cp24.com

A participant walks in the Gay Pride Parade in Toronto on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (Pride Toronto photo)

CP24 will bring TV viewers to the heart of the Pride Parade action on Sunday, when it airs Toronto's first ever live broadcast of the massively popular event.

Beginning at 2 p.m., the coverage will be repeated again on Sunday at 8 p.m.

The event, part of the second largest festival in Toronto, is expected to attract about one million people.

The broadcast announcement comes with the news of a recently brokered three-year deal that solidifies CTV's and CP24's status as the exclusive broadcast media sponsors of Pride until 2011.

"Pride is one of the biggest summer events in the city and as Toronto's destination for breaking news, we will be there covering the events live, as they happen," says Bob McLaughlin, vice-president and general manager of CP24.

In addition to Sunday's coverage and around-the-clock information online, CP24 Breakfast will also dedicate its Friday show to Pride Toronto, broadcasting live from Church and Wellesley Streets for that day's show.

CTV and CP24 have planned coverage from the following events:

Wednesday, June 24
-           Pride Toronto's Fifth Annual Gala and Awards

Thursday, June 25
-           Ladies Golf Day, Angus Glen Golf Course in Markham
-           25th Anniversary AIDS Vigil in Cawthra Park
-           Gladstone Hotel: Dyke Fundraiser

Friday, June 26
-           CP24 Breakfast live from Gay Village 
-           Transgender March

Saturday, June 27
-           Pride and Remembrance Run
-           Dyke March
 
Sunday, June 28
-           Church on Church Street
-           Pride Parade
-           Closing parties on Church