Love & acceptance. Unity & celebration. Rainbows & more rainbows. Pride is Toronto’s best party of the year, and for the first time ever, this year’s celebration is a month-long affair.
Manulife, our parent company, is thrilled to be a sponsor of the event, and being steps from the action, Manulife Centre is your go-to shopping destination for everything you’ll need at Pride Month’s crowning event: the July 3rd parade.
If you’re driving down, our parking lot is conveniently located just down the street from the Gay Village. And don’t forget that you’ll get two hours of free parking with a $25 purchase at Manulife Centre, like a stylish satchel from Bonny for all the parade swag, new sunnies from HGB Eyewear or pre-parade munchies from Best One Convenience Store on the concourse level by the bank machine.
Hydrate & caffeinate
If the past two weeks are any indication, it’s going to be a scorcher on parade day. Pick up a S’well water bottle at Indigo. They come in awesome colours like Grapefruit Linen, Teakwood and Pink Champagne Glitter — all perfect for Pride.
And if you tied one on the night before (maybe at The One Eighty where you can see the fun from 51 floors up), perhaps an iced coffee from Starbucks or Timothy’s would serve you well? Alternatively, you can stop by the Bloor Street Diner for an espresso served with Toronto’s best Sunday brunch.
Protection & (ahem) protection
Sunscreen’s a must. It just is. You’ll find mobile EMS units all over the parade route to treat burns, but you’re best to avoid the discomfort altogether with a quick trip to Pharma Plus for a tube of SPF 80 and whatever else you think you may need.
We’ll be here all weekend spreading the love, so come by for a free snow cone and get into the spirit. Happy Pride and Happy Canada Day from all of us at Manulife and Manulife Centre!
