THE VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE WILL GO ON!!

“Pride in the City” Will Go Ahead As Scheduled Despite the Recent Strike By Local Civic Employees.

(VANCOUVER, BC) The Vancouver Pride Society announced today that the civic strike will not affect the Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival taking place on Sunday August 5^th, 2007. The Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) Board of Directors have received over 100 phone calls and inquiries about the civic strike and its potential effect on the parade since the announcement of the strike last Friday. However, the VPS says “there is no need for concern” as the city workers’ walkout will not affect the Vancouver Pride Parade given that the celebration is not an official civic event.

“The strike will not affect the Pride Parade or Festival no matter what,” states John Boychuk, Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) President, “‘Pride in the City’ is not just a Parade made up of costumes and pure fun. It is a movement and we are raising awareness about the need for human rights for the GLBT community on an international scale. The Pride Parade and Festival is the most important event in Vancouver’s gay community - it NEEDS to proceed and it will.”

The only concern the VPS has is the garbage that may remain on the street from the previous nights’ Celebration of Light fireworks. However, the city says it will do its best under the circumstances to help make sure that does not occur.

The VPS has 200 garbage cans, donated by Wet! Lubricants, to handle the garbage along the Parade route and at the Festival.

The Vancouver Pride Celebration will kick off with the Official Vancouver Pride Weekend Launch outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Friday August 3^rd at noon.