ABOUT US
Pride Hamilton officially incorporated on October 31, 2018. We hosted our first official Prideas an organization in 2019 at Gage Park in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Pride organizing in Hamilton has been happening since 1991 and 2021 marked 30 years of Pride celebrations in Hamilton. Unfortunately, our 2020 and 2021 Pride festivities were virtual due to Covid-19. In 2022, we did our first in-person Pride since the start of the pandemic at the Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen's.
Pride Hamilton does not define itself using traditional mission, vision, or values statements. While we will continue to support and stand with Hamilton's Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities, the main focus of this organization is to plan community events during the calendar year.
We hope to expand this work as the organization builds capacity, trust and support from the Hamilton Community and surrounding areas. Our ultimate goal is to have more than just one annual celebration and offer a variety of events and services throughout the year.
Pride Hamilton is entirely run by its volunteer Board of Directors and a dedicated group ofvolunteers that help make our event(s) what they are.
Let us introduce our Board of Directors .....
KIEL HUGHES
Chair of Pride Hamilton
Director of Events
As a Hamilton-area native up to this point in his life, Kiel has seen many changes and witnessed many ups and down, however, he feels there is still a lot of work to be done, a lot of things still need to be improved. His road to social activism started when he was cast on a TV show; the impact he had on people pushed him to continue on this path. With a firm belief in equality, equity, anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights, Kiel has a desire to see and feel change. As a drag performer, Kiel uses drag as an outlet to help get his point of view across, to bring people together, to bring a smile to faces, and to encourage broadened thinking.
Board member since December 2020
STEPH ADAMS ~ she/her
Co-Director of Fund Development
Steph was born and raised in the GTA and relocated to Hamilton in 2012. Steph was born with a physical disability that put her in the line of fire when it came to be being bully as soon as she started school. Being bullied from a young age she became an advocate for those that were outside the perimeters of what society would consider not “normal” at a very young age, including but limited to the LGBTQ+ community. Steph pursued her passion for helping people and graduated from Fanshawe College with the diploma in Child and Youth Work and Crisis Intervention. After finishing college she went on to working with youth in Brampton then as a manager at a Violence Against Women Shelter in downtown Toronto. As a manager she worked on ensuring herself along with staff were kept up to date on LGBTQ+ issues and was a part of the team that developed inclusive policies for trans women accessing services at VAW organizations in Toronto. Steph has since left her position in Toronto and is raising 3 children in Hamilton while continuing to be an advocate for those who need a voice. Steph started out as a part Event Committee in 2018 before becoming a board member not long after. Along side being a mom/wife, advocate and board member she runs her own small business making custom products for people as way to channel her crafter ambition.
Board Member since April 2019
MICHAEL HARPER ~ he/him
Finance Director
Michael was born and raised in Hamilton and proudly continues to call the city his home. He is a Specialist at KPMG LLP and brings multiple years of experience in accounting and finance to the Board. Michael graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management and went on to earn his Master of Accounting. He is currently working towards obtaining his CPA designation. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the many waterfalls scattered throughout the city, spending time with family and friends, and cooking a nice meal.
Like many members of the community, Michael faced many hardships growing up as he came to realise and accept his sexuality. These hardships have inspired him to become an advocate for the community. As a member of the Board, he hopes to help create a safer environment for the community that is engaged, welcoming, and connected.
Board member since November 2021.
JENNIFER BARRETT ~ she/her
Youth Coordinator
Born and raised in Hamilton, Jennifer is a passionate and dedicated ally of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with a special focus on ensuring safe, empowering spaces for local youth. Jennifer spent the first part of her career as a mental health researcher and has a PhD in Psychology from McGill University. She is now a registered psychotherapist who works in private practice. Jennifer is also a Mom to three kids, gardener, star-gazer and animal lover.
With an eye on local, national and American politics and prominent subcultures, Jennifer aims to stand firmly against the growing acts of intolerance, hate and violence towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as well as the dismantling of basic rights, including use of preferred pronouns and gender-affirming healthcare.
For Jennifer, the role of Pride Hamilton in supporting, celebrating and elevating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is more important now than ever. Let's do this!
Board member since March 2023
ADRIAN DIPIETRO ~ he/him
Board Member
A recent graduate of McMaster Engineering and lifelong Hamilton resident, Adrian has always been passionate about helping others. After finishing his degree, he worked with a healthcare charity as a member of the events team and hopes to put that experience to good use in serving Pride Hamilton and the community. When not working or volunteering, he spends his time reading, studying, spending time with friends.
Board member since January 2023
BONNIE BARLOW ~ she/they
Board Administrator
Bonnie was born, bred and raised in Hamilton. Her life has been about battling stigmas from a very young age, from being a child of separated parents and living with her dad, to being a teen mom, dealing with pregnancy loss, and being a young widow. As well as advocating for access to safe healthcare for uterus owners, and facilitating conversations regarding harm-reduction and suicide safe spaces. Bonnie was attending a fundamental-type church, when her only child came out as bisexual, and she realized that the issues that being associated to that type of religion was inflicting trauma on him and swore that no one would ever tell her to abandon her child. Bonnie is passionate about working hard to create a space that is safe and inclusive to all humans, and dreams that her hometown will be that space in her lifetime.
Since January 2024
MATT SABRISSA ~
Co-Director of Fund Development
Bio coming soon ......
Since January 2024
Other Important Members of our team
JAMES DEMJAN ~ he/him
Director at Large
James comes to Hamilton Pride with 35+ years’ experience in Finance & Entertainment Hospitality. Moving to Hamilton in Jan 2020, having worked in 29 different cities in North America, he comes with a broad view of social views. Having recognized the need for LGBTQIA+ awareness in communities, he is honored to act as an advisor to the board. Previous Board experience was as a Co-Founder of the Ottawa Burlesque Festival in 2014, which shares similar communities.
Since January 2022