HonouringPride. CelebratingCommunity.
ChrisBolton(a.k.a.the fabulousConniSmudge) isreadytoperformatthis year’sPrideatthePier. VANCOUVER’SNORTHSHORETOURISMASSOCIATION
North Shore Pride week returns with dazzling performances and activities
ABBYLUCIANO
aluciano@nsnews.com
LocalJournalismInitiativeReporter
PrideWeekisreturningforanother yearontheNorthShore,andit’sgoing tobethriving.
Running from Monday,July 28 to Saturday,Aug.2,pride events will blossom the North Shore into rainbow colours with events foreveryone to enjoy.
The theme forthis year’s events is “thrive with pride.”
“Ourcommunity is done just surviving We’ve faced hate,ridicule,and resistance at everyturn – on the North Shore,across this country and around the world,”said GaryWoods,co-founderofthe North Shore PrideAlliance.“And yet,we’re still here,we’re still growing,we’re still thriving.”
“This year’s theme is a declaration: we are not just enduring.We are flourishing,”Woods added.“We’ve built chosen families,shattered barriers and created joy in the face of injustice.We are loud,we are proud,and we are never going anywhere.”
“This year’s theme is a declaration: we are not just enduring. We are flourishing,”
Here is a rundown of everything happening this week. Flag raisings with the three North
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HonouringPride. CelebratingCommunity.
GaryWoods,co-founder oftheNorthShorePride Alliance,isreadyto celebratePrideWeek eventsacrossNorth VancouverandWestVan. ABBYLUCIANO/NSN
HonouringPride. CelebratingCommunity.
MissVirginiaSlim willbeperformingat PrideatthePierat theNorthVancouver ShipyardsAug.2. ABBYLUCIANO/NSN
Shore municipalities kicked offthe week on Monday,July 28 The District of North Vancouver raised the pride flag at municipal hall at 8:30 a.m.,followed by the District ofWest Vancouver at noon and the City of North Vancouver at 2 p.m.
“All three municipalities on the North Shore supported North Shore Pride Week by raising a flag for our community,which is fabulous,”Woods said.
On Tuesday,July 29 a drag dinner show with the Parkgate Community Services Societyyouth centre team was held at Parkgate Plaza The evening featured Vancouver drag artists Isabella, Yuen Young and Mx.Bukuro.
People can enjoy craft beers and pride trivia at Wildeye Brewing today (July 30) alongside a performance from North Shore’s own drag icon Conni Smudge The trivia event will take place from 8 to 10 p.m.,and winners will also be given gift cards and other giveaways
Come the evening ofJuly 31 at 8 p.m.,expect to see some entertainment
outside the Polygon Gallery Woods said a couple of drag artists will perform,promising a“royal lineup of entertainment”you won’t want to miss.
“It’s
time to come on down, be your authentic self.… Put on a wig if you want, do some makeup, get your drag on. But most of all, come and have some fun.”
pride bingo is set to hit the West Vancouver Memorial Library’s Welsh Hall on Friday,Aug.1 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.,where drag queen Carlotta Gurl will call six rounds of bingo and perform throughout the afternoon.
And last but certainty not least, Pride at the Pier is coming to North
This year’s event will be stacked with performances ranging from drag artists like Smudge and Virginia Slim to musicians like The Squares Barbershop Quartet and even a comedy troupe. Alongside entertainment,there will be community and craft booths.
On top ofthe scheduled events, there will be 10-to-15-minute pop-up performances on street corners across the North Shore throughout the week to let people know what’s coming up during Pride Week.
“It’s time to come on down,be your authentic self,”Woods said.“Put on a wig ifyou want,do some makeup,get your drag on.But most of all,come and have some fun.Be who you are and be with the people you know,with your community that is here.”
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporterforthe North Shore News This reporting beat is made possible by the LocalJournalism Initiative.
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