June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the voices, contributions, and resilience of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Pride has its roots in the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a key moment in the fight for gay rights. Today, it continues to be both a joyful celebration and a powerful reminder of the ongoing work needed to advance equity, inclusion, and human rights for all.

At RRC Polytech, we’re proud of our commitment to fostering equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in everything we do. In 2022, we unveiled a personalized Pride design, an evolution of the Progress Pride Flag, featured as walkways at our Notre Dame, Exchange District, and Portage la Prairie campuses. This design symbolizes belonging, representation, and our shared dedication to inclusion.

We’re also proud to have The Spectrum, a welcoming space created by the RRC Polytech Students’ Association (RRCSA) for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and their allies. The Spectrum offers a safe and inclusive place to connect, hold events, and access resources that support community and inclusion. The name symbolizes the rainbow, a recognized emblem of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and reflects the broad spectrum of gender and sexual identities.

In June 2024, we proudly raised our personalized Pride flag alongside the Treaty One Nation and Red River Métis flags at the Notre Dame Campus. These flags fly year-round as a daily reminder of our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

During RED Forum 2025, the Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) Employee Working Group organized an experiential booth. They offered button-making, pronoun pins, and shared resources about pronouns with the college community.

RRC Polytech at the Winnipeg Pride Parade

On June 1, 2025, RRC Polytech students and staff proudly marched in the Winnipeg Pride Parade. With 335 registrations, the most we’ve ever had, we showed our strong support and allyship. The day began with the Pride Rally at the Manitoba Legislative Building, a tradition that began in 1987 with 250 community members. Check out the Pride Parade Photos on RRC Polytech Flickr page.

Beyond Pride Month: Ongoing Support and Learning

Our commitment to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community doesn’t end in June. Visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion on Campus Resources page for self-directed learning tools, including the Library’s Gender and Sexual Diversity Guide. These resources help foster understanding, allyship, and advocacy year-round.

Employees are also encouraged to join the Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) Employee Working Group. This group supports inclusive events, champions equity-focused initiatives, and acts as a voice for gender and sexual diversity at RRC Polytech.