Another instalment of the legendary Whistler Pride and Ski Festival—one of the largest queer-focused ski weeks in the entire world—is wrapping up this weekend.
On Friday, Jan. 26, hundreds of festival attendees and Whistler community members gathered on the mountain for the traditional Whistler Pride ski-out/parade.
Prior to the parade, attendees were treated to a set from DJ Foxy Moron and a performance from Vancouver drag performer Hazel, as well as some brief remarks from organizers.
Sunil Sinha, director of the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival, thanked the ski guides and the 100 or so volunteers it took to make it all happen.
"The journey that pride at Whistler has taken to get to this point is overwhelming," Sinha said. "I know it’s very emotional for our team, and I'm sure it is for you guys, to see the spectacle."
Whistler Blackcomb COO, Belinda Trembath, noted it's her first Whistler Pride as head of the mountain, though she's been in Whistler for the event before.
"I just remember with such great pride when the parade went past the Longhorn, I think it was January 2018, and we had just voted in Australia for gay marriage," Trembath recalled.
"The place just erupted, and it was just such a great moment of pride."
The fest wraps up tonight with the fan-favourite Snowball grand finale at the Whistler Conference Centre
