Annual parade a celebration of diversity
Thousands gather in city’s West End to celebrate event’s 40th anniversary
This year’s Vancouver Pride Parade celebrated its 40th anniversary, but it didn’t look a day over 29.
On Sunday, thousands of people flooded downtown Vancouver’s West End to catch a glimpse of colourful parade floats, marvel at sequined costumes, and celebrate in the sun.
Ross Van Volkingburgh, 33, and his partner Cole Tessier, 21, travelled from Edmonton to take in the festivities.
“A lot of people don’t realize that Pride is for everyone,” he said. “It’s to celebrate who you are. It’s to have free expression and this is pretty much a world event now. It’s to tell people that it’s OK to be who you are.”
This year’s theme was “Be You, Bring All of You,” which invited people to participate, no matter their background, no matter their identities. That diversity was visibly represented by the more than 170 parade floats that took to the streets on Sunday.
Kelly Robertson was stationed on Robson Street, near the parade’s starting point, with her daughter London. The Richmond mom has been bringing her daughter to the parade for the last seven years.
“For me, it’s important to teach her that love is love. Boys can like boys, girls can like girls,” she said. “I want her to grow up and see that.”
London said she enjoyed the parade “because you get to see new things and you get to learn.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also made an appearance at the parade. He had previously marched in Vancouver Pride as a party leader in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, he became the first sitting prime minister to march in the parade. In 2017, he opted to march in the Halifax and Toronto parades instead.
Others celebrated by taking in the Sunset Beach Festival, where more than 150 exhibitors comprised the Vendor Village. In previous years, it’s been estimated that Vancouver Pride and related events represent an injection of about $23 million into the local economy.
The parade came just two days after the provincial government announced its plans to create a human rights commission that will support gender equity legislation and LGBTQ rights.
“When groups are targeted by hate, we as a government and a society must act,” said Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, who is openly gay. “These changes will be a big step forward toward building a more inclusive and welcoming community for all.”
The commissioner will be tasked with examining B.C.’s progress on key LGBTQ matters, educating the public and developing policies and guidelines for queer human rights.
This year’s parade Grand Marshals included Laurie McDonald, Ron Dutton and A Mile in our Moccasins.
A lot of people don’t realize that Pride is for everyone. It’s to celebrate who you are. It’s to have free expression.