Canada Pride 2024: KPU joins as toonie brigade to support Vancouver Pride Society

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Editor’s note: This story has been updated for accuracy. 

Canada Pride 2024 will bring a celebration of equity and visibility for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to downtown Vancouver, starting with various events and performances on July 26 and ending with the “Vancouver Pride Parade” on Aug. 4, hosted by the Vancouver Pride Society.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is joining the festivities as the toonie brigade, coordinated by the school’s Pride Advocacy Group and Office of the Vice President, Equity and Inclusive Communities. Positioned in the middle of the march, the group will be raising funds for the Vancouver Pride Society — a non-profit organization — Bursary Program. 

Trina Prince, manager of culture and wellbeing in the Office of Vice President, Equity and Inclusive Communities at KPU, says participating in the parade brings the KPU community together to celebrate and show Pride across the Lower Mainland.

“I’m really proud that we attend the parade. I think it’s one of many ways that we show we care about the community here,” Prince says.

It took six months to plan and prepare for the parade, says Prince, adding the main tasks included applying for the parade, recruiting volunteers, gathering all the necessary equipment and decorations, and attending information sessions by the Vancouver Pride Society, among others. 

“It’s so important for folks who are in the crowd, who may attend KPU, … or potential students as well to see that we do our best to create a very safe space for people who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” Prince says. 

The Pride parade starts on Davie Street in downtown Vancouver, goes along Pacific Boulevard onto Beach Avenue, and finishes at the festival site at Concord Pacific, says Alan Daly, co-chair of the Vancouver Pride Society board. 

Apart from the Pride parade, visitors can attend nearly 53 other events, including both small pop-ups and big celebrations, Daly says, adding the main highlight is a two-day Vancouver Pride festival on Aug. 3 and 4 at Concord Pacific Place featuring queer and BIPOC performers along with different vendors, foods, and drinks. 

New to this year’s Canada Pride celebrations is Vancouver’s first “Queer Rights Summit” taking place at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre from Aug. 1 to 3, which will bring the queer community together “to talk about the urgent challenges confronting the community,” Daly says. 

“I would say it’s the staple of the Canada Pride celebration. It’s the thing that really stands out from our usual event schedule,” he says. 

“We’ll definitely be talking about the rise in hate, especially towards our trans community,” Daly says. “We’re seeing an uptick globally, but we’re definitely seeing it south of the border in the U.S. There are a lot of laws being passed that radically affect our trans community and our queer community as a whole.”

Other festivities include the themed “Pride Run & Walk” on July 28 at 9:00 am, fundraising drag performances on July 30 at 6:30 pm to support QMUNITY, B.C.’s queer, trans, and two-spirit resource centre, at the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the “Terry Wallace Memorial Breakfast,” a by-donation pancake breakfast at Bubly Davie St. Lounge on Aug. 3 at 8:00 am. 

This year’s Canada Pride expects up to 500,000 attendees, Daly says, adding it is a good opportunity for the queer community and allies to meet new people and celebrate openly and freely. 

“[Canada Pride] gives a lot of visibility to the queer community and it provides a space for allies to show their support, which is so important right now.”