Pride Vancouver gets $75K boost as sponsorships dry up
City council approves emergency funding to prevent major cuts to this summer's parade and festival.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
The City of Vancouver has approved a one-time grant of $75,000 to Pride Vancouver after the Pride Society identified significant funding shortfalls and a sharp decline in sponsorships. Without the cash injection, this summer's pride programming would have faced "significant risk," according to a council motion.
The approved funding will help sustain the annual Pride Parade and Pride Festival, events that drew over 100,000 attendees last year and generated an estimated $30 million in economic impact for the city.
Councillor Rebecca Bligh's motion noted that 2025's Pride Parade marked the return of the Davie Village Pride Festival for the first time since 2019. "Supporting Pride financially in this way could foster greater community and connection, in a time when many residents are facing increasing challenges with affordability and a high cost of living," the motion stated.
This is one of several one-time grants the city approved this year to support major events. Earlier approvals include $45,000 for the Vaisakhi parade, $60,000 for the Lunar New Year Gala, and ongoing support for Car Free Day and Italian Day on Commercial Drive. The city also resolved to fund a one-night fireworks celebration following the loss of the Honda Celebration of Light.
Vancouver Pride Week will take place between late July and early August.