Joy. Sorrow. Anger. Love. PRIDE: A Celebration of Toronto Pride, 1970s – Present is a print publication and visual art exhibition taking place at Collision Gallery (30 Wellington St W) in Toronto. This free exhibition will be on display from June 1 to July 22, 2023, with the publication available for purchase in person or online.

This remarkable multifaceted project focuses on Pride Toronto from 1970s to the present day throughout its long and sometimes turbulent journey. Launched in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of The ArQuives—Canada’s only LGBTQ2+ archive with a national scope—this exhibition and publication features archival photographs, print media, memorabilia, and writings by community leaders that were carefully selected from among the archives’ holdings and a public call for submissions. 

Highlighted in both the exhibition and publication are a diverse selection of materials generated by the LGBTQ2+ community, that includes beloved and vital organizations like Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Black Lives Matter, Casey House, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, and more. Exhibits are interspersed with photographs and other materials such as t-shirts, buttons, issues of XTRA Magazine, protest signs, zines, and posters.

More than 40 years after its inception, the influence of Pride Toronto on public education, social development, and the recognition of human rights for people of all sexualities and genders is rarely reflected on within the historical context of the city.

To address this gap, the Magenta Foundation partnered with The ArQuives, and then established a curatorial partnership between The Ontario College of Art and Design University and Toronto Metropolitan University, prioritizing the work of Canadian scholars through the Magenta Leadership Lab pilot program. Through this initiative, the project uncovers and creates inclusive histories, ensuring the work of emerging historians is championed and supported, and that these critical and overlooked histories are etched into public awareness. 

Joy. Sorrow. Anger. Love. PRIDE: A Celebration of Toronto Pride, 1970s – Present
June 1 – July 22, 2023
Opening Reception: June 1, 2023 from 7–10pm FREE
Collision Gallery – 30 Wellington St W, Unit G114, Toronto, Ontario

This Group Exhibition was curated by the Joy. Sorrow. Anger. Love. PRIDE Emerging Curatorial Team. The emerging curators were Melissa Bessie, Anqi Li, Sadaf Rezakhan Khajeh, Olivia Cerda, Peyton Keeler- Cox and Lex Barrie with ArQuives researchers Cole Anderson, Sophia Dime, Sarah Griffin, Shadio Hussein, Maria Kanellopoulos, Nawang Tsomo Kinkar, and Kalina Nedelcheva.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.