Winnipeg, MB - June 4, 2010 - Leading into weekend events that culminate
in Pride Day on Sunday, June 6 with the largest Pride parade in Winnipeg history, the Pride Winnipeg committee is pleased
to name one of its special guests, Ken Coolen, President of the Vancouver Pride
Society, as an honourary parade marshall.
The Pride
Winnipeg committee is recognizing Coolen as an honourary marshall for his contributions towards the
fights for equality and LGBTTQ rights. The parade's Grand Marshall is Glen
Murray, the first openly gay mayor not only in Winnipeg,
but also in Canada,
and a true pioneer in the Winnipeg LGBTTQ community.
Coolen joined
Vancouver Pride in 2005 as the Parade Director, became the Treasurer in 2007
and in 2009, President. During this time, he became the subject of a
documentary, "Beyond Gay - The Politics of Pride" which was released in 2009
and is now being showcased at Pride celebrations around the world. The
documentary focuses on the relevance of Pride today. Ken travelled to Prides in
Moscow, Warsaw, Sao Paulo and New
York to show the different faces of Pride and those
who fight for LGBTTQ rights around the world today.
Ken is also
co-producer of Whistler's Lesbian and Gay ski week, WinterPRIDE which this
year, achieved monumental global recognition for producing Pride House during
the 2010 Winter Olympics. This first-ever LGBTTQ Olympic pavilion provided an
open and welcoming venue for the community and allies to celebrate diversity and
inclusiveness through sport. It also put the spotlight on the discrimination
and in some cases persecution of LGBTTQ people that occurs around the world.
"Ken's
passion for the fight for global LGBTTQ human rights is the reason for our
decision to recognize him as an honourary parade marshall," said Barb Burkowski, chair of the
Pride Winnipeg committee. "We are excited and honoured to have him be a part of
this year's Pride celebrations in Winnipeg."
For more information about the Pride Parade and other Pride celebrations
happening through the weekend, please visit our website: www.pridewinnipeg.com |
|
PRIDE House Whistler 
PRIDE House was located in the centre of Whistler Village at the award winning boutique hotel of Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre. PRIDE House was a hip lounge with a cocktail bar with HDTV monitors to watch the Olympics, hang out, trade pins, a Speakers Chalet to record and share your stories, and a venue to just have fun. PRIDE House was opened from February 8th through to March 21st. For more information please refer to www.pridehouse.ca |
|
PRIDE House Vancouver
Situated at Qmunity- BC's Queer Resource Centre at 1170 Bute Street, was
the operational hub for Pride House 2010 where LGTB resources and information on
immigration, social services and workshops were available. Open Feb. 11th -
Mar. 21st PRIDE House Vancouver - Celebration VenueSituated in the heart of Davie Street within the Gay Village
- Score on Davie (1262 Davie Street) was the primary celebration Venue for Pride House Vancouver. Free Wi-Fi,
huge HDTVs to watch the Olympics. Open Feb. 1st - Mar. 21st |
|
PRIDE House Partners
PRIDE House was made possible by the generous contributions from key partners including: GayWhistler, Qmunity - BC's LGBT Resource Centre, Rainbow Refugee, EGALE, ILGA, CAAWS, ProMotion Plus, Out in Schools - Out on Screen, Big Gay Movie, Mark Tewksbury, and our sponsors. For more information please visit www.pridehouse.ca |
About Alpenglow Productions/GayWhistler
GayWhistler ( www.gaywhistler.com) is a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community, and promotes and produces the annual Gay Ski Week. GayWhistler is a subsidiary of Alpenglow Production Corporation. | |
|
Alpenglow Productions/GayWhistler
Dean Nelson
CEO - Community & Media Relations
Executive Producer - Pride House
T: +1.604.288.7218
| |
|
|
