vancouver pride parade: thousands celebrate against backdrop of financial uncertainty
3 minute read
we apologize, but this video has failed to load.
try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
thousands of people and performers gathered downtown on sunday for the 2025 vancouver pride parade — a celebration of diversity and inclusion that wound its way from pacific boulevard, near b.c. place, to the west end.
for angit modaher, a program coordinator with sher vancouver, which supports the south asian lgbtq+ community, marching this year was personal.
“since moving to canada from the u.k., i’ve been really close to sher vancouver. it’s been a saving point in terms of having a queer community in vancouver,” modaher said.
pride remains a vital platform for visibility in communities where queerness is often hidden, she said.
“we’re just trying to be more vocal. you know, representation really matters in the south asian community,” she said.
“queer south asians exist — and we’re here. it’s so important to have that openness, because a lot of people hide,” she said.
angit modaher, program coordinator with sher vancouver, a south asian lgbtq+ non-profit, at the vancouver pride parade on aug. 3, 2025.
nathan griffiths
for dennis lu of the vancouver chapter of the chinese rainbow network, a mandarin speaking lgbtq+ non-profit, marching in the parade was a way to unite mandarin-speaking queer communities.
lu said his work with the network was to create “a big umbrella for people of chinese descent.”
“we’re already outsiders from the country,” lu said. “i’m trying to let people know, ‘our society is there for you.’”
advertisement
lu invited richmond’s paragon athletic association to contribute a lion and dragon dance performance as part of the crn’s parade group.
“lion dancing and dragon dancing (is a) very big part of the chinese culture,” said anton chan, vice-president of operations at paragon athletic.
“they wanted to get the pride out and get the lines out there, as well, to represent the culture and the rainbow nation,” chan said.
“we’re just happy to be part of the culture,” he said.
members of the chinese rainbow network at the vancouver pride parade on aug. 3, 2025.
nathan griffiths
/
png
that sense of impact and the work to claim space was echoed by travis angus of the greater vancouver native cultural two-spirit society. the group, which organized a separate two-spirit event for the past five years, sees participation as a reclamation of identity lost through colonialism.
“we’ve been realizing that there’s so many negatives that are pulling all of the gay community apart, segregating us into different categories, basically. so it’s looking at being able to really unite everybody,” angus said of the decision to pause their own event and join the parade.
“two-spirit started years and years ago and belonged to the long houses,” angus said. “when the churches moved in, they wiped us out from our communities … they figured we were just queer or gay because we had both spirits.”
advertisement
“so they pushed us out and the lgbtq+ community took us in.”
travis angus of the greater vancouver native cultural two-spirit society, at the vancouver pride parade on aug. 3, 2025.
nathan griffiths
but acceptance hasn’t always been easy, even within indigenous communities, according to angus.
“not every indigenous group accepts the two-spirit people,” angus said. “it’s been a roller-coaster, but people are becoming more aware now.”
this year’s parade took place against the backdrop of growing financial and political uncertainty for pride. organizers have warned that without stable funding, future parades may be at risk.
“being out, it’s an amazing feeling,” modaher said. “it’d be heartbreaking if it was cancelled.”
“a lot of people who come to the parades, they don’t think about who’s giving them money. they just want the joy to be there,” modaher said.
prime minister mark carney waves while he marches in the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, aug. 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
prime minister mark carney made a surprise appearance at the parade after meeting with premier david eby and officials from the vancouver port earlier sunday.
carney marched for about a kilometre along the route and 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.
advertisement
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 a file from canadian press
prime minister mark carney speaks with a drag performer during the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, aug. 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
people cheer as prime minister mark carney marches during the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, aug. 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
crowds and performers at the vancouver pride parade on aug. 3, 2025.
nathan griffiths
/
png
crowds and performers at the vancouver pride parade on aug. 3, 2025.
nathan griffiths
crowds and performers at the vancouver pride parade on aug. 3, 2025.
nathan griffiths
prime minister mark carney fans himself while he marches in the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, aug. 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
people cheer as prime minister mark carney marches during the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, august 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
prime minister mark carney marches in the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, august 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
prime minister mark carney marches in the vancouver pride parade in vancouver, on sunday, august 3, 2025.
ethan cairns
/
the canadian press
share story
