Vancouver Pride Parade goes on with spirit and colour despite major sponsorship losses
Organizers say social conservatism and economic hardship led to $400K drop in sponsorship
Tom Sater and Trevor Tang, both originally from California, first crossed paths in Vancouver in 1990, when the city hosted the Gay Games.
"We had never met each other before until then," Tang said.
On Sunday, the couple joined the Pride parade in the city not only to celebrate the occasion, but also to mark a deeply personal milestone — their 35th anniversary.
They say both the parade and the city hold a special place in their hearts, as it's where their story began.
"We ended up immigrating to Canada and are now Canadian citizens," Tang said.
Pride means embracing diversity and living without fear, he said.
"It's about being proud of who you are and not hiding."
Sater and Tang were among hundreds of thousands of attendees lining the streets for the 47th annual Vancouver Pride Parade. The event, which ran from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., brought out a sea of rainbow flags, vibrant outfits, music and cheering crowds.
But this year, the parade was smaller in scale — both in terms of the size of the route and funding.
The route was shortened from four kilometres to 2.2, beginning near the Concord Pacific Lands near B.C. Place and ending in the West End.
Organizers said it's a result of financial strain following the loss of nearly half of the event's corporate sponsors.
The Vancouver Pride Society said it has seen roughly $400,000 in sponsorships disappear this year, with major brands like Lululemon and Walmart backing out.
Morgane Oger, secretary of the society, said the lack of sponsorship reflects a wave of social conservatism rolling through North America, particularly coming from the United States, as well as tough economic times.
"Some of our sponsors are just getting a little bit tired of the endless protests against Vancouver Pride that never get resolved," Oger told CBC News. "The U.S. companies are seeing a lot of pressure about DEI {diversity, equity and inclusion] and making too much noise about inclusion and diversity and that's a real shame."
She also cited economic challenges as a factor.
"When companies face financial hardship, cutting Pride events seems to be the easiest route," she said.
Among the groups that withdrew from this year's parade were Rainbow Refugee and Queer Collective for Palestine. In an earlier statement to CBC News, Rainbow Refugee criticized the society for not taking a firmer stance on Palestine and for "giving space to organizations connected to war."
In response, Oger said the society's mandate is to remain inclusive.
"We celebrate and honour all members of our community — regardless of religion, race or ethnicity, place of origin, or political views," she said in a statement to CBC last month.
The organization is exploring more stable funding sources and is considering asking the City of Vancouver to step in with support, she said.
Mayor Ken Sim said the city is open to the idea.
"We'll obviously look at it. It's disappointing that the sponsors have stepped away, but at the City of Vancouver, we've maintained our commitment and we support Pride."
Despite the curtailed festivities, organizers said the day's energy remained electric with an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people participating.
"Pride is really important to celebrate," said Oger. "Because if you don't protect the things that keep you safe and keep your rights active, then you're gonna lose your rights."
Vancouver's LGBTQ+ community has been holding parades for more than four decades, and they've become one of the largest annual Pride events in Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney attends
Prime Minister Mark Carney surprised attendees at Vancouver's Pride parade Sunday after meeting with Premier David Eby and officials from the Vancouver port.
Carney met with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority president and CEO Peter Xotta and DP World Canada chief operating officer Joel Werner in the morning, briefly appearing at a photo op with the two executives after pacing the port facility as a large container ship loomed above.
The prime minister was then scheduled for a meeting with B.C. Premier David Eby that was closed to media as the province grapples with U.S. tariffs and renewed animosity in the long running softwood lumber dispute.
Carney later surprised attendees at the Vancouver Pride parade, marching for about a kilometre along the route beginning outside B.C. Place Stadium.
He said the Pride parade represents the "essence of Canada," celebrating diversity in a "very positive way."
Carney was greeted by loud cheers from parade-goers lining the sidewalks along the route, and he zigzagged across the street several times to meet and greet supporters as his security detail followed closely.
The prime minister at one point was handed a microphone by a drag queen who thanked him for coming, and Carney said the parade was "the best of Canada."
With files from Michelle Gomez, Shaurya Kshatri and The Canadian Press