Love is GREAT Message Continues to Spread Across Canada
UK government staff in Vancouver and Toronto join VisitBritain for Pride events in two of the country’s biggest cities.
Just weeks after staff from the British Consulate-General in Toronto took to the streets of Canada’s largest city for Pride Toronto, the British Consul General in Vancouver, Nicole Davison, will march in the Vancouver Pride Parade for the first time on Sunday 6 August. She will be joined by representatives from British Columbia’s Consular Corps totalling 51 diplomats and staff marching from 9 different countries: Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Mexico, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Spearheaded by the British Consul General who connected with Vancouver Pride organizers and rallied her consular colleagues to participate, the participants of the diplomatic group will be representing their home countries and marching to show their support for LGBT rights around the world.
Nicole Davison, British Consul General, said:
We are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Vancouver Pride Parade, alongside our colleagues from the Consular Corps, to celebrate diversity and inclusion. We feel it is more important than ever that we actively promote LGBT equality and support Pride events around the world. It’s also a way of contributing to the community in which we live and work.
Following Toronto Pride, which took place on 25 June and is one of the largest pride parades in North America, the UK’s Love is GREAT message has continued to spread across Canada. After Vancouver Pride, Consul General Nicole Davison will also be attending the Kamloops’ Pride Parade on 20 August, the first of its kind for the city. Finally, the Pride flag will fly over the British High Commission during the week of 21 August to celebrate Capital Pride in Ottawa.
Pride actives in both Toronto and Vancouver have been in partnership with VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourism agency, as part of their Love Is GREAT campaign. The campaign was launched by VisitBritain in 2014 to welcome the new same-sex marriage law in England, Wales and Scotland.
All together, there are 16 cities across Canada, the US, and Mexico this year where the British government is taking part in Pride marches. The UK is the first foreign government to participate in Pride on such a significant scale in the Americas and is proud to be recognized as one of the most progressive countries in the world for LGBT rights. Activity also commemorates the start of decriminalization of homosexuality in England & Wales with the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act of 1967. Love is GREAT highlights the UK as a champion of LGBT equality and a global leader in human rights across policy, business, arts, culture, and tourism.
To coincide with Canadian Pride events, VisitBritain has launched a nationwide competition for a chance to win a trip to Britain to experience the array of choices the destination provides for LGBT travellers. Contestants can enter on the Love is GREAT campaign homepage, VisitBritain, for a chance to win a trip for two to London.
Media enquiries, British Consulate-General Vancouver
Sarah Thoumieux
1111 Melville Street, Suite 800
Vancouver British Columbia V6E 3V6
Canada
Email Sarah.Thoumieux@fcdo.gov.uk
Office +1 604 683 4421 extension 2217