OTTAWA – The annual Pride parade in Ottawa was canceled on Sunday, August 24, 2025, due to disruptions caused by pro-Palestinian protesters. This year’s event was significantly impacted by a group known as Queers for Palestine – Ottawa, which organized a rally to coincide with the Pride celebrations.
Last year, the Pride parade was boycotted by various elected officials and organizations after Capital Pride issued a statement expressing solidarity with Palestinian causes. However, this statement has since been removed from Capital Pride's official website, indicating a shift in the organization's stance.
A video shared online earlier today captured a protester urging Capital Pride to recommit to standing in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian movement. The protester also called for an apology from the elected officials who had chosen to boycott the previous year’s parade. This reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the intersection of LGBTQ+ rights and international solidarity movements.
Ottawa's Mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, attended the parade and expressed that it was “deeply regrettable” that the group of activists decided to block the event. His remarks highlight the complexity of trying to balance various social justice causes, particularly in a setting meant to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
The announcement of the parade’s cancellation came shortly before 3 p.m., as tensions escalated and the event could not proceed as planned. The intended route for the Pride parade would have taken participants past Parliament Hill, a significant site in the nation's capital.
The cancellation of the parade is a notable development in Ottawa's LGBTQ+ celebrations, drawing attention to the ongoing discussions regarding solidarity with international causes and its implications within the LGBTQ+ community. The presence of protests and conflicting values at a celebration designed to promote inclusivity and acceptance creates a challenging environment for organizers and participants alike.
This incident underscores the evolving landscape of intersectionality within activism and highlights how different movements, such as those advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and those supporting Palestinian causes, can sometimes clash, leading to significant events being interrupted or canceled.
