Pride event is back once again at Leigh Square on Saturday, July 23 and will celebrate LGBT2SQ+ communities with live music, crafts, food and community displays.

Everyone is invited to attend this family-friendly event, which reflects Port Coquitlam’s commitment to removing barriers and developing welcoming, inclusive and safe places for the City’s diverse populations, including the LGBT2SQ+ community and gender diverse people.

The Pride in PoCo Event at Leigh Square, running July 23 from 2 to 5 p.m., has been organized with the involvement of Port Coquitlam’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable (EDI).

Community organizations include:

These organizations will provide resources and activities.

The event will include a City info booth and performances by LGBT2SQ+ community and gender diverse people.

The events are part of Pride Season and adds to the wide range of events that take place across Canada over the summer (June to September) to celebrate the LGBT2SQ+ community and gender diverse people. City Hall will also be lit up in rainbow colours on July 23 to recognize LGBT2SQ+ communities.

The Pride activities are part of the City’s ongoing efforts to ensure Port Coquitlam welcomes and celebrates all people. As part of this work, the City launched its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Roundtable two years ago to help address issues of racism and discrimination. More information can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/edi.

One of the top priorities identified by Roundtable members is to engage community members in celebrating Indigenous, Black, people of colour and LGBT2SQ+ communities, and to foster engagement with people of diverse experiences and identities.

Call for Performing Artists

The City is accepting applications from LGBT2SQ+ and gender diverse artists — solo or group who would like to perform for this event. If you are a musician, drag performer, dancer, spoken word artist, poet, or an alternative performance artist, apply today.

Apply by July 14 by sending a performance description, references of your work, bio and artist fee to specialevents@portcoquitlam.ca.