2025 Pride guide for Cowichan, Nanaimo and the Comox Valley

A rainbow Pride Progress flag waves with Pride parade goers in the background — On June 23, 2024 Cowichan Valley Pride Walk participants assembled at the Vancouver Island University parking lot in Duncan and continued to City Square for an afternoon of celebration. **Photo by Jordan Kawchuk/The Discourse**

It’s Pride season again! The Discourse Cowichan, Nanaimo and Comox Valley have joined forces to put together a Pride Guide for our communities. Below you’ll find local events as well as resources, organizations and relevant reporting that we’ve done over the years.

We’ll continue to add to this as things come up, so keep an eye on this page!

And, as a heads up, The Discourse will be at the Cowichan Pride Festival on June 22. Come say hello if you spot us!

Cowichan events:

Saturday, May 31, 4 p.m.: Take in live music and an all-ages drag show to kick off pride month at Red Arrow Brewing.
Sunday, June 1, 1 p.m.: Ladysmith Pride Celebration kicks off downtown with food trucks, local vendors, games and more.
Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.: Meet other 2SLGBTQIA families and friends in centennial park at the Teddy Bear Picnic hosted by Cowichan Pride and PFLAG Cowichan Valley.
Friday, June 17: Celebrate community spirit and make a unique item at Tied Together in Pride, hosted by the Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour at Collective Space in Duncan, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bring your own shirts, flags, banners, tote bags or anything else you want to decorate for the Pride Parade on June 22. All art supplies will be provided.
Friday, June 20, 6 p.m.: Dust off your dancing shoes and get ready for a night of fun at the Pride Dance hosted at the HUB at Cowichan Station.
Sunday, June 22, 10 a.m.: The Cowichan Pride Festival and March returns to Duncan City Square with a march in the morning followed by an afternoon of entertainment, drag shows, vendors and food trucks.
Sunday, June 22, 12 p.m.: Celebrate Pride with the Duncan Showroom featuring performances from the Boneyard Babes, Tina Jones and others. Admission is free.

Nanaimo events:

Saturday, May 31, 3 p.m.: 2SLGBTQIA+ choir Aviva Chorus will perform Pride in Every Beat: Songs to Lift You Higher at Brechin United Church. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
Monday, June 2, 11:45 a.m.: Join the Positive Space Alliance to celebrate pride month by raising the pride flag at Royal Bank Plaza on Vancouver Island University’s Nanaimo campus. After the flag raising, stay for music, cupcakes and games!
Monday, June 2, 7 p.m.: Drag Race Trivia at The Queen’s. Get ready for a night of fierce, fun and fabulous trivia, brought to you by GotPop and Nanaimo Pride. Tickets cost $15.
Tuesday, June 3, 5 p.m.: Pride flag raising at Nanaimo CIty Hall
Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.: Rainbow rave silent disco at Neck Point Park’s Last Beach. Tickets cost $20.
Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.: Drag Bingo with Connie Smudge at The Nanaimo Bar. Buy-in costs $20.
Thursday, June 5, 5:30 p.m.: Laugh Out Loud comedy show featuring a stacked lineup of 2SLGBTQIA+ comedians, including Tin Lorica, Sasha Mark, Patti Savard, Brett McCrindle, Chris Basso and Steev Letts, with a headline performance by the incomparable Katie-Ellen Humphries at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Shaw Auditorium. Tickets cost $25.
Thursday, June 5, 6 p.m.: Explore birding and biodiversity on a guided walk for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies with the Stroll with a Pro: Pride Edition at Buttertubs Marsh. Bring binoculars if you have them and dress for the weather. Free registration is currently waitlisted.
Friday, June 6, 7 p.m.: Club Soda Sober Pride Dance for anyone who wants to dance, connect, and celebrate in a space that’s substance-free, low-pressure and full of queer joy at Pleasant Valley Social Centre. Tickets cost $20.
Friday, June 6, 10 p.m.: WICKED Drag Show with local performers at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $30.
Friday, June 6, 6:30 p.m.: A Youth Pride Prom open to youth aged 12-18 will be held at Beban Park Social Centre. Tickets are free but attendees must register with BGCCVI.
Saturday, June 7, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Looking for pronoun pins? Want to rep your Pride flags or make a sign? The Nanaimo Art Gallery will have its button maker set up and other Pride-themed art activities for a Queer/Trans Art Drop-In. Admission by donation.
Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m.: Annual Pride Dance featuring Queer as Funk. Tickets cost $35 in advance or $40 at the door.
Sunday, June 8, 10 a.m. A Pride Parade Drag Brunch at The Nanaimo Bar includes a prime location on the parade route, catered brunch and live hilarious parade commentary. Tickets cost $30.
Sunday, June 8, 11 a.m.: The Nanaimo Pride Parade through downtown will take place starting at the corner of Fitzwilliam and Selby Streets and ending in Maffeo Sutton Park.
Sunday, June 8, noon: After the parade, the party continues at Maffeo Sutton Park with an afternoon of celebration, connection and community with the Nanaimo Pride Festival.
Tuesday, June 17, 10 a.m.: School District 68 will hold a Youth Pride Parade from the Learning Alt Campus to Departure Bay Beach, followed by a BBQ, music, rock climbing and more.
Saturday, June 21, 7:30 p.m.: 1970s Disco Celebrating Pride with DJ Joshua Holloway at Unity Vancouver Island. Wear your best 1970s chic for a chance to win prizes. A portion of proceeds goes to Reaching Out Assisting Refugees.
Saturday, June 21, 8 p.m.: Hey Gaybies semi-annual newbies drag show at The Vault Cafe starring Olive Thistea, Boy Gorgeous, Olivia Leads and featuring Polly Amorous, Baby Blue, Crystal Couture, Nilla Milkshake, Caroline Reaper, Trix and Sir Loins. Tickets cost $20 to $30 sliding scale.
Saturday, July 12, 5 p.m.: Reaching Out Assisting Refugees’s Picnic en Blanc at 3341 Landalt Rd. Tickets cost $60 and meat and vegetarian meals are available.

Gabriola Island events:

Saturday, June 14, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.: The Gabriola Pride Festival is an all-day jam-packed event featuring:

1 p.m.: Carol Thompson Gardner will be reading from her picture book Lilly Loves Beards for a children’s story time.

1:30 p.m.: Acoustic performances by Colleen Reid, The Pothole Stringband, The Crush and Rocapella.

2:30 p.m.: A discussion on 2SLGBTQIA+ activism on Gabriola Island and a performance by Paul Gellman.

3:10 p.m.: A comedy show with Scarlet Chen and performance by contemporary ballet dancer Liam Hurley.

4 p.m.: More acoustic performances by Johnny Savage, Liz Wallinger, Meredith Coloma, Joy Potter, NEAVV, Shirely Whalen, Joanna Karczmark and Neil Osborne from 54-40. 6:30 p.m.: The Pride dance with DJ Esmi Villa and DJ TIM G at Ravenskill Orchards.

Comox Valley events:

Friday, June 27, 8:30 p.m.: Queer Culture outdoor movie sing-a-long at Wayward Distillery for people aged 19 and up. Profits go towards the Queer Culture Bursary. Get tickets.
Friday, Aug. 22, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Pulse on the Plaza at the Comox Valley Art Gallery plaza hosted by Comox Valley Arts and Comox Valley Queer Centre. Email QCCVevents@gmail.com for more information.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Pride Parade down 5th Street hosted by Weird Church and Queer Centre. Email QCCVevents@gmail.com for more information.
Saturday, Aug. 23, noon to 3:30 p.m.: Pride in the Park at Lewis Park hosted by Pride Society of Comox Valley. Email pscv2021@gmail.com for more information.
Saturday, Aug. 23, evening: We Are Gods party at Wayward Distillery hosted by Queer Culture.
Sunday, Aug. 24: Drag Brunch at Match Eatery hosted by Queer Culture.

Resources for 2SLGBTQQIA+ and allies:

PFLAG Canada supports 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and their families with peer support, education and advocacy.
QCHAT is a peer support line and resource database for 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth in B.C. Text 250-800-9036 or call toll-free 1-855-956-1777.
QMUNITY is a Vancouver-based non-profit that works to improve the lives of queer, trans and Two-Spirit people.
Island Queers and Allies Who Care is a group of volunteers on Vancouver Island supporting local groups and projects that benefit the queer community through fundraising.
BIPOC Women’s Health Network provides an online list of transgender support resources.
Living OUT & Visibly Engaged is a collection of community resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ people living in B.C.
Gukwa̱s sa Wagalus – Rainbow House provides transitional housing for 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth in the Comox Valley.
What’s on Queer BC is an online queer lifestyle magazine with a list of resources for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.
First Nations Health Authority Resource List for 2SLGBTQQIA+, with specific Vancouver Island resources.
Resources from the Province of B.C., including on accessing health care, changing I.D., housing, law and human rights, employment and more.
HIM: Health Initiative for Men aims to strengthen the health and well-being of GBQ Men and gender diverse people.
Check Yourself is a sexual health checklist for “guys who have sex with guys, including guys who don’t identify as gay.”

Local organizations and clubs:

Pride Society of the Comox Valley
Nanaimo Pride Society
Cowichan Pride Society
Ladysmith Pride
Gabriola Pride Society
Oceanside Pride
The Queer Agenda was founded by a group of friends in Nanaimo, B.C. to create more inclusive spaces and opportunities for our local 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet, connect, build friendships and have some fun along the way.
The Coast is Queer Nanaimo: A private Facebook group for queer events in the Harbour City.
PFLAG Cowichan
PFLAG Nanaimo
Vancouver Island Queer Athletic Association is a nonprofit supporting queer youth athletes on Vancouver Island.
Queer Culture is a Comox Valley group dedicated to creating an inclusive space for queer individuals and allies.
Cowichan Valley Youth Services offers gender-affirming counseling services, access to gender affirming clothing and a wide range of 2SLBTQIA+ group programming & community events.
Volunteer Nanaimo hosts a Queer Straight Alliance group for youth between the ages of 11 and 29.
Gender Journeys and Transcend Nanaimo offer peer support groups for transgender, non-binary, two-spirit and gender diverse youth and adults.
Reaching Out Assisting Refugees is a volunteer organization based in Nanaimo that is dedicated to providing a safe haven to LGBTQIA+ refugees facing serious persecution.
Queer Centre Comox Valley is working to establish a central location for 2SLGBTQIA+ resources, events, outreach and organization in the Comox Valley.