It was another successful year for the annual Hope Pride Festival as over a 100 people joined in to celebrate pride, love, and equality for all at Hope.
Smiles, laughter, and plenty of dancing filled both the New Hope Cinema and Memorial Park last Saturday afternoon (June 22) as people — both young and old —attended the festival events and market. Sponsored by Envision Financial, and hosted by the Hope Pride Committee (HPC), from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. people were wowed and entertained by a variety of 2SLGBTQIA+ themed performances and films.
"To the handful of folks who plan and coordinate this event — together, we have helped create change in our community for our community," the HPC said on Facebook. "Since our ‘coming out’, we have witnessed the massive shifts in attitudes and culture. We have watched as more and more of our neighbours come to our events, speak out against queer oppression, and show their pride in full colour.
"We have observed as those who spoke out in fear and bigotry so easily before no longer feel emboldened to continue voicing their homophobia. And we are so lucky to be the ones who get to help others discover the beautiful 2SLGBTQIA+ community living in Hope."
In their post, the HPC thanked Envision Financial for investing in the festival, along with Free Reins Associates and Read Right Society for their support. HPC also thanked their silent auction donors ( Tree Huggers-Smoothie Bowl & Juice Bar, RONA Hope Building Supplies, Mountainview Brewing Co., Wildflower Creations, Hope Starbucks, Hope Cannabis, Kerfuffle Creations, Pharmasave Hope, and Marlee’s Den) and their performers.
During the festival, attendees were able to listen to Drag Queen Autumn Horizon read during Drag Story Hour, watch a Drag Show with Horizon and Drag King Jay Kay, and attend a free Maddi K (Maddi Krulicki) concert.
In between the performances, three documentaries (People Like Us, SIha:li, Eyem Tset) and a movie (But I'm a Cheerleader!) were shown for free at the cinema.
Attendees needing a break from performances were also able to attend a market and peruse through vendors from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and disabled community.
This is the second year that the Pride festival was hosted in Hope. According to Megan te Boekhorst, the founder of HPC, the festival was a great success and encapsulated the music and arts feeling envisioned for the day.
This Pride month, the Pride flag has been raised or hung throughout the community. This includes the Hope RCMP detachment, the Hope Fire Department Hall, the District of Hope building, the Hope Community Centre, the Advantage Hope building, and the Hope & Area Transition Society (HATS). The flag was also raised in Yale at the Yale Historic Site.
