Kamloops Pride ends on high note with increase in parade participants

KAMLOOPS – Large crowds could be seen lined up along the streets of downtown Kamloops as a week of pride events wrapped up with the third annual Pride Parade on Sunday.

More than 1,400 marchers registered, according to Kamloops Pride president Sam Numsen. It's a 17 per cent increase compared to 2018. He says a total of 57 groups registered for the parade.

“The community of Kamloops came out in full force once again and the Pride Parade, as well as the entire lineup of events leading up to the big day, was unforgettable,” he says. “We were proud to have offered events that served many different demographics within the LGBTQ2S+ community.”

Numsen says the volunteer committee will begin discussions regarding the planning of next year’s pride week this fall.

This year’s pride parade festival venue changed from Riverside Park to Stuart Wood School on St. Paul Street and he says the change was well-received.

“The area provided a more block party, urban celebration feel and is a move we’ll consider repeating next year,” he says.

Most of the events leading up to the pride were sold out, Numsen says.

“We heard really great feedback regarding our entire lineup of events,” he says. “We certainly noticed that event attendance grew as excitement built throughout the week.”

Numsen says they will continue to play around with the lineup of events and consider switching up the order in the future.

For more photos on the colourful celebration visit the official Facebook page of Kamloops Pride by going here.

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