This was an interview I wrote for Coast Capital's monthly "Life at Coast" employee newsletter. Some photos & real names have been removed for employee privacy.
"As part of the LGBTQ2S+ community myself, I felt both recognized and grateful to not only support others like me, but to see so many allies within Coast Capital."- Event volunteer
Read time: 4 minutes
The summer months in Vancouver are a time to celebrate Pride. For the first time since 2019, the streets were alive with rainbow flags, glitter and beautiful LGBTQ2S+ people and their allies. After two years of virtual celebrations, the community finally came together in person to show their pride while dancing shoulder-to-shoulder in the streets.
Without a doubt, where there are celebrations of diversity and solidarity - there are Coast Capital employees. On July 26 at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery), we kicked-off Vancouver Pride by sponsoring Fitness is SUCH a Drag - a fitness fundraiser presented by Pop Queen Cardio, featuring performances by Canada's Drag Race stars, with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society.
Help Heroes in action
22 amazing Help Hero volunteers arrived ready to roll-up their sleeves, despite the scorching heat on Vancouver's hottest day of the year. With sweat and smiles on their faces, they assembled over 300 swag bags, welcomed guests, gave away Coast Capital branded items, and danced through the crowd spreading positive energy and livening spirits.
"Before the event even took place, you could feel the energy and eagerness of all those that attended," said an event volunteer. "We were ready to get out there, meet new faces within Coast, and support the meaning and importance behind pride.
As part of the LGBTQ2S+ community myself, I felt both recognized and grateful to not only support others like me, but see so many allies within Coast Capital.
Events like this show that Coast cares, not only about our members' financial success, but the overall well-being of the community. The excitement and willingness to help was evident with every volunteer. With the amount of laughing and smiling that was happening, it barely felt like work at all!"
Fitness is SUCH a Drag started only a few years ago with a small group of 25 people at sunset beach. Since then, it has grown each year with a focus on three mandates: celebrating pride through the lens of wellness, giving back to the community and sharing queer talent within Vancouver. The event allows both people who identify as part of the LGBTQ2S+ community as well as allies to gather in an inclusive space to connect to their bodies and the community. The energy is palpable - when you're there, you feel a deep sense of love, connection and belonging.
"Here's to YOU," said our event volunteer lead, addressing the volunteer team. "Here's to celebrating all of you and your amazing selves for showing up and elevating queer spaces. Whether you are a member or an ally, I can speak for many like myself who are LGBTQ2S+ when I say how much your allyship means to us. Thank you to all the volunteers, you are my extended Coast family."
This year, the event continued to grow in size with 350 participants in attendance and raising over $7,000 for the Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society, a meaningful resource for Indigenous individuals and families. They provide practical tools through programs and services that empower self-reliance, responsibility, success, prosperity and have always included the LGBTQ2S+ community within their work.
Photo credit to: Gabriel Martins @gabrielmartinsphoto
"To the team at Coast Capital, I want you to understand the impact that you had," said event organizer, Jared Byrne. "We have had so many people reach out about this event and how wonderful the volunteers were. You set the tone for what was about to come that evening and everyone felt it.
Everyone who walked by that plaza saw how we celebrated diversity and thought to themselves, 'I can be celebrated too.' These types of experiences can quite literally change the course of someone life, so thank you all for being part of that!"
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