There will be a route change for Borderland Pride’s Pride Walk in Fort Frances this year.

The walk has traditionally started in International Falls, crossing the Canada-U.S. border and ending in Fort Frances.

This year’s event will start at the Sorting Gap Marina before winding its way to Rainy Lake Square.

Committee chair Abbey Calder says there were concerns about participants being able to cross the border with what is going on politically in the U.S.

“We had some concerns over specifically our members who might not necessarily have male or female written on their identification or do not identify with or present as their gender assigned at birth,” says Calder.

U.S. President Donald Trump, earlier this year, signed an executive order to recognize only male and female genders.

He also signed an executive order that repealed a previous order preventing discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.

Calder says the route change was a tough decision to make, given the support and participation from residents in International Falls, but they wanted to ensure the walk was as safe as possible.”

“It was a decision that we did not take lightly. We wanted to make sure we were thinking of everyone, not just those of us who can still safely cross the border.”

Calder says they had a number of residents in International Falls reach out and express interest in being a part of the walk even though they are not physically able to do so.

Some are donating items to be handed out or providing sponsorship.

The walk will take place on June 14th.

There are plans to have booths from supporting agencies to draw awareness of local services available.

There will also be donations available for children to decorate their bicycles and ride the route.

The town of Fort Frances is providing a donation to allow participants free ice cream.

Participants will leave the marina area and walk to the Civic Centre, where a flag-raising ceremony will take place before proceeding to the Rainy Lake Square, where the Kiwanis Club will host a barbeque.

Activities at the marina will begin at 10 a.m., with the walk starting at 11 a.m.