Headline: Vancouver’s Vibrant Pride Parade Draws Huge Crowds for a Day of Celebration and Advocacy
In an explosion of color and exuberance, downtown Vancouver was the place to be on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the 46th annual Vancouver Pride Parade. The parade, which is Canada’s oldest, brought together individuals from all walks of life to celebrate and support the LGBTQ2+ community.
Kicking off at the intersection of Davie and Denman Streets, the parade route wound its way through the West End on Beach Avenue and Pacific Street, culminating in a joyous festival near B.C. Place. Last year, organizers implemented a longer, flatter, and wider route following feedback from an accessibility consultation in 2019, making it easier for all participants to join in the festivities.
From noon to 3 p.m., the parade featured a dazzling array of colorful floats, music, performances, energetic marchers, and enthusiastic spectators. First-time attendees, like Dan Morris and his daughter Roxie, journeyed from Abbotsford, B.C., to partake in the celebrations. “We are here to celebrate love and everybody being equal and all of their rights,” said Morris, echoing the sentiments of many other parade-goers.
For another attendee, Kerstin Holzmueller, attending the parade has become a beloved tradition. “We love pride. We come every year,” she shared. “Everyone is welcome, I think that’s just what it comes down to.”
While the parade was a festive occasion, some participants emphasized the ongoing need for advocacy and the creation of safe spaces for marginalized communities. The Vancouver Pride Society further underscored this commitment by hosting the Queer Rights Summit, aiming to address challenges facing queer communities in Canada and worldwide. The summit provided a platform for the community to unite, discuss advocacy efforts, and amplify minority voices.
Among the notable attendees was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made an impromptu appearance at the Pride festivities. Sporty chic in a black T-shirt with a rainbow-colored feather, grey pants, and black running shoes, Trudeau walked through Vancouver’s West End, engaging with the crowd and taking selfies. Although he did not march in the downtown parade, his presence added to the celebratory atmosphere of the event.
Vancouver’s Pride Parade has come a long way since its unofficial inception in 1978 as a protest march through Davie Village. Now an official, permitted event since 1981,
In an explosion of color and exuberance, downtown Vancouver was the place to be on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the 46th annual Vancouver Pride Parade. The parade, which is Canada’s oldest, brought together individuals from all walks of life to celebrate and support the LGBTQ2+ community.
Kicking off at the intersection of Davie and Denman Streets, the parade route wound its way through the West End on Beach Avenue and Pacific Street, culminating in a joyous festival near B.C. Place. Last year, organizers implemented a longer, flatter, and wider route following feedback from an accessibility consultation in 2019, making it easier for all participants to join in the festivities.
From noon to 3 p.m., the parade featured a dazzling array of colorful floats, music, performances, energetic marchers, and enthusiastic spectators. First-time attendees, like Dan Morris and his daughter Roxie, journeyed from Abbotsford, B.C., to partake in the celebrations. “We are here to celebrate love and everybody being equal and all of their rights,” said Morris, echoing the sentiments of many other parade-goers.
For another attendee, Kerstin Holzmueller, attending the parade has become a beloved tradition. “We love pride. We come every year,” she shared. “Everyone is welcome, I think that’s just what it comes down to.”
While the parade was a festive occasion, some participants emphasized the ongoing need for advocacy and the creation of safe spaces for marginalized communities. The Vancouver Pride Society further underscored this commitment by hosting the Queer Rights Summit, aiming to address challenges facing queer communities in Canada and worldwide. The summit provided a platform for the community to unite, discuss advocacy efforts, and amplify minority voices.
Among the notable attendees was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made an impromptu appearance at the Pride festivities. Sporty chic in a black T-shirt with a rainbow-colored feather, grey pants, and black running shoes, Trudeau walked through Vancouver’s West End, engaging with the crowd and taking selfies. Although he did not march in the downtown parade, his presence added to the celebratory atmosphere of the event.
Vancouver’s Pride Parade has come a long way since its unofficial inception in 1978 as a protest march through Davie Village. Now an official, permitted event since 1981,
