Grand marshall named for Pride March

Pride Week 2022 in Kelowna culminates on Saturday with the Pride March and Festival.

The event will start at Stuart Park (1430 Water St.) at 10 a.m. and leads to City Park. The Festival will run until 3 p.m.

Long-time 2SLGBTQIA+ rights campaigner Wilbur Turner will lead the March as Grand Marshal at Saturday’s event. Turner’s selection by the Kelowna Pride Society is in recognition of the vital community and advocacy work he has done over many years – and his ongoing passion and commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.

Turner has been volunteering in Kelowna’s Pride community since moving to the city in 2011, first as festival co-chair and then president of Kelowna Pride Society for several years. Turner was recently the recipient of the Ted Rogers Employee of the Year and CEO Awards at Rogers Communications for his humanitarian work.

Kelowna Pride President, Fahmy Baharuddin, is delighted with the choice: “

“Wilbur has been a champion of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in Kelowna and across Canada for many years. Our community is incredibly lucky to have him as a leader.”

As the Kelowna Pride Society looks ahead to this weekend’s March and Festival, Director at Large, Claire House, is encouraging people to come together:

“Pride festivities are super important moments for both 2SLGBTQIA+ and allies to come out and show your support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ people in your lives, city, and region. At Kelowna Pride Society, we know from our work with communities throughout the Central Okanagan that there are still too many 2SLGBTQIA+ people facing discrimination in schools, families, social circles, and workplaces. We believe Pride is a great moment to come together to help build a kinder and more inclusive city and show the very best of Kelowna.”

Learn more about the Kelowna Pride Society and Pride Week 2022 here.

The dates for Kelowna Pride Week coincide with global Pride events in June – which have been held in many cities and countries since the Stonewall riots in New York City in 1969.

Pride week is a chance to recognize, celebrate, and show support for the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to be themselves and lead safe and dignified lives – free from violence and discrimination.