Engineering students at the University of Toronto have won the Special Judges’ Award for Shock and Awe at the 2011 Toronto Pride Parade, the city’s annual celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities.
The contingent was organized by the Engineering Society, the student government for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The Engineering Society has participated in the Pride Parade for a number of years, with the Cannon Guard, which fires and protects the Skule™ Cannon, and the Lady Godiva Memorial Band both on hand.
Deciding to one-up themselves, students constructed a float for this year’s parade that featured a large silver horse. The float was constructed by the Blue and Gold Committee, the Engineering Society’s spirit committee, and was the brainchild of co-chairs Luis Ramirez (ECE 1T2+PEY) and Sandra Sousa (ECE 1T3).
“Because Pride is such a huge event in Toronto, we felt that U of T Engineering should have more of a presence. Plus, we like to show off our skills,” explains Sousa.
The Blue and Gold Committee already constructed two floats each year; one for the annual orientation parade and the other for homecoming. Ramirez explains that part of the reason the Pride Parade became the focus for a third float was to combat the impression that engineering is not an inclusive profession.
“Engineering is typecast …” Ramirez says, adding, “we want to show that engineering is accepting and supporting of everyone.”
Ramirez explains that the horse was in honour of Lady Godiva, who is famed for her nude ride through the streets of Coventry, England.
“Our patron saint is Lady Godiva, so it was meant to represent Godiva’s horse,” he says.
Despite careful planning and diligent construction, the U of T group did face one big challenge prior to the start of the parade: the horse broke into four different pieces en route to the marshalling area.
“We had to call in all sorts of reinforcements, but we ended up putting it back together,” explains Sousa, noting that duct tape and some borrowed tools helped to ensure the float was roadworthy in time for the parade’s start. Plus, more than 50 students were on hand to help out.
“Pride Toronto would like to congratulate the University of Toronto Engineering students for their inspiring collective efforts and colourful spirit in this year’s Pride parade,” states Peter McHugh, Communications Director for Pride Toronto.
When asked to explain what they did to earn an award called “shock and awe,” Ramirez suggests the Skule™ Cannon may have played a role.
“We fired the cannon right in front of the judges, which I think was the shock part,” he says.
“I guess the coveralls and the hard hats were pretty shocking. You don’t normally see that sort of thing at the Pride Parade,” offers Sousa.
While the judges were shocked and awed by the cannon, they have been invited to return next year.
“Pride Toronto welcomes the participation of University of Toronto Engineering students and other engineering groups in future Pride Toronto celebrations,” says McHugh.
Sousa and Ramirez think the award will help ensure that Pride Parade float becomes an annual tradition.
“The reason we built a float this year is because we want this to be the start of a new tradition,” Ramirez explains.
The focus now for the Blue and Gold Committee is on constructing this year’s orientation float.
“As engineers, we always try to outdo ourselves,” says Ramirez. “We want to make sure that not just the Engineering frosh know about us, but the campus knows about us.”
The orientation parade will take place on September 9 beginning at 2 pm on Front Campus.
