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Orangeville Zehrs celebrating Pride

June 10, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

The local Zehrs (50 4th Ave) has become a strong ally for the LGBTQ community in Dufferin County as they’ve yet again hung a large Rainbow Flag banner in their store, celebrating Pride month and diversity.

Jim Waddington, founder of Celebrate Your Awesome, first approached Zehrs last year regarding the banner raising and received their full support.

“There are many allies within the Zehrs grocery store here. They were huge supporters last year and they provided us with this space yet again, to raise this 12-foot banner, to recognize pride in Dufferin County, and also to recognize that this area here is a safe space, and that everyone is welcome,” said Waddington.

“There are thousands of people that come through here [Zehrs] every day and I think it’s [important to have] the awareness and the recognition.”

Jennifer Haines, Zehrs store manager, told the Citizen that she wants the public to know that Zehrs is a safe space where everyone is welcome, regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Pride and diversity banner is just one way of signifying that sentiment.

“At Zehrs Orangeville, we want to do our part and this is us doing our part,” noted Haines, of the banner raising.

She said it’s great to see some businesses on Broadway flying Rainbow Flags and she encourages other Dufferin businesses to show their support during Pride month.

Pride first started as a march in the 1970s, protesting the persecution of gay people, following their mistreatment by police and society.

“We are fortunate that we were able to celebrate that effort, all the work that people did previously, is now something that we are able to enjoy,” said Waddington.

“We still have a long way to go, we still have a lot of hurdles to overcome, and a lot of education for people to realize that it doesn’t matter whether your skin colour or your religion, or any of that. Whether you’re gay, straight, trans, trans or whatever, we are all one.”

When looking at the name, Celebrate Your Awesome, Jim Waddington said its members decided on it, instead of Dufferin Pride, because Pride is often associated with a parade in Toronto and with the area being more rural, they want to take slow steps.

“We want it to be gradual. We want it to be very accepting, and we want people to understand that we are no different than anyone else. We are in all walks in our community,” said Waddington.

“There are business people, there are business owners, there are people here at Zehrs, who are of the of the 2S-LGBTQIA+ community.”

When Celebrate Your Awesome was able to host Pride celebrations on Mill Street in Orangeville, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Zehrs donated refreshments and setup a booth. This year, during Celebrate Your Awesome’s filming of their virtual Pride event, Zehrs is donating food and beverages to all the performers and production staff.

“They are definitely allies and supporters, and I just want to make sure that we do recognize Zehrs as an important part of the community,” stressed Waddington.

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