Thursday night, the Rainbow Retro Thriftshop hosted a going away party for long-time executive director and co-founder of Moose Jaw Pride, Joe Wickenhauser.

Friends and former volunteers gathered to wish Wickenhauser well and to celebrate his strong leadership of the organization for seven years. Wickenhauser, however, says that the community itself deserves the praise as well. 

"It's like I'm the figurehead but we know that this community isn't about me. I've been here and I've been serving the community in a number of different ways but it's really about the community. Every person in this room has volunteered their time and put in the effort. It's very touching and it means a lot for people to be here but it's about all of us."

It's been very encouraging for Wickenhauser to see how institutions within the city have started to gain a better understanding of the LGBTQ+ community in Moose Jaw.

"It's been great to see the community as a whole begin to recognize that gender and sexual diversity exist here and the whole place doesn't have to blow up. We've become kind of mainstream and part of the everyday life and goings-on of Moose Jaw. I'm almost in awe of how unremarkable and integrated we've become." 

Wickenhauser's efforts have brought a huge amount of visibility to the LGBTQ+ community in Moose Jaw and in the province as a whole and many touching testimonies of his strong and inspiring leadership were voiced by those in attendance.

Taylor Carlson will be taking over the role of executive director and Wickenhauser says he has every confidence in his ability to lead Moose Jaw Pride to a place where it can continue to flourish.