Kamloops is getting ready to celebrate Pride Week, and this year’s lineup is bigger, bolder, and more community-driven than ever. From youth events and sports to performances, lectures, brunches, and the always fabulous Pride Parade and Festival, Pride Week continues to keep the community colourful all week long.
For the Kamloops Pride organizers, that growth means more than just a great week’s worth of community events.
“For me, the significance of Pride Week in Kamloops is visibility,” says Kamloops Pride Society President Alyssa Christianson. “It’s really in your face, really in public.
“The parade and the festival are really important because they force people to see there are different minorities here celebrating and having queer joy,” Christianson continued. “It can make it a little safer for people who might be afraid, in the closet, questioning, or wondering if they’re going to have a place in Kamloops.”
This year’s lineup is a solid testament to just how much Pride in Kamloops has expanded. As well as the always-popular Pride Parade and Festival, there is an ever-growing list of events for all ages, such as trivia, dances, and the official after-party. There are also events geared toward youth, education, wellness, and community-building.
A mini lecture series for ages 16 and up will tackle topics like dating safety and sexual health, while youth bowling events continue to provide a welcoming social space for teens ages 12 to 18. Organizers say those youth-focused events have seen strong interest, especially as more young people look for safe and affirming places to connect.
There are also newer additions to the week-long festivities that branch out into other areas of the community. Sports-related events, including beach volleyball and rock climbing, have become increasingly popular. There are craft nights, workshops, book clubs, and Indigenous-focused gatherings like the “All Our Relations Pride Gathering” with Tk̓emlúps.
One not-to-miss event this year is the Pride Brunch at the Canadian Brewhouse rooftop patio featuring the Season Six Canada’s Drag Race star PM!
Organizers Christianson and Kamloops Pride treasurer Kirm Zimmer say one of the biggest surprises over the last few years has been how many local businesses and groups have started creating their own Pride events to take place over the weeklong celebrations.
And with the way it’s growing, that dream is closer to a reality.
“I think the increase in events and different types of spaces is giving everyone somewhere to land or belong,” Zimmer added.
And belonging is what it’s ultimately all about.
Events like the Parade and Festival are designed to feel approachable and casual for anyone to stumble across. And for something a little more intentional, this year’s trivia night even includes a “make-a-friend table” for a low-stress way to connect with others.
Of course, organizing a week of large-scale public events takes a village to organize. Between permits, logistics, venue changes, staging, and parade costs, Pride Week is a labour of love and dedication from Kamloops Pride staff, volunteers, and of course couldn’t happen without sponsorship support. This year’s rainbow sponsors include TD, Tourism Kamloops, and GK Sound.
For anyone wondering how to help out this year, organizers say the best way is also the simplest: show up.
“If you want to see more events, attend them,” Zimmer said.
“And register for the events! Even the free ones!” Christianson added.
Kamloops Pride Week runs June 8 to 14, with registration and ticket information available through the Kamloops Pride Association website. See you at the Parade!