1. Open flames are not permitted on floats or held by marchers.

2. Alcoholic beverages and controlled substances are prohibited in marshalling areas or on the parade/march routes.

3. Parade participants are to keep the staging area clean and take garbage with them

4. Parade participants are not allowed to throw anything into the crowd during the parade/march or to hand out food items unless York Pride approves items prior.

5. Parade participants may hand out non-food items and/or display signage that promotes their registered group or its mission.

However, without the explicit prior approval, it is strictly not permitted for:

5.1. a. small business or commercial businesses to display excessive signage that promotes a for-profit business and its sponsors.

5.2. Not-for-profit permit holders whose annual turnover exceeded $100,000 in their prior financial to hand out items or display signage that promotes a sponsor of theirs through logos or any sponsor recognition.

5.3. Any participant to hand out items or display signage that promotes any company or organization other than a parade registrant.

5.4. Sponsor(s) of a registered group may, however, be promoted, provided that sponsor messaging is not a predominant feature of the item or signage. In any situation where these restrictions are not observed, York Pride reserves the right to hold the participant’s registered group liable for additional registration fees for the promoted company or organization.

6. All parade groups must strive to maintain a distance of 35’ (roughly three car lengths from the group ahead of them, avoiding unnecessary stops.

7. No public nudity will be permitted in the parade/march or on the route in accordance with section 174 of the Criminal Code.

8. Hate, negative or otherwise inappropriate messaging will not be permitted as determined by the parade/march organizers.

For example, the following are normally not permitted:

8.1.    Messaging that demonstrates or implies support for or against any party involved in any conflict or dispute, unless exclusively related to 2SLGBT+ rights.

8.2.    Messaging that demonstrates or implies support for or against groups characterized by grounds for discrimination in the Ontario Human Rights Code, i.e. “citizenship, race, place of origin, ethnic origin, colour, ancestry, disability, age, creed, sex/pregnancy, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, receipt of public assistance (in housing) and record of offences (in employment)”, unless exclusively related to 2SLGBT+ rights.

8.3.    Messaging that is not family friendly, in particular anything considered unsuitable for our younger event attendees

 If you are unsure about the suitability of your messaging, please check with York Pride before the parade at support@yorkpride.ca

9.  All animals must be parade-trained and leashed at all times. Unleashed animals are not permitted in or on the parade/march route at any time.

10. Each group must designate one member as its parade marshal. All group participants must be made aware of and able to identify their group’s parade marshal.

11. Groups must follow directions given by police, parade coordinators, parade marshals, and York Pride volunteers.

12. All floats must have safety rails and harnesses for riders—flatbeds must-have decorative skirts without sharp edges or nails protruding.

 13.  All drivers must be licensed and insured to drive their vehicles in the parade.

 14. Participants must not mount or disembark from floats during the parade.

 15. Drivers of motorcycles or other applicable vehicles must wear helmets and/or other protective clothing as required by the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.

 16. If you are using a generator, it must be secured to the vehicle, have adequate ventilation (3 feet on every side), and no person shall be seated within 5 feet of the generator.

 17. During the parade, vehicle drivers must maintain a consistent distance from the group ahead of them, ensuring that this distance is always at least 35’ and that, except in an emergency, their speed is always less than 5 kilometres per hour.

18. All groups, no matter the size, with or without vehicles, are subject to provide York Pride proof of Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing York Pride Fest (165-A Pony Drive Newmarket, ON, L3Y 7B5 and the Town of Newmarket (395 Mulock Drive Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 4X7) as an additional Insured for a minimum of 2 million general liability insurance—two weeks before the event.

19. The York Pride Board of Directors reserves the right to deny any parade application or any entry into the parade for reasons not specifically covered by this policy or to waive restrictions imposed by this policy for individual participants when special circumstances exist.