PM Trudeau marches in Vancouver’s Pride Parade
Posted July 31, 2016 7:29 am.
Last Updated July 31, 2016 5:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER – (NEWS 1130) – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made history Sunday by becoming the first sitting Prime Minister to attend the Vancouver Pride Parade.
As Trudeau walked through the centre of the event at Thurlow and Robson Streets, a swarm of journalists and supporters closed in around him.
He waved, posed for photos, and hugged a few supporters before making a brief statement to reporters.
“We celebrate the great diversity that is such a strength of our country,” said Trudeau, “we celebrate community, we celebrate family, and all these things together means we’re going to have a great Pride.”
The Prime Minister then marched down Robson Street alongside his wife Sophie, and Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson.
Trudeau is no stranger to Pride events. Last year, he kicked off his 2015 federal election run by marching in the parade.
They’re off! #VanPride2016 #VancouverPride pic.twitter.com/fTjbkZaa4I
— Kurtis Doering (@KDnewsguy) July 31, 2016
Meantime, Premier Christy Clark is out of the province this weekend and will take in Pride festivities in Kelowna in two weeks.
Last year, the BC Liberals were barred from marching because there was no legislation to protect transgender people, but that changed a couple of weeks ago when the government introduced a new law. That’s changed now.
“It brings the whole city together, the whole Lower Mainland together celebrating diversity, celebrating the LBGT community and celebrating all of us, who we are, as humans,” says Attorney General Suzanne Anton.
And despite a request from the local Black Lives Matter chapter, Vancouver Police took part in the parade, but their armoured rescue vehicle didn’t.
The VPD say they appreciate some people had expressed concerns about it.
