Edmonton Pride Parade executive director Trevor Watson says a bomb threat contributed to the decision to have police at the march Saturday. “That information required us to make difficult decisions,” Watson told reporters on Tuesday. “Working with our safety partners, additional precautions were put in place to protect the people who would gather and march through Edmonton’s downtown public streets.” He reiterated, however, that the threat did not translate to an increase in the number of officers deployed during the festivities. Officers were stationed at roadblocks around Saturday’s downtown route. Watson had previously told media that their presence was part of its overall safety plan, which included sweeps, road closures and private security. “What changed was the nature and visibility of some of the safety measures being taken, and that distinction matters.” Several LGBTQ2S+ communities publicly condemned the Edmonton Pride Parade and Trans March’s inclusion of EPS officers, citing a history of systemic oppression involving police. Watson acknowledged at the time the measures could cause those who had been harmed by policing “fear, anxiety or distress.” He apologized on Tuesday to those who felt “unwelcome.” “The very people we were trying to protect should never have been left wondering whether we were protecting them. If our communication failed you, we are sorry. If our words caused you pain, we ask for your forgiveness, and we will learn from it.” He said organizers wrestled with whether attendees should be made aware of the bomb threat beforehand. “We had to ask ourselves a very simple question, and that is: Would publicly disclosing the threat make our community safer? At the time, we did not believe that it would.” Edmonton Police Service (EPS) began investigating the threat several weeks ago and “ultimately determined it was not credible,” deputy chief Nicole Chapdelaine said. This is a developing story. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum
