One Year In: Reflections from My First Year with PRISM Halton and Pride Halton

When I first got involved with PRISM Halton a year ago, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew I wanted to give back to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I knew I wanted to use my skills — marketing, digital, design — to help build something meaningful. What I didn't know was how much I would receive in return.

What I found was a community that welcomed me with open arms and a mission that felt deeply personal. Here are my reflections on a year of growth, connection, and pride.

Finding Pride Halton

I came to Pride Halton the way many people do — through a desire to be part of something bigger than myself. As a gay man living in Halton Region, I knew the importance of having visible, accessible 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces. When I learned that a local organization was building a Pride movement right here in Milton, I knew I had to get involved.

I reached out to Melanie Tremills, the founder, and offered to help with marketing and digital strategy. From the first conversation, I could feel the energy and passion that drives this organization. Melanie's vision — a Pride celebration that reflects the diversity and spirit of Halton Region — was infectious. I was all in.

The first parade

My first Pride Halton parade was an experience I'll never forget. Standing on Main Street in Milton, watching the community come together — the marchers, the spectators, the volunteers, the sponsors — I felt a swell of pride that I hadn't expected. This wasn't Toronto Pride or Ottawa Pride. This was our Pride. Right here in our backyard.

The numbers were modest by big-city standards, but the spirit was enormous. Every person who marched, every person who cheered from the sidewalk, every volunteer who handed out water or directed traffic — they were all part of something real. Something growing.

What I've learned

Community is everything

Pride Halton is built on community. Not just the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, but the broader Halton community — the businesses that sponsor us, the volunteers who show up at 6 a.m. to set up, the civic leaders who stand with us, the local media that tells our story. Without community, there is no Pride.

Growth takes patience

Building something from nothing takes time. Every year, we've grown — more marchers, more sponsors, more attendees, more events. But growth isn't always linear. There are setbacks, challenges, and moments of doubt. What matters is that we keep showing up.

Visibility saves lives

I've lost count of the number of people who have told me that seeing Pride Halton — on a billboard, in a news article, at a flag-raising ceremony — made them feel less alone. When a young person sees the Progress Pride flag flying at their town hall, or when a family walks through Pride in the Park and feels welcomed, that's not just an event. That's a lifeline. Visibility tells people: you belong here.

Volunteers are the heart

Everything Pride Halton does is powered by volunteers. No one on our board is paid. No one on our event team is paid. Every hour of planning, every email sent, every meeting attended — it's all volunteered. That's a remarkable thing. It means that every person involved is there because they believe in the mission. And that belief is what makes Pride Halton special.

Looking ahead

As I reflect on my first year with Pride Halton, I'm filled with gratitude. Grateful for Melanie's leadership. Grateful for the board members who give so generously of their time. Grateful for the volunteers who make every event possible. And grateful for this community — a community that shows up, that celebrates, and that refuses to let hate win.

We're growing. We're planning. We're building something that will last. And I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

If you've been thinking about getting involved — as a volunteer, a sponsor, a marcher, or just an attendee — do it. You won't regret it. Pride Halton is more than an organization. It's a family. And there's always room at the table.

Matthew George is Chair of the Pride Halton Board of Directors. He uses he/him pronouns.