October 22, 2015

For immediate release

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#PrideTO

PRIDE TORONTO
ANNOUNCES SURPLUS, ELECTS NEW
BOARD MEMBERS AND INTRODUCES
2016 PRIDE MONTH
Largest Trans* representation ever elected
to Board of Directors in Pride’s history

June 2016 to Mark First-Ever Pride Month in Toronto

TORONTO, ON, October 22 | At its Annual General Meeting earlier this evening, Pride Toronto
presented the organization’s new five-year 2016-2021 Strategic Plan and Annual Report to its
membership, announcing a financial surplus for the 2015 festival. At the public meeting five new
Board of Directors were also elected, marking the Board’s largest Trans* representation in
Pride’s history.

2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Pride Toronto’s Executive Director, Mathieu Chantelois, presented the organization’s 2015
Annual Report to members and public supporters at the meeting, held at the Grosvenor YMCA.
Despite receiving Toronto’s largest rainfall in the past two decades during the 2015 festival
closing weekend, Pride Toronto announced a financial surplus of $41,586 of excess revenue
over expenses.

Included in the Annual Report are 2015 festival breakdowns, a full financial statement and
highlights of signature events from the festival’s 35th edition.

To view and download the full Pride Toronto 2015 Annual Report, please visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xtzoqx9ex69yk7l/AAAo1ovlVrRfT3IWifNrk11xa?dl=0

NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED

Following a public call for Board of Directors candidates earlier this fall, Pride Toronto’s
membership elected five new Directors at the Annual General Meeting. Pride Toronto’s Board of
Directors offers financial oversight to the organization and oversees ongoing evaluations of
Pride’s mission, vision, values and strategic direction, as well as the internal and external
structures.

With the election of all three Trans* candidates, Pride Toronto welcomes the largest Trans*
representation on its Board in Pride’s 35-year history. Additionally, the Pride Toronto Board is
now responsible for the largest Trans* representation on any Pride organizational Board of
Directors.

“Our mission is to celebrate the diversity of our community, and Pride Toronto deeply values the
uniqueness of all voices in bringing people together. With this important election this evening,
we are proud to provide a greater representation of our festival, organization and community by
those serving on our Board of Directors,” said Pride Toronto Board of Directors Co-Chair Aaron
GlynWilliams, “We are thrilled to welcome this high calibre group of individuals to our Board,
who will provide expertise, guidance and direction to our ever-expanding organization as we
continue to set the bar worldwide for Pride celebrations in our next chapter.”

The newly elected Board members will join Aaron GlynWilliams, Alica Hall, Chris Tremeer,
Carolynn Gludish, Michael Mirpuri, Dana Suvagau and Tatum Wilson. With these new
elections comes the retirement of four of Pride Toronto’s Board members, Kerry Bell, Shelley
Craig, Lauryn Kronick and Paul Saguil. Pride Toronto thanks each of these individuals for
their service, time and contributions to the organization.

Pride Toronto warmly welcomes the following to its Board of Directors to a three-year term:

Biko Beauttah is a human rights activist currently attending George Brown College majoring in
Jewellery Arts. Born and raised in Kenya, Biko moved to Canada in 2006 to seek asylum
because being considered LGBTQ* is considered a crime in her home country. A champion of
refugee and sexual minority rights, she has spread her message of tolerance and equality
through various platforms such as the Canadian Council for Refugees and the Refugee Pride
Convention, where she was a discussant on panels. Biko was also the first person to give a
lecture on gender studies upon the inception of such a course at a high school in Canada. At
George Brown, Biko is the current Women and Trans Persons representative, bridging the gap
between her constituents, the college administration and the Student Association.

Michelle Cherny is a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours graduate (2012) from Rotman
Commerce at the University of Toronto and is an alumni of Trinity College. Michelle is a
Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and an employee of
Deloitte Canada, where she is a Senior Consultant in Deloitte’s Sustainability & Climate
Change - Enterprise Risk Services practice. Prior to her current role, Michelle was a Senior
Accountant at Deloitte in the Audit practice, specializing in the resources and energy industry.
Michelle has been an active member of the LGBTTIQQ2SA community for nearly five years,
currently serving as a Director on the non-profit organization Out On Bay Street’s Board of
Directors, having previously served as the Chair, Awards on Out On Bay Street’s Organizing
Committee in 2014. At Deloitte, Michelle currently serves as a member of the LGBTQ
Employees At Deloitte & Allies (LEAD) employee resource group Stewardship Committee
and the National Trans Awareness Committee. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time
outdoors with family, travelling around the world, and playing sports in a number of leagues
around the city.

(RE-ELECTED) Rachel Lauren Clark is a passionate LGBT advocate. Her work in human
rights has spanned throughout North America over the past 20 years with her focus on
education and LGBT inclusion. She was born in Herkimer, New York and has had a 27-year
career where she worked for several Fortune 500 technology companies. She has a degree in
Journalism from Morrisville State College and has attended Syracuse University, New York
University, and is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program at Emmanuel College.
She served in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. Rachel holds two
technology patents, has started several websites, and has been an Information Technology
innovator and an early Internet adopter.

Evan Kirkman is an enthusiastic advocate for LGBTQ rights, with an emphasis on transgender
representation in the media. He was born in North Carolina and has lived in Canada since 2009.
He holds a Master's in Art History from Concordia University, in which he studied the shaping of
gender roles in architectural spaces. He has over 4 years experience in both television
production and broadcast, and currently holds the position of Digital Strategist with Shaw Media
where he develops social media strategy for specialty broadcast and digital brands. In his spare
time, Evan enjoys spending time weightlifting, taking in 1940s and 1950s cinema, and
is working to develop a transgender focused docu-reaility series.

Phil Villeneuve doesn't sleep much. He is a man about town. The final Editor in Chief of Fab
Magazine (and organizer of the largest drag queen photoshoot in Toronto herstory!), Phil is now
the Arts Editor of DailyXtra.com, a DJ, dancer of sorts and owner of a dog named Francine. Phil
is an active member of Toronto's LGBT community, and regularly attends arts, theatre and
dance events across the city. DJing on multiple Pride stages, as well as helping curate and spin
at countless events at The 519, all while remaining at the helm of Toronto's only gay French
monthly dance event - Tapette - are his passions. He also helps organize Big Primpin' in the
West End, an 11-year, all-inclusive hip hop party, 'fit' at the Beaver and other favourites. Phil is
someone who likes to explore and push the limits and experiences of gay life all over the city

2016 - 2021 STRATEGIC PLAN

At the Annual General Meeting Pride Toronto’s Board of Directors Co-Chairs presented the
organization’s recently released 2016-2021 Strategic Plan. The result of a years worth of
community engagement and consultation, Beyond 20/20 will guide the organization over the
next five years. The Strategic Plan introduces a revised mission, vision and values for Pride
Toronto and will serve as the cornerstone of all organizational decision-making.

Pride Toronto will align its focus on values of inclusivity, diversity, creativity and sustainability,
as well as work towards strategic directions of developing a meaningful, fierce, loud and strong
Pride. A leader for Pride organizations worldwide, Pride Toronto is one of the few internationally
recognized celebrations guided by a Strategic Plan.

To view and download the full Pride Toronto 2016-2021 Strategic Plan, please visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q4joeb7qcxq5ihj/AABqSMzxQSP-uznBoBLL16uJa?dl=0

2016 PRIDE MONTH AND FESTIVAL

Preparations for the 2016 Pride Toronto Festival are well underway and will include expanded
celebrations throughout June 2016, as the organization hosts the first-ever “Pride Month” in
Canada. Pride Toronto will extend programming and events at various locations throughout the
city during the entire month of June in addition to its annual and internationally anticipated ten-
day festival (June 24 – July 3, 2016).

2016 will also mark 35-years since Toronto’s 1981 infamous bathhouse raids, the catalyst for
mass protests that spurred the development of Pride in the city. This significant anniversary will
be highlighted in various programming to reflect on the events that shaped Pride, the
community’s victories since and to serve as a platform for issues that still require commitment
and focus.
Pride Toronto, through its Major Cultural Partners Program, will partner with Toronto’s leading
cultural institutions in June 2016 to offer signature events while extending the Pride footprint
throughout the city.

“Why keep Pride to only ten days? We are excited to expand awareness, continue
conversations - and of course celebrate! - throughout the entire month of June as we take over
Toronto,” said Pride Toronto Executive Director Mathieu Chantelois. “The Pride Toronto staff
and volunteers are already hard at work planning for an entire month of Pride in 2016 -
everyone will be included!”

The 36th edition of the Pride Toronto Festival will run Friday, June 24 – Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Pride’s 2016 festival theme, events, honourees and artists will be announced shortly.

ABOUT PRIDE TORONTO:

Pride Toronto is a registered not-for-profit organization that exists to celebrate the history,
courage, diversity, and future of our communities, whose mission is to hold an international
celebration incorporating activism, education and culture of global communities.

One of the premiere arts and cultural events in Canada, and the largest pride celebration in
North America, Pride Toronto’s 10-day festival takes place each year during the end of June.
Highlighting Canada’s continued progress in human rights and Toronto’s diversity and
dynamism, Pride Toronto showcases performances and extensive cultural events to create
social, cultural and political impact.

Pride Toronto returns for a full month of Pride in June 2016, and its 36th celebration Friday, June
24 – Sunday, July 3, 2016. For more information and programming announcements, please
visit: www.PrideToronto.com.

Twitter: @PrideToronto
Facebook: Pride Toronto
Instagram: pridetoronto

Media Contact:
Victoria Schwarzl, Communications Manager
Pride Toronto
victoria@pridetoronto.com
647-980-0650