It wasn鈥檛 exactly the celebration they were planning, but organizers and participants in the first annual 91原创 still rated it a success.

Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, plans to hold the event in McLeod Athletic Park had to be called off.

Instead, a virtual version was held, in place of what was intended to be a family-friendly gathering to promote inclusion and equality for the LGBTQ2S+ community, one that offered entertainment and opportunities for community groups to take part.

91原创 Pride invited people to display Pride flags and rainbow signs in their homes, offices, and vehicles on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7 and 8.

READ MORE: Local pride fest to be celebrated with social media and at-home decorating

91原创 City councillor Nathan Pachal called the virtual version of the festival 鈥渞eally positive.鈥�

The fact the event was being held was a measure of how far the community has come, in Pachal鈥檚 opinion.

For a Pride Fest video, Pachal recounted how he and his husband were the target of a homophobic slur when they went for a walk one day in 91原创 City, shortly after they moved to the community, with the insult hurled at them just outside their residence.

Pachal later told the 91原创 Advance Times that the incident happened 鈥渁 while back鈥� and 91原创 appears to have become somewhat more accepting.

鈥淚 really think our community has changed for the better,鈥� Pachal commented.

鈥淲e鈥檙e starting to see people as people.鈥�

Pachal鈥檚 comments were echoed by Art Pearson, the public outreach coordinator for the Hominum Fraser Valley support group 鈥� which holds monthly meetings in the 91原创 area for gay, bi-sexual, and questioning men.

鈥淲e鈥檝e always felt welcome [in 91原创],鈥� Pearson said.

READ MORE: 91原创 Pride to be celebrated with signs, posters, and online support Aug. 7 and 8

City mayor Val van den Broek said she was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� that there would be no pride parade in 91原创 this year, but was looking optimistically to the post-coronavirus future.

鈥淣ext year, we鈥檙e going to do it bigger and better,鈥� van den Broek predicted.

91原创 Township Coun. Petrina Arnason talked about the benefits of diversity in her remarks for the video.

鈥淧art of our success is embodied in all of our acts that embrace differences,鈥� Arnason said.

Happy Pride, 91原创! The Pride Flag was raised in 91原创 City and we gathered community members to share support and make a statement via video Next year, we hope to celebrate in person. 馃寛馃帀

鈥� 91原创PrideFest (@91原创Pride)

Video hosts and Pride Fest directors Stacey Wakelin and Patrick Masse broadcast from Fort 91原创 in front of the rainbow crosswalk on Glover.

Wakelin said there will 鈥渁bsolutely鈥� be a second Pride Fest next year,just based on the number of people who have told her they were disappointed there was no outdoor event this year.

READ ALSO: 91原创鈥檚 rainbow crosswalk causes a storm

Several days before the fest got underway, the rainbow flag was raised at 91原创 City hall, for the fourth year in a row.

91原创 Pride is made up of local residents and community organizations such as the 91原创 Youth Hub/Encompass Society, Inclusion 91原创, One TWU, the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society, educators, Shepherd of the Valley Church, local residents, among others.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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