Vancouver’s 46th Pride Parade Draws Massive Crowd and Features Prime Minister Trudeau
Vancouver, August 4, 2024: Vancouver’s 46th annual Pride Parade brought together hundreds of thousands of people to celebrate LGBTQ2+ pride and inclusion. The parade, which began at Davie and Denman Streets and concluded near B.C. Place, featured vibrant floats, lively music, and enthusiastic participants.
The event, which ran from noon to 3 p.m., highlighted a newly designed route that is both longer and more accessible, catering to those with mobility challenges. This change follows recommendations from a 2019 accessibility consultation.
First-time attendee Dan Morris, from Abbotsford, B.C., expressed his excitement: “We are here to celebrate love and equality. It’s magical to finally be part of this.” His daughter Roxie, 14, shared her emotional experience, saying, “It feels absolutely amazing.”
The parade, which featured over 100 organizations and spanned more than three kilometers, also included a Queer Rights Summit organized by the Vancouver Pride Society. This summit aimed to address ongoing challenges faced by queer communities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise appearance at the event, greeting attendees along Davie Street. Dressed in a rainbow T-shirt and black pants, Trudeau interacted with the crowd but did not participate in the parade itself. This was his first appearance at Vancouver’s Pride since 2018.
The Vancouver Pride Parade has a long history, starting as a protest march in 1978 and officially becoming a permitted event in 1981. This year’s celebration continued the tradition of promoting diversity and acceptance within the community.