Kelowna residents who identify as LGBTQ+ can celebrate Pride during Kelowna’s Pride celebration over the weekend.
Festivities for Kelowna’s Pride celebration are already underway with events running into the weekend, including marches, activities and celebrations. Long-time supporter of the Kelowna Pride movement Wilber Turner said diverse communities that celebrate their differences become more desirable.
“There are studies that show that cities and towns that are more culturally diverse and accepting, actually attract more people to come and live in them. So there will be more young people, families and people who add to the economy. So overall, it’s a benefit not just from a tourism standpoint, but also for people who want to live in a city that’s inclusive.”
Turner added that festivities have grown significantly since Kelowna’s first Pride celebration.
“We’ve come a long way as Kelowna’s festival has grown significantly. I was on the Pride board and was going to Pride for several years starting in 2012. I remember that first Pride I went to in Kelowna; back then, it was not very large. There were maybe 100 people at the festival and now we see thousands and thousands of people come out.”
