Wowed by the crowd: Big turnout for 2017 Saskatoon Pride parade

A sizeable and momentous Pride parade took over downtown Saskatoon on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie Clark marched among thousands of others, the first Saskatoon mayor to do so.

"We have the City of Saskatoon employees out with a banner for the first time," he said mid-stride and about halfway into the parade line.

"We have hundreds and hundreds of teachers, the university, different businesses all participating saying this is the kind of city Saskatoon is, and this is the message we want to send to ourcitizens. And to the world."

Watch Clark's entire interview here:

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, grand marshal of Saturday's 2017 Pride parade

7 years ago

Duration 2:01

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, grand marshal of Saturday's 2017 Pride parade

Hundreds of people turned out to watch the hour-and-half-long parade, some lining up along the parade route up to an hour before the parade began at 1 p.m. CST.

More than one participant commented on the ultimate size of this year's turnout.

"I've been doing it for four or five years and this one is especially rewarding. I've never seen crowds like this, ever," said Don Cochrane.

He was marching with a group fromCamp fYrefly, which will host its annual leadership retreat for sexual and gender minority and allied youth in the city in August.

"I think there's been a seismic shift now. I think it's a cultural change," said Cochrane.

Pearce Kilgour with the Menagerie Burlesque Company was also wowed by the crowd.

"This is doublethe size from last year," said Kilgour.

DannyPapadatos, co-chair of the festival, said 119 groups and floats were registered for the parade, and that several other groups had to be turned away.

All told, Papadatos estimated5,000 people took part in the march, on top of the hundreds of people who watched.