When Pride at the Pier descends upon The Shipyards on Aug. 2, it will mark the bright and vibrant culmination of another fabulous Pride celebration on the North Shore.
Running from July 28 to Aug. 4, this year's Pride festivities will paint the city in rainbow colours with more events than you can shake a mile-high platform shoe at.
Things will start to come over all colourful July 29, when the City and District of North Vancouver and District of West Vancouver nod their heads to the cause with flag raisings in each municipality. Mayor Mike Little will lead proceedings for the District of North Vancouver at 8:30 a.m. before things get underway at district hall in West Vancouver at noon. Come 2 p.m., Mayor Linda Buchanan will be hoisting the flag for the city.
North Shore Pride Alliance co-founder Gary Woods said the flag raisings are a small but mighty show of respect and appreciation for the thriving LGBTQ2S+ community on the North Shore.
“Other members of our community that happen to walk by or visit the civic plaza can see that flag and be aware that their local government is supporting them, and that says a lot,” he said. “Especially at a time when other governments and other countries are scaling back and taking away rights. This really, really makes a huge difference.”
Later that evening, the North Shore Pride Alliance will collaborated with the Parkgate Society Youth Services Team to bring a drag music event, complete with prizes for the youth, to the Parkgate Society's home at 3625 Banff Ct. in North Vancouver.
Come Thursday, Aug. 1, those who are feeling shattered after a night of raucous entertainment can put their feet up and kick back with a viewing of Death Becomes Her, courtesy of The Polygon’s outdoor movie initiative Deckchair Cinema. You can bet your bottom dollar there will be a spot of drag here too, so Woods advises getting a seat early to settle in for the show.
And now, for the main event: Friday, Aug. 2 will see the annual Pride at the Pier take over the Shipyards with food trucks, live entertainment and a bar. Don your brightest wig and leave your bland beige clothes at home, for the parade will kick off that afternoon around 3 p.m. from the Lonsdale Quay and will carry its lively lot to the Shipyards for the full show.
“We’ve got such a great drag presentation happening as well as a number of wonderful bands for closing, including singer-songwriter Susanna Williams,” said Woods. A live DJ will keep the party going, before a silent disco rounds off the night, said Woods.
If that wasn’t enough, the North Shore Pride Alliance will also be installing a dunk tank for members of Out On Patrol, a non-profit peer support organization for LGBTQ2S+ members of law enforcement.
Woods said the string of crowd-pleasing events isn’t just to celebrate the rights that the LGBTQ2S+ community now has, but to “commemorate the uprising that was needed” in order to have those rights.
“It’s important for us to get out there and to let people know that we are here, we are queer, and we’re not going anywhere. Not now, not today, not tomorrow,” he said. “Not ever, because it’s forever, we’re forever proud.”
Mina Kerr-Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
