Trudeau Stops by Vancouver Pride Parade Festivities

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to the Vancouver Pride festivities this Sunday, although he didn’t participate in the parade itself.

Trudeau took a short walk in the West End of the city before the official start of the event. He happily greeted attendees, shaking hands and posing for selfies with those gathered for the celebrations.

In addition to his stop at the Pride event, Trudeau also made an unexpected appearance at the Mela Gadri Babian Da festival in Surrey, which commemorated 77 years since South Asians in British Columbia gained the right to vote.

During the Surrey festival held at Holland Park, Trudeau received a framed certificate of appreciation from the Prof. Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, recognizing his 2016 apology for the Komagata Maru incident.

While at the Pride festival, Trudeau heard shouts of “free Palestine” from the crowd, but many attendees seemed excited to see him. He was dressed casually in a black T-shirt with a rainbow-coloured feather, along with grey pants and black running shoes.

The Vancouver Pride Parade, which is Canada’s oldest pride parade, drew in thousands of attendees celebrating the LGBTQ2+ community. The parade featured vibrant floats, music, and a lively atmosphere as participants made their way through downtown Vancouver.

This year’s parade, which ran from noon to 3 p.m., started at the intersection of Davie and Denman Streets and wound its way around the West End before ending near B.C. Place. The new route is designed to be more accessible, following consultations on improving access for those with mobility challenges.

For many attendees, like Dan Morris and his daughter Roxie who came from Abbotsford, joining the parade was a heartfelt experience. Morris highlighted the importance of celebrating love and equality.

Others like Kerstin Holzmueller shared their tradition of attending the parade to express support and welcome all individuals. However, attendees also pointed out that while they celebrate, there are still many advocacy issues to address.

As part of ongoing efforts to support the LGBTQ2+ community, the Vancouver Pride Society also hosted a Queer Rights Summit, which focused on the challenges faced by queer communities both locally and globally.