Vancouver’s pride scene is big, extravagant, and full of community members who are ready to celebrate love all throughout summer with a number of events. The most iconic of these celebrations is the city’s annual Pride Parade, organized by Vancouver Pride Society, that walks through the streets with floats, performances, and numerous people showing their support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Only, this year’s parade is shorter, both route-wise and time-wise. With nearly half of its corporate sponsors pulling their funding from the event, the future of Vancouver’s legendary Pride Parade is in question.
POLITICAL CLIMATES
A changing political climate is attributed to this loss in sponsorship, says Vancouver Pride Parade organizers. A growing wave of social conservatism– especially from the U.S.– that is crawling across North America is noted as a cause.
Financial strain is another potential cause as a possible recession casts a shadow across the continent. Businesses prioritize keeping things together on their own end as opposed to funding events such as Pride.
Of those that pulled their funding, six major sponsors, such as Walmart, have removed their support. The reported losses have added up to approximately $400,000 in corporate sponsorships.
KEEPING PRIDE GOING
In spite of these challenges, Vancouver Pride Society is going ahead with the Pride Parade. Over 150 parade entries will be marching along Vancouver’s streets from east to west, decorating the city in rainbows and celebrations.
Talks on revitalizing the organization are slated to take place sometime in the beginning of the fall. Community members and stakeholders are to be involved in a number of open meetings, town halls, and roundtables.
The new parade route will take attendees from Concord Pacific Place and along Pacific Avenue. While the parade ends at the intersection of Pacific and Burrard, the Davie Village Pride Festival will be keeping the party going after its six-year hiatus.
