Tofino’s population of over 2,600 will get to experience their first local Pride march this year with a parade hosted by Coastal Queer Alliance and Hotel Zed.
At noon on Wednesday, June 28th, some people from the local queer community will gather and march through the town from the parking lot of Beaches Grocery to Hotel Zed where a celebration will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“Coastal Queers is grateful for the collaboration, resources and spirit of Hotel Zed in co-creating this event,” says Sully Rogalski (they/them), Co-Founder of the Coastal Queer Alliance.
“Hosting Pride in our community helps bolster the efforts of Coastal Queers to provide visibility and representation for local queers, and we’re excited to gather and connect in celebration of queer identities this month and year-round.”
At Hotel Zed, there will be indoor and outdoor entertainment including drag performances, DJs and live music for all of those who attended or marched in the inaugural Pride march.
The celebration will close out Tofino’s week-long programming for Pride 2023 which was kicked off on June 3rd and included an art night, button making, workshops, a movie night.
Next week there is a workshop on June 27th about how queerness is impacted by language and culture before Pride month is concluded with the parade and celebration.
“We are honoured to show up for the queer community in Tofino and help organize a collaborative Pride event,” said Farmer.
“This is a prime example of the efforts our team puts every day into creating a safe space for all humans, contributing to a more inclusive and accepting community.”
Tofino’s Inaugural Pride March
- Where: Starts at Beaches Grocery, 1180 BC-4
- When: From noon to 4 p.m.
