Standing United for Pride

The Progress Pride Flag was raised at Toronto Police Headquarters on May 29 to celebrate 2SLGBTQI+ communities ahead of June’s Pride Month.

“To maintain the progress we have made and continue moving forward, the input of the Community Consultative Committee, the Internal Support Network, as well as community members and leaders, remains invaluable,” Deputy Chief Robert Johnson said, noting the Service remains committed to ensuring a welcoming and safe work environment.

Members of the Toronto Police Service and community leaders gathered for the ceremony, which marked the fourth consecutive year the flag has been hoisted at headquarters. Flags were also raised at Toronto Police facilities across the city.

“To those joining us today, thank you for making your voices heard and for amplifying the voices of others. Thank you for the important conversations that lead to meaningful action and help strengthen relationships between the police and the community.”

Johnson said that continued collaboration more important than ever.

“At a time when tensions are high and we are seeing signs of intolerance and hatred, it is more important than ever that we stand together united,” he said. “Over the past years, we have made real progress in building trust between the Toronto Police Service and the 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and we are committed to continuing that work. We added a second liaison officer, we brought the Board and Chief Pride reception back to the community, and we are bringing newly promoted inspectors to a special training experience in the Church-Wellesley Village.”

Toronto Police Service Board Executive Vice-Chair Chris Brillinger said the flag raising represents a strong and visible commitment to inclusion and trust-building.

“As the Progress Pride Flag is raised here, along with unit commanders across the Service doing the same at each division, it stands as a visible and shared commitment,” he said. “It reflects our responsibility to better support 2SLGBTQI+ members, to build trust with the Queer and Trans communities we serve and to continue strengthening our culture.”

Brillinger added that Pride Month is both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection.

“It reminds us of the progress that has been made and the work ahead,” he added. “The Progress Pride Flag itself speaks to that ongoing effort, signalling both inclusion and the need for stamina to continue the fight. Community safety depends on strong relationships. It is built through trust and through our shared responsibility to ensure that all people feel safe, respected and included. It requires listening, learning, accountability and sustained effort, both within our organization and in collaboration with the Queer and Trans communities. Today we recognize the progress we have made and, more importantly, reaffirm our commitment to the work that lies ahead.”

Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit Superintendent Anthony Paoletta said the Service remains committed to equity and inclusion.

“More than ever, the Toronto Police Service confirms its commitment to the safety, dignity and fair treatment of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, both within our organization and throughout the communities we serve,” he said. “We are proud to stand alongside our community partners as we continue to advance equity, inclusion, diversity and human rights.”

Toronto Police Service 2SLGBTQI+ Liaison Officer Sergeant Robert Chevalier said Pride Month is a celebration of visibility, self-expression, resilience and community.

“It is also a reminder of the ongoing work required to build spaces like this one where everyone feels safe, respected and included,” he said. “We recognize the history that brought us here. Pride began as a protest. It was built through the courage of individuals who stood up against injustice and demanded dignity and equality. Because of those voices and those struggles, many doors have opened. We seek to keep those doors open and welcome the next generation into a better work environment.

“As the flag rises today, let it serve as a visible reminder that inclusion matters, representation matters, and every person deserves the freedom to live and work authentically and with pride.”