Vancouver city councillor pushing for return of Pride Block Party to Davie Village
Vancouver Pride is one of the city’s most popular summer festivals, and a city councillor is pushing for the return of festivities to the heart of the region’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
ABC City Councillor Peter Meiszner has introduced a motion for consideration at the Standing Committee meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The motion titled “Bringing Back The Block Party: Supporting Davie Village and Vancouver Pride Celebrations” lays out reasons why returning the event to the city’s west end would be beneficial to the community.
Vancouver Pride (MK Lee)
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“The Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival is one of the city’s most highly
anticipated events, attracting over 100,000 attendees, and generating millions in
economic impact,” states the motion. “Davie Village is widely considered to be the heart of Metro Vancouver’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community and is known nationwide as an inclusive, vibrant and caring neighbourhood of residents, shops, and services.
“The community is the centre of the Vancouver Pride Parade, which started in 1978 as a protest march, ahead of the city’s first officially permitted parade in 1981.
Hundreds of thousands of people participate in Vancouver Pride festivities each year, including the popular summertime Pride Parade.
In 2023, the Vancouver Pride Society announced that the parade would follow a new route to the festival’s new location in False Creek. The move was a big change for the event, which has been held in Vancouver’s West End for decades, and it kept the new route in 2024.
Vancouver Pride Parade (EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock)
The Davie Street Promenade, previously known as the Davie Street Block Party, was regularly held by the Vancouver Pride Society in Davie Village before the start of the pandemic. The street festival included several live performance stages, local merchants, beer gardens, and more.
A working group of community organizations such as the Pride Society, Qmunity, West End BIA and local businesses have formed to bring the Block Party back to the West End during this year’s Pride weekend.
Vancouver Pride Society (MK Lee/Facebook)
“The working group is seeking city and council support to bring back the Davie Street Block Party in 2025, with proceeds going to the Vancouver Pride Society and Qmunity, to support their vital initiatives and work in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” explained the motion.
This year will be the 45th consecutive Vancouver Pride. The first Vancouver Pride parade with a city permit was held in 1981.
City Council is expected to deliberate Meiszner’s motion next week during the Standing Committee meeting.