Banff is getting ready to show its pride. The resort town has waited to show its gay pride and community presence and Saturday (Sept. 21) is going to be an official launch of respect, fun and total inclusion.
Wild Bill’s will be the official party destination, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Everyone from any walk of life or lifestyle is invited to show support, dance till your drag mascara runs and take part in fun events that will help raise community funds for local programs.
A drag show fundraiser and dance party celebrating Bow Valley diversity will help raise proceeds for The Bow Valley Cares Centre to help support local programs.
“Most communities now have some sort of version of Pride, where the community is celebrating and supporting their LGBTQ community members,” said Ken Fierheller, project manager for Bow Valley Cares Centre. “This is going to be the first time Banff and the Bow Valley has their own pride, which is really exciting.
“Bow Valley Cares Centre, which is a division of AIDS Calgary, do a lot of sexual health education, HIV work in the community and we also run certain programs and one of those programs is called the Out Here Group.”
The Out Here Group is an LGBTQ alliance group that meets monthly, plans and puts on events and activities. “One of the things we did as a group and as a small task force is plan this very first pride. We’re partnering with Joe Bembridge of the Banff Drag Academy to put on this event,” Fierheller said.
“We’ll be doing two performances, one at 10 p.m. and one at midnight – they’re two totally separate shows,” Bembridge said on Saturday’s entertainment. “Act one has 25 songs in 32 minutes – it’s a mash-up show, so it’s the best part of every song that we wanted to do.
“I would say that the 10 p.m. show is vanilla, and the midnight show is dark chocolate,” said Bembridge on the night’s entertainment. “We up the ante; as people drink more the drag gets a little bit more bizarre as the night goes on.
“We have a couple of DJs – one named Damian from Canmore and another from Calgary named John Delirious and they’re going to be providing dancing and music from 10:30 p.m. onwards,” Fierheller said.
During the night there will also be fundraising for programs, with 50/50 draws and auctions and a focus on having a big celebration where everyone comes out and has a great time all in the spirit of pride.
“It’s for us, but it’s with us,” Fierheller said. “In my mind, this is the way the straight community and what we like to refer to as our allies can come out and show their support by being there. We have sponsors such as Big Rock Brewery and there’s going to be a Banff Pride special drink for the night. We just want everyone coming out and showing their support.”
The event is $5 at the door, with entrance and signature cocktail sales going towards the Bow Valley Cares Centre.
