COQUITLAM, B.C., May 31, 2023 – As we kick off Pride Month and look ahead to summer long Pride celebrations locally, and throughout Metro Vancouver, we invite everyone to join Coquitlam in celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ2S+ community. Such actions help to create a sense of belonging and support the safety of every resident and visitor to our community not only in June, but year-round.
Pride Month activities in Coquitlam will begin June 1 and stretch into July with rainbow Pride flags and banners, music performances, artmaking activities, family storytime, and opportunities to support and learn more about the LGBTQ2S+ community. Participation in Pride Month is part of Coquitlam’s commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion and fostering a welcoming environment both within the City government and the community.
What is Pride Month?
Pride Month takes place each June to recognize the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, a turning point for the U.S. gay liberation movement. Today, Pride Month, and the summer-long Pride Season, is a time to champion freedom and equality and to recognize the achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ2S+ community, which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and two-spirit people, and any people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities.
Throughout June, over 115 Pride flags will fly across Coquitlam, including in Town Centre Park, high-traffic routes in City Centre and Poirier civic precincts, and at City Hall, with the support of Coquitlam City Council and thanks to the leadership of the student-led École Dr. Charles Best Gay/Straight Alliance. The Pride flags are a visual representation of the City’s support for the LGBTQ2S+ community, along with the rainbow crosswalk that was painted on Burlington Avenue near City Hall in 2017 through the advocacy of the Tri-Cities Pride Society. The City will also be lighting up Pinetree Way in June with the rainbow colours of the Pride flag.
Celebrating Pride with Learning and Fun
In support of Pride Month, Coquitlam’s home page and the June 1 City Page in the Tri-City News, will feature Pride symbols, and share learning and support resources for Pride and the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Local Pride festivities this summer include two free, all ages events:
- High-energy LGBTQ2S+ dance band Queer as Funk, kicks off the City of Coquitlam’s 2023 Summer Concert Series on Friday, July 14 at the Town Centre Park Community Plaza with two sets of funk, soul, Motown classics and contemporary pop. (coquitlam.ca/SummerConcerts)
- Coquitlam Pride at Evergreen from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 15 at the Evergreen Cultural Centre will offer artmaking activities, family storytime, Pride history, artist visits and more. Event led by the Evergreen Cultural Centre and presented in partnership with Coquitlam Public Library, Coquitlam Heritage Society and Place des Arts, with funding support from the City of Coquitlam. (evergreenculturalcentre.ca/summer-events)
More information, including event details and the history of the rainbow as a symbol of the LGBTQ2S+ community, can be found at coquitlam.ca/Pride.
Local LGBTQ2S+ Resources and Supports
Some of the local resources and supports available include:
• Tri-Cities Pride Society, which helps make the Tri-Cities more inclusive and safer for LGBTQ2S+ people through advocacy, social events, education and consultation (tricitiespride.ca)
• DSU Pride Collective, a safe and inclusive space for Douglas College students (thedsu.ca/our-club-collective/dsu-pride-collective)
• Queer Coquitlam Facebook group for LGBTQ2S+ people in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities (facebook.com/groups/queercoquitlam)
For a listing of additional support resources, visit coquitlam.ca/EDI.
Hate Has No Place in Coquitlam
Coquitlam’s commitment to allyship, a word that describes active support for the rights of people who have been historically marginalized, is reflected in the following statement:
“Allyship is not a one-time action, it is a journey of support, learning and commitment. This is a journey that we, as an organization, are also embarking on with purpose, while keeping the safety of our residents and community top of mind.
The City of Coquitlam condemns hate in all forms. We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment, including people from equity-deserving groups such as LGBTQ2S+, racialized and disability communities.”
A Year-round Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
As an organization, Coquitlam is on a journey to better serve its vibrant and diverse community by applying the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion to guide the City’s policies, operations, language and services. EDI work aims to break down barriers to ensure that everyone – regardless of ability, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation and other diversity characteristics – is able to live, work and thrive in a safe and welcoming environment.
EDI is a top business priority for the City and a focus of ongoing work highlighted at coquitlam.ca/EDI.
Media contact:
Manisha Dutta
Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
media@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.