One Year In: Reflections from My First Year with PRISM Halton and Pride Halton

When I joined PRISM Halton in October 2024, I was stepping into something that had already started to make waves. Pride Halton had already run twice before, but I hadn’t experienced it myself. It was something I learned about after the fact — and once I did, I knew I wanted to help it grow and reach more people across the region.

Finding My Place

Like many, I wanted to get more involved locally but wasn’t sure where to begin. Between work and life, my “community gauge” was running low. One afternoon, while searching online for 2SLGBTQIA+ volunteer opportunities in Halton, I came across PRISM Halton.

Within a few days of sending an email, I met with Mel Tremills, founder of PRISM Halton, over coffee. We talked about what the organization needed and how I could help. By the end of that conversation, I was officially part of the team. My role on the board would be to support operations, systems, marketing, and project management — all the behind-the-scenes elements that keep things moving.

Growing Pride Halton

At that time, PRISM Halton was continuing to expand its reach across the Halton region. Originally a Milton-based volunteer group, it had quickly evolved to create events and initiatives that connected people in Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills. Pride Halton was always envisioned as a regional celebration, and 2025 marked an important milestone in that growth.

In early 2025, we launched a new website — pridehalton.com — to better share updates, connect with the community, and make volunteering and participation easier.

Our team worked through the fall and winter months to plan for the next Pride. We focused on expanding outreach, improving communications, and strengthening local partnerships. Every detail, from logistics to sponsorships, was handled by volunteers who poured their time and energy into making it happen.

When July 2025 arrived, that effort paid off. The celebration brought together more than 1,700 people across Halton, along with dozens of vendors, community groups, and local organizations. Seeing people from every corner of the region come together under one banner of inclusion was truly special.

Brookelynn Dean and Matthew George

My Highlight: Walking in the Parade

My personal highlight of the year was walking in the Pride Halton parade for the first time. I’ll never forget the feeling of standing shoulder to shoulder with other volunteers, holding the 2SLGBTQIA+ flag, and seeing families, allies, and young people lining the streets in support.

It’s a powerful experience — one that stays with you long after the music fades and the streets clear. In a time when the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continues to face challenges around the world, moments like that remind you how much strength exists in visibility and connection.

Behind the Scenes

While the events themselves are the visible part of Pride Halton, so much of the work happens quietly in the background. Over the past year, I’ve focused on helping PRISM Halton build structure, sustainability, and marketing awareness — the things that allow a volunteer-run organization to grow and thrive.

That has included:

• Strengthening marketing and communication workflows so information reaches the community more consistently.

• Improving project management systems to help the team stay organized and deliver large-scale events smoothly.

• Supporting community partnerships to bring in more sponsors, local businesses, and volunteers.

These are the kinds of things most people don’t see, but they make all the difference in how effectively an organization can deliver on its mission.

Why I Volunteer

People sometimes ask why I volunteer when my full-time job already keeps me busy. The answer is simple — volunteering fills a different kind of space in my life. It’s grounding. It connects me with people I might not otherwise meet, and it allows me to contribute to something bigger than myself.

Through PRISM Halton, I’ve built friendships, learned from others’ experiences, and gained a deeper appreciation for what community really means. Every meeting, every event, every small win adds up to something meaningful.

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead to Pride Halton 2026, our focus is on growth, inclusion, and connection. We want to continue strengthening partnerships across Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills while keeping the grassroots energy that defines PRISM Halton.

Personally, my goal is to keep building the foundation that supports that growth — ensuring that systems, communication, and collaboration make it easier for more people to get involved.

A Final Reflection

One year in, I’ve learned that community leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up, listening, and doing the work together. Joining PRISM Halton gave me a chance to do that — to use my skills in service of something that matters right here at home.

If you’re reading this and thinking about getting involved, take that first step. Complete our volunteer form, come to an event, or volunteer your time. You might just find, as I did, that one year from now you’ll be looking back with gratitude for the connections you made and the community you helped strengthen.