The City of Toronto held its annual Pride parade Sunday and, for the first time, a sitting prime minister marched along with thousands of members of the LGBTQ community and their allies.

Justin Trudeau's enthusiastic participation in the parade made headlines across the country and around the world.

“Culture is set from the top and the fact that our prime minister is being so open and wanting to participate in the LGBTQ community, you know being in the Pride parade is just a tremendous signal,” says Wayne Long, Saint John MP.

Mack MacKenzie is with PFlag Saint John, a support group that helps anyone dealing with issues of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. He says Trudeau’s participation in the country’s biggest Pride parade is a breath of fresh air.

“It resonates with the community,” says MacKenzie. “Not just members of the community but allies of the community, when they see a political leader, or celebrity, or a professional athlete when they come out and support the community like that Prime Minister Trudeau did. It really resonates with the community and it sends a positive message.”

Michael Cummings is president of Pride Saint John. He says he’s noticed a lot of support from the Liberals and that Trudeau’s participation did not come as a surprise.

“It’s just something that’s natural to him,” says Cummings. “These days everyone knows someone who is gay LGBT. Justin I’m sure has LGBT friends and it’s just something that he wouldn’t say not to. He wouldn’t not walk in the parade, it’s just something he felt he had to do and he did it without question.”

Members of the LGBTQ community say they hope Trudeau’s participation sends a message to people about the importance of tolerance.

“It's 2016, we're in a better world than we ever have been,” says MacKenzie. “It's not perfect yet, we still have Orlando, we still have people who are gay bashed or trans gender sister and brothers who are assaulted, but it is better than it ever has been, but we still have a long ways to go.”

Although this weekend marked the first time a sitting prime minister has walked in the parade, it's not the first time Trudeau himself has participated.

“The fact that our prime minister, Justin Trudeau, marched and participated in the Pride parade in Toronto is just another, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk that we're serious and certainly celebrate and embrace diversity in our communities,” says Long.

While many say support from the prime minister is a step in the right direction, they acknowledge there is still a long way to go.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford