Living in harmony and celebrating the uniqueness of every voice.
For members of the newly established Powell River Pride Society, that has become not just a mantra, but a metaphor for the community’s ongoing support.
From August 11 to 13, Pride events will be held throughout Powell River to celebrate LGBT individuals and their allies, including a memorial at Willingdon Beach, a drag show at McKinney’s Pub and an interactive movie experience at the Patricia Theatre.
“In every community, it is important to show that there is acceptance for everybody,” says Powell River Pride 2017 organizer Kelly Belanger. “Everybody has rights and it should be acknowledged. This is our way of celebrating our acceptance in the community, and Powell River is very accepting.”
This will be the sixth year that Pride celebrations have been hosted locally and, although the formatting has often changed depending on budget and other factors, the spirit of the event remains the same.
“Everyone is welcome,” says Belanger. “The way things are today, there are groups that don’t even classify with a specific gender. We accept them all, and that’s the way it should be.”
Unfortunately, LGBT individuals in other parts of the world are not always so fortunate. Last year, a memorial event was established to pay tribute to victims of the Pulse Nightclub shootings in Orlando. This year, organizers will bow their heads for those who are facing persecution in the Chechen Republic.
A memorial ribbon-tying ceremony will take place on Friday, August 11, at 7 pm at Larry Gouthro Park.
The following evening, a much-anticipated drag show will take place in Townsite at McKinney’s Pub, featuring lip syncing, comedic routines and a few more surprises beginning at 9 pm.
“This is one of our bigger shows because we have three performers,” says Jeff Leggat, who is handling promotions for the August 12 event. “We have booked Mina Mercury, Maxine Pad and Myria le Noir from Vancouver.”
Tickets are $15 and available at the Old Courthouse Inn, McKinney’s and Capone’s Cellar.
For the final event of the weekend, attendees will be encouraged to dress up and sing along to the 1978 classic film, Grease, at the Patricia Theatre. The all-ages fun begins at 3 pm on Sunday, August 13, with song lyrics displayed on the big screen and prizes awarded for the best female, male and team costumes.
“Last year we had a foreign language film,” says Belanger, “but this year we wanted to do something a bit more fun, get the audience participation in there and see what happens.”
Tickets for the screening are $10 and available at the Old Courthouse, Townsite Brewing, Powell River Peak, Capone's and McKinney's.
On Saturday, August 19, Texada Island will host its own Pride celebrations, Rock in Pride 2017, complete with a parade, drag races and an afternoon barbecue. A dragaoke event will begin at 9 pm at Gillies Bay Community Hall, with Maxine Pad returning for an encore appearance.
As for future Pride events in the community, Belanger would like to see the return of a family event at the beach and, as the Pride society becomes more self-sufficient, a scholarship for students at Brooks Secondary School.
“We need support for the younger kids,” says Belanger, “to show them that they’re not alone and that we are here for them.”
For Leggat, a Pride parade is at the top of the list.
“If you’ve ever been down to the Vancouver parades, or Toronto or San Francisco, it’s fantastic,” he says. “It’s not political in nature, it’s just about being yourself and enjoying life. I’d like to see that come in the next couple years to Powell River.”
Based on the community’s ongoing support for Pride celebrations, a bigger spectacle is certainly within reach. For the past several years, City of Powell River officials have joined the collective in raising a rainbow flag at City Hall, and most recently council approved a rainbow crosswalk to be installed between across Ash Avenue at Marine Avenue.
“Powell River has been fantastic in supporting LGBT views and celebrating diversity,” says Leggat. “I always find it’s a very liberal town as far as people accepting people for who they are, but it is important that we come together to celebrate our own individuality and our freedom to be who we are as people. Gay, straight, whatever; it’s important to come on out and support your friends and neighbours.”
