are reminded that they must meet the requirements for admissibility to Canada in order to participate. The march is a pedestrian-only march along sidewalks (no vehicles allowed, though bicycles and strollers are permitted).
PRIDE WEEK+ is Borderland Pride’s second annual Pride festival. It will be celebrated from May 24 to June 9, featuring over 17 events and initiatives.
Borderland Pride is the LGBTQ2 Pride organization for the Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, Koochiching County in International Falls, Minnesota, and the southern part of Treaty 3 territory.
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Quotes:
“Pride exists to showcase and affirm our community’s sense of inclusion and to celebrate diversity. We do that, in part, to show our young people visible, positive role models who identify as LGBTQ2 or as their allies. All young people look for figures that they can identify with – in school, in community leadership, in the workplace, and in sport. Trevor’s achievements as an out athlete continue to bring pride to our community.” - Douglas W. Judson, Co-Chair of Borderland Pride
“I am very proud to be home to take part in the area’s Pride festival. It has been very moving to see such incredible growth for Borderland Pride in such a short period of time – and especially to see it recognized in my home community of Stratton. I hope that by highlighting different LGBTQ2 people and allies in our community that we can continue to build bridges and provide a supportive environment for those who are different.” - Trevor Bonot, 2019 Grand Marshal
Contacts:
Douglas W. Judson Co-Chair, Borderland Pride Email: borderlandpride@gmail.com
Trevor Bonot 2019 Grand Marshal Email: trevorbonot@gmail.com
Further Information:
Biography of Trevor Bonot:
Trevor Bonot currently lives in Thunder Bay, but will always call the Borderland region his home. He was born and raised in Stratton and continues to love to get back to the community as often as possible.
Growing up on the Rainy River as one of four kids, life did not have many dull moments. Swimming in the river and camping trips with his dad's fastball team made summers pass quickly, but it was the winters in Stratton that Trevor loved the most. Stratton’s curling rink is where he spent most of his free time, learning the game on the three-sheet club.
Over the years curling was always been Trevor’s passion, and in 2017, all of his years of practice paid off. Trevor’s team – which included his sister Jackie – won the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship and the right to represent Canada at the World Championships in Switzerland. Bringing home a silver medal (and Canada's first-ever) from this event has been a highlight in his curling career.
Trevor's traces his community spirit and volunteerism to his roots in Stratton. He enjoys the time be spends organizing numerous community events. He has served on the volunteer board of the Port Arthur Curling Club and most recently was a Chair of the organizing committee for the Grand Slam of Curling event, which was held in Thunder Bay.
Trevor is a proud alumnus of Sturgeon Creek School and Rainy River High School. After high school, Trevor moved on to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, where he graduated with a degree in sociology.
Trevor is thrilled to be part of this year’s Borderland Pride festivities. He is both excited and proud to see the growth of the event in such a short time.