Pride Toronto names new executive director

By News Staff

Pride Toronto has a new executive director.

On its website, the organization announced that Olivia Nuamah will take on the role after the August resignation of Mathieu Chantelois.

Nuamah is described on the Pride Toronto website as a “community builder, mother and artist.”

“One of the things I want to bring to Pride Toronto is that focus on community development and collaboration in addition to trying to increase year-long engagement activities that promote dialogue and understanding,” she said in a Q&A on the site.

Chantelois left Pride Toronto after becoming embroiled in controversy when he signed a document accepting Black Lives Matter demands following a sit-in by the group during last summer’s parade.

Among the demands was one to ban police involvement in future pride parades.

In January, a majority of Pride Toronto members voted in favour of the full list of demands, including the ban on police participation.

That led Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders to announce that his force will not participate in this year’s Pride parade, pointing to divisions within the LGBTQ community as a reason for his decision.

“We understand the LGBTQ communities are divided,” he said in a statement. “To enable those differences to be addressed, I have decided the Toronto Police Service will not participate, this year, in the Pride parade.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today