Pride president says 2SLGBTQIA+ representation important in rural communitiesPublished Jun 10, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 8 minute readAlong with other board members and volunteers, Annapolis Royal Pride president Cameron Stiff has been busy planning a variety of events and celebrations for the 2025 Annapolis Royal Pride Festival. Included this year is a unique pop-up wedding giveaway. Photo by JASON MALLOY /PostmediaFor one lucky 2SLGBTQIA+ couple, this year’s Annapolis Royal Pride Festival will include winning a unique rural pop-up wedding ceremony.Annapolis Royal Pride president Cameron Stiff said Shine Your Light! is the theme of this year’s festival, taking place from July 4 to 6 in the historic town.Stiff said he loves the idea of Vows in the Valley, a pop-up wedding giveaway offering one 2SLGBTQIA+ couple a free, nature-based ceremony. The owners of Rove Acres, who recently moved to Annapolis County, reached out to Pride organizers a few weeks ago with the offer.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentRead More ‘A celebration of love’: Pride festival hosted in Annapolis Royal, N.S. Strong attendance numbers at Pride festival in Annapolis Royal, N.S., despite heat warnings Pride festival set for July 7-9 in Annapolis Royal, N.S. Stiff said it’s “a really sweet idea.” Rove Acres is a beautiful event space, he said, and it would be a great opportunity for anybody who’s been thinking about tying the knot. Stiff said being able to marry is very important when it comes to having equal rights, and it represented “a landmark victory” for the movement.“It’s great to celebrate that, and the whole idea is love is love, so I hope there’s somebody out there who is looking for the opportunity and wants to go for it,” Stiff said.The winning couple will receive an intimate, professionally photographed outdoor ceremony at Rove Acres, a queer-and-women-owned event space in Bear River East. The wedding will take place sometime between July 15 and Aug. 10, when wildflowers are at their peak, with the specific date being chosen in collaboration with the winning couple.Article contentThe contest is open from June 1 to 20, with the winning couple being announced during the Annapolis Royal Pride Community Cabaret on July 5. 2SLGBTQIA+ couples are invited to enter by sharing a little about their love story and what the celebration would mean to them.Rove Acres co-founder Mallory Gallant-Dueck said they are very excited about the contest. Gallant-Dueck and her wife moved from Vancouver to Annapolis County in November and created Rove Acres. She said they always wanted to create a space offering micro weddings where people could come, spend time together, and enjoy themselves.“Whether couples dream of saying ‘I do’ under open skies or simply long for a meaningful, low-stress celebration of their love, this giveaway is our way of saying, ‘You belong here,’” Gallant-Dueck said. “Queer joy deserves space in the country too.”Article content Annapolis Royal Pride board members and volunteers gathered on June 2 for an organizational meeting leading into the 2025 Annapolis Royal Pride Festival. They include, clockwise, from the top centre, president Cameron Stiff; secretary AC Silver; Mallory Gallant-Dueck, Cole Titus, Greg Kinsley, Grace Kinsley, Amy Webber, director Brent Goertzen; treasurer Darryl Regier, and vice-president Meagan Cairns. Photo by CONTRIBUTEDShe said they’re part of the community now, and the contest is a great way to get better acquainted with people in the surrounding area. Gallant-Dueck said they thought that offering a free, unique wedding experience to a deserving couple in conjunction with Annapolis Royal Pride would be the perfect first partnership for them.Gallant-Dueck said that with the contest opening June 1, it’s a great way to kick off Pride Month. She said that in an age when Pride is being “kind of politicized” and queer people are being targeted, they wanted to provide a safe, welcoming space for a couple to get married.“My wife and I, we’ve been married for five years now, but when we were looking for venues, when you’re a queer couple, you never know where you’re going to be safe and welcomed and things like that,” Gallant-Dueck said.She said she couldn’t wait to read the love stories shared by those entering the contest. People are also welcome to share their story in a video, audio recording, photo collage, or through another medium if they prefer.Article content“They can get super creative with it if they want,” Gallant-Dueck said. “I’m looking forward to hearing everybody’s journeys.”For more information or to enter, visit www.roveacres.com/vowsinthevalley . The 2024 Annapolis Royal Pride Parade. Photo by CONTRIBUTED2SLGBTQIA+ advocacyStiff, who is gay, said he has always considered it important to give back to the community. He’s done volunteer work in various capacities his whole life and got involved with the Pride organization last year. He was elected president, and the board started what he described as a “re-imagining process.”This included recruiting new members, unveiling a new logo, and launching a new website, www.annapolisroyalpride.org. Based on the belief that love is love, Annapolis Royal Pride exists to promote the right to equality, freedom and safety for two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, non-binary and questioning people – anyone who doesn’t conform to or find themselves represented by heterosexual normative society.Article contentStiff said they considered a lot of options when they were thinking of a new identity for the organization and ultimately decided on an image of a lighthouse for the logo. It’s an instantly recognizable Maritime symbol, there is a lighthouse in the centre of Annapolis Royal, and metaphorically, “it’s quite clear.”“You could compare hatred or ignorance to darkness and treachery, and the lighthouse was created to light the way and make it safe for ships to find their way through rocky waters. It fits on that level as well,” Stiff said.He said Pride Festival organizers have tried to create a diverse program that is accessible and has something for everyone, including family, youth-oriented, and all-ages activities, to help build a greater sense of community.Stiff said celebrating Pride is particularly important for young people in terms of meeting others and being introduced to role models or people who serve as examples in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.Article contentAlthough the Pride Festival is the flagship event, Stiff said officials hope to organize various activities and celebrations throughout the year. He would like to see more events featuring discussions or speakers sharing their experiences to help promote education and understanding.“I think it’s important that we create opportunities for people who don’t understand to learn more because that’s really important, just as important as it is to create opportunities for people to connect with each other,” Stiff said.He said he hadn’t been involved with any 2SLGBTQIA+ organization in the past but was inspired to join Annapolis Royal Pride after considering “everything that is going on right now south of the border and the push back against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives.”Stiff said it’s important for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community “to keep organizing and keep engaging with people” to help them better understand why everyone deserves equal rights and protection of those rights.Article content Annapolis Royal town crier Christine Igot at the 2024 Annapolis Royal Pride Festival. Photo by CONTRIBUTEDRural representationHe said it’s particularly important to have a Pride organization in Annapolis Royal considering the area is mainly rural. Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community will often leave rural areas for larger urban centres where they may feel safer and perhaps find a greater sense of community.“There are queer people all around us, and I think it’s especially important to have Pride initiatives in rural environments like Annapolis,” Stiff said.He said there may be a general lack of visibility or representation in rural areas, or people who haven’t been exposed to the idea that it’s OK to be gay.“It’s important to shine the light for anyone who might be in the closet or might be living in fear or whatever, and to educate everyone else about it,” Stiff said.He said instances of ignorance, homophobia or hate crimes can be more common in rural environments, so it’s especially important for Pride organizations to be present. Annapolis Royal is known for having one of the larger rural Pride celebrations in Canada, and they want to carry on that tradition.Article contentStiff said there have also been a lot of people moving to rural areas like Annapolis County from bigger cities like Toronto and Vancouver. It could be because those centres have become less affordable or because they want to be part of a rural environment for the lifestyle it offers.“Lots of queer people are moving here or are interested in moving here and we want to make sure that they know that it’s a safe place to be,” Stiff said.He said the organization appreciates the financial support it has received from the Town of Annapolis Royal, the County of Annapolis, and the Province of Nova Scotia for the festival and celebrations.Stiff said that during the week leading into the festival, organizers would be putting Pride flags up throughout the town. Jess Walker and Annapolis Royal Pride president Cameron Stiff at the merchandise table during the 2024 Annapolis Royal Pride Festival. Photo by CONTRIBUTEDAbout the celebrationsOn July 4, from noon to 4 p.m., people are invited to the Annapolis Brewing Company to help paint the town rainbow colours using sidewalk chalk, balloons, and other festive media.Article contentAt 4:30 p.m., there will be a Pride flag-raising ceremony at the Annapolis Royal Town Hall, beside the Oqwa’titek Amphitheatre. Members of the Annapolis Royal Pride board will say a few words, and elected officials will be invited to speak in support of the Pride movement.Stiff said he found last year’s flag raising very poignant and, “I didn’t realize how important that was going to feel.”There will be a social gathering at the Annapolis Brewing Company from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by all-ages Pride karaoke from 7 to 11 p.m.; and a free screening of the classic queer film Desert Hearts at King’s Theatre from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.On July 5, Pride will be celebrated at the Annapolis Royal Farmers and Traders Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fort Anne will host family activities from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Annapolis Royal Pride Parade takes place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.Article contentThe Community Pride Cabaret will be held at the ampitheatre from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Stiff said the cabaret is always fun and gives people a chance to express themselves through song, dance, theatre, or drag shows. It will feature the announcement of the winners of the pop-up wedding giveaway.The Pride Community Swim and Barbecue takes place at the Annapolis Royal Community Pool from 3 to 5 p.m., and King’s Theatre hosts the Tides of Tease Drag and Burlesque Show from 8 to 11 p.m. The show is for ages 19 and older. Tickets are available through the King’s Theatre website.Celebrations conclude on July 6 with a multi-faith spiritual gathering at the ampitheatre from 11 a.m. to noon.For more information on the Annapolis Royal Pride Festival, visit www.annapolisroyalpride.org.Article content
Pop-up wedding giveaway part of Pride festival in Annapolis Royal, N.S.
