First Pride Parade organized for downtown Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – Downtown Kamloops is going to get the rainbow treatment.

The city’s first pride parade is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20, along with a variety of new events based around the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and two-spirited community and its allies. It’s planned for downtown Kamloops including Victoria Street and Lansdowne Street.

“The parade is an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the diversity of Kamloops, and to welcome all community members with open arms,” Kamloops Pride president Kirstin McLaughlin says in a press release. “We’re thrilled to invite our LGBTQ2S+ community and allies to head out in the street with us this summer.”

Parade organizers will be opening registration for participation in June. It’ll be open to businesses, teams and community organizations. Individuals can register on the day of the event. Motor vehicles will not be permitted in the parade.

A pride parade has been held at Thompson Rivers University since 2012, organized by students, but this will be the first for the broader community.

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