City unveils 2SLGBTQI+ special exhibit on front steps of City Hall

The City of St. Catharines today unveiled a special exhibit, titled “Pride in Every Step, Love in Every Action,” on the front steps of City Hall featuring the words of local 2SLGBTQI+ Poet Victoria Ashleigh Rose.

“Pride in Every Step, Love in Every Action” marks the City’s first Poetry Callout, as well as its inaugural Artist Callout specifically to 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

The City is proud to offer 2SLGBTQI+ Poets the opportunity, and the prominent art installation space at City Hall, to honour their lived experience, and to affirm that queer stories deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated in our civic spaces, said Mayor Mat Siscoe.

“When we make space for more diverse voices, we open the door to a richer, more inclusive picture of who we are as a community,” said Mayor Siscoe. “Projects such as this one help challenge assumptions, build empathy, and open up conversations.”

Rose shared a live reading of her poem, titled “To Love with Pride,” which celebrates love, identity, and community through poetry, during the unveiling event on the afternoon of June 5.

Rose’s “To Love with Pride” poem, printed on vinyl and installed alongside the Two Spirit Intersex Inclusive Pride Flag, will be on display on the City Hall front steps this summer.

The City’s 2SLGBTQI+ Poets Callout asked poets to submit writing that focused on the transformative power of action, language, love and acceptance.

"St. Catharines Cultural Services is proud to support bringing local 2SLGBTQI+ Poet Victoria Ashleigh Rose’s powerful words to the steps of City Hall – offering a visible reflection of the City’s commitment to the arts, and to equity and inclusion,” said Jessica Wilson, the City’s Culture Supervisor.

Rose is a Brock University student and longtime St. Catharines resident who has been active in the Niagara poetry scene since 2015. She is an organizer with the St. Catharines Poetry Slam and serves as Community Outreach Coordinator for several Brock student groups, including the Creative Writing Club and the Poetry Club.

Rose’s debut poetry collection, “A Philosophy of Clichés,” reflects on her experiences as a queer, neurodivergent teen navigating identity, first love, and healing from a complex upbringing. Through her work, Rose explores themes of self-love, anxiety, disability, and the journey toward self-understanding.

“In times when equity and inclusion continue to be challenged, visible acts of allyship with 2SLGBTQI+ communities are more important than ever,” said Shannon McHugh, the City’s Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “This special exhibit is not just a celebration of Pride, it’s a statement of solidarity, a reminder that love, identity, and belonging deserve to be seen and supported every day".

A selection committee comprised of members of the City’s 2SLGBTQI+ Advisory Committee and Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, chose Rose’s entry as the winning poem among 15 poetry submissions. City staff consulted with its 2SLGBTQI+ Advisory Committee and the Niagara Regional Native Centre on flag choice to ensure an inclusive and reflective design.

The City Hall exhibits program is coordinated through the Cultural Services Office at the City’s Community, Recreation and Culture Services department.