Banff Pride is returning for a second year, and it’s shaping up to be a weekend to remember. Joe Bembridge took the time to chat with GayCalgary about what makes Banff Pride unique and what can be expected for 2014’s festivities.
GC: Last year was the premiere of Banff Pride; can you tell readers about the event and how it was received by the community?
JP: The first Banff Pride in 2013 was a total leap of faith. Banff does not have a large LGBTQ community but it has a very supportive group of allies. We booked the best venue in town: Wild Bill’s saloon, and staged a fabulous drag show. We brought out Isolde N. Barron and Peach Cobblah from Vancouver who teamed up with Banff’s very own drag act Miss Ellen Q and the Pumas. We were hoping for an attendance of 200 people and were blown away that the event was sold out – 500 people came through the doors and the establishment had to turn away over 100 people. These numbers may not seem impressive on a city scale, but for our inaugural Pride it showed that people wanted to show their colours.
GC: What sparked the idea to create Banff’s very own Pride celebration?
JP: The team behind Banff Pride 2013 was producer Ken Fierheller, of Bow Valley Cares (a branch of Aids Calgary/now know as HIV Community Link), and artistic director myself, aka Miss Ellen Q. We could not have been more thrilled with the event itself and the outpour of community support, both locally and throughout Alberta. Sadly, funding for Bow Valley Cares was pulled in 2014, leaving myself fully in charge of the event. For the 2014 event I brought on board Corrie DiManno, a town councilor in Banff, to co-produce the event. I felt a need for this event here in Banff, as there were no visibly queer events happening in the area. I grew up in Canmore and moved to Edmonton to attend Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts. Now, living back in this community, I feel it is my duty to make it a queer friendly place to visit and live. In the last year alone the cultural landscape has changed so much from Pride, and other events we have thrown, and I could not be more proud of this community. Homophobia starts at home and we are trying to spread the idea of integration as oppose to segregation. Let’s all enjoy this gorgeous place regardless of sexual identity.
GC: What makes Banff Pride different from other celebrations within Alberta?
JP: A community is defined by the people within it. Banff is super unique in the sense that we have a solid local contingent, but also have an influx of seasonal workers, most being 18 to 28 from places like Australia, England, New Zealand and throughout Canada. This creates a fantastic mix of people, some who have been to Pride events before and for some, Banff Pride 2013 was the first ever Pride event for them. It was great chatting with people from Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and so on saying that the vibe was electric. We are looking forward to that same feeling again this year.
GC: Can you tell readers what is on the agenda for Pride 2014?
JP: We have two major events this year: Friday, October 24th is our pre-pride event Avant Ski at the Aurora Nightclub. It’s our take on a foam party but, instead, we are pumping snow out at the crowd. It’s the first time an event like this has happened and we can’t wait. There will be a live fashion show showcasing the styles hitting the hills this winter and, don’t worry, the models will not be fully clothed. The event will be hosted by Calgary’s queen of sass Visa De’Klein. Then the main event is October 25th at Wild Bill’s. Awesome DJs, fierce drag queens – all within a fantastic venue. We have some great prizes to give away and expect everyone to come and show us their pride.
GC: Anything else you care to share?
JP: The Banff LGBTQ community chooses to live here because of its beauty. We know this is why people either make Banff their home or spend their weekends here. We want you to come out for the weekend, enjoy the sites, then dance your asses off and indulge in all the eye candy that our events will entail. What happens in Banff stays in Banff!!
