Pride celebration of a small community in BC moving ahead with support from local hotel that proudly welcomes 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals year-round
Tofino, a vibrant and diverse town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is gearing up to host its inaugural Pride march this summer, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Coastal Queer Alliance, a local organization creating representation and resources for local queers, teamed up with Hotel Zed, self-professed Rebels Against the Ordinary, to host the Pride celebration.
The event will kick off at noon on June 28 in the parking lot of Beaches Grocery, with participants marching together to Hotel Zed where the celebration takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be indoor and outdoor entertainment by the local queer community and a Pride Vendor Village showcasing local 2SLGBTQA+ artists. Hotel Zed’s on-site live fire restaurant and bar, ROAR, will also be open and serving up pride-themed refreshments.
Situated on Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation territories, Hotel Zed Tofino opened its doors in 2020. Hotel Zed is a safe place for all and is officially Rainbow Registered with Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce. Mandy Farmer (she/her), the CEO of Hotel Zed, emphasized the significance of the queer community in Tofino taking the lead in organizing this grassroots event.
“We are honoured to show up for the queer community in Tofino and help organize a collaborative Pride event,” said Farmer. “This is a prime example of the efforts our team puts every day into creating a safe space for all humans, contributing to a more inclusive and accepting community.”
"Coastal Queers is grateful for the collaboration, resources and spirit of Hotel Zed in co-creating this event,” says Sully Rogalski (they/them), co-founder of the Coastal Queer Alliance. “Hosting Pride in our community helps bolster the efforts of Coastal Queers to provide visibility and representation for local queers, and we're excited to gather and connect in celebration of queer identities this month and year-round.”
For more information on Coastal Queer Alliance, check out their Instagram @coastalqueers or their website, www.coastalqueeralliance.ca.
For more information about the Tofino Pride celebration along with a 25 per cent Pride discount on Hotel Zed stays until July 15, please visit Hotel Zed's website: Happy Pride 2023. Everyone is welcome.
About Hotel Zed
So long stuffy and boring hospitality experiences, hello Accent Inns, Hotel Zed and ROAR—the B.C. hospitality chain with big personality. With eight hotels and one restaurant across three brands in Victoria, Richmond, Burnaby, Kelowna, Kamloops and Tofino, we deliver more than expected in a way that big chains can’t. Third-generation CEO Mandy Farmer leads her team with love which spills over to our guests and our communities.
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