The month of June officially kicks off Pride festivities across the country. Canadians will be waving rainbow flags from coast-to-coast in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. And HEU encourages all members to join in.
In recent years, the LGBT acronym (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) has evolved and expanded in recognition of queer, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, and non-binary people.
Supporting Pride events is a way of showing solidarity in promoting dignity, respect and human rights for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace, in our communities and in our families.
It’s also a way to celebrate how far we’ve come, while remembering that transphobia, homophobia and biphobia are still all too common for many LGBTQ+ people, here in B.C. and around the world.
Here are some upcoming events taking place in B.C.:
- June 1 – Fort St. John Pride Walk (Centennial Park; 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- June 4-9 – Nanaimo Pride Week; June 9 – Nanaimo Pride Parade; 12:00 noon downtown, and Nanaimo Pride Festival (Sutton Park; 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- June 15-22 – Kelowna Pride Week (details TBD)
- June 22 – East Side Pride (Grandview Park, Vancouver; 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
- June 22 – North Island Pride Festival (Campbell River Spirit Square; 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
- June 29 – Surrey Pride Party in the Plaza (Central City Shopping Centre Plaza; 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.)
- July 6 – Prince George Pride (details TBD)
- July 8 – Victoria Pride (corner of Pandora and Government; 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by festivities at MacDonald Park at 12:30 p.m.)
- July 12-20 – Fraser Valley Pride Festival; July 20 – parade (Jubilee Park; 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
- June 14-16 – Alberni Valley Pride; June 16 Picnic in the Park (Blair Park; 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- August 2-5 – ArtsWells Festival Opening Parade/Rainbow Pride (in collaboration with Prince George, Williams Lake and Quesnel Pride societies) on August 2 (Wells and Barkerville)
- August 4 – Vancouver Pride Parade 12:00 p.m. downtown, followed by festivities at Sunset Beach till 6:00 p.m.)
- August 10-17 – New West Pride Week; August 17 – Pride Street Party (Columbia Street; 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
- August 25 – Kamloops Pride Parade (Riverside Park; 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
- September 1 – Kootenay Pride Parade (Baker Street, Nelson; 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
- October 8-13 – Elk Valley Pride Festival (Fernie; location and times TBD)
If we have missed an event in your area, please send details to <heu@heu.org>.
We encourage you to get involved, march in a parade, or voluntarily staff an information table at any of these events. We welcome all HEU members, their families and friends.
Please contact HEU equity officer Jennifer Efting (jefting@heu.org) to get connected to an event near you.
Happy Pride!