Why didn't Vancouver celebrate Pride in June?

Vancouver’s annual Pride Celebration is the biggest in Western Canada and one of the biggest in North America. So, why does Vancouver celebrate in August, rather than in June, like the rest of the world? 

Vancouverites spreading their wings at Pride 2023. Photo: Vancouver Pride Society

Unpacking the past

Well, there are two reasons. The first (and main) reason is that Vancouver’s most historic gay liberation protests took place in August. The first gay liberation protests in Canada took place on Parliament Hill on August 28th, 1971. On that same day, a small yet powerful group of demonstrators gathered in Vancouver, signifying the inception of pro-LGBTQ+ movements in the city. Today, Vancouver’s pride parade starts on Robson and Thurlow Street, the sites of the original protests, before making its way down to Sunset Beach. 

Despite the efforts of those demonstrators, Vancouver forbade the hosting of a Pride Parade until Mike Harcourt became Mayor of Vancouver. While, Harcourt didn't single-handedly found the Pride movement, he did commit to action that no British Columbian politician had taken before before. He campaigned on the promise of a proclamation and parade permit, on which he kept his word. Thanks to help of Mayor Harcourt, Vancouver hosted its first Pride Parade on August 1st, 1981.

An advertisement for Vancouver's first Pride Parade. Photo: Gay Unity '81

Summer sun (and fun)

The second reason is to simply take advantage of the summer weather and peak festival time. The celebration attracts tourists, supports local businesses, and generates revenue for the city. Several other celebrations take place in August, such as the Honda Celebration of Lights, Bard on the Beach, and many more. 
The Honda Celebration of Light Festival at English Bay. Photo: Honda Celebration of Light.

This year, the annual Pride 2025 will take place on August 3rd-5th, hosted by the Vancouver Pride Society. That being said, there’s sure to be a variety of Pride-related events throughout the entire month. How will you be celebrating Pride this year?