KPS respectfully acknowledges the iʔ syilx iʔ sukʷnaqinx (syilx/Okanagan) People on whose unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories we live work and play.
With the new year rapidly approaching, KPS would like to update community members on the success of our 2024 pride celebration. Additionally, we’re excited to share the new and exciting changes and advancements of Kelowna Pride Society as we ramp up preparation for Pride 2025.
It’s important we begin with an acknowledgement of the highlights of our 2024 celebrations. KPS received great feedback from volunteers, attendees, and community members regarding this summer’s events. We’re thankful to the community members, vendors, and performers who helped ensure Pride 2024 had excellent attendance. The respect the communities showed to the venues resulted in a glowing review from the City of Kelowna, particularly in regards to permit and use of land for the Pride Festival and March.
In addition to these highlights, Kelowna Pride Society would like the community to know about some of the most significant achievements accomplished by KPS in recent months:
Board and committee recruitment is ongoing, and committees are nearly full! To join, please contact: recruitment@kelownapride.com
Pride Festival Outreach wrapped up in October.
Pride Community Outreach is ongoing.
KPS successfully partnered with YMCA to provide free entrepreneur workshops to cis, trans, and self-identified women and non-binary individuals. This program runs October 2024 - January 2025 through the LaunchPad Program. https://www.launchpadforwomen.ca/
Pride Week 2024 was a huge success thanks to the community, our many volunteers, and our generous sponsors. Thank you!
KPS received amazing feedback from the community regarding the accessibility of 2024 Pride. One attendee remarked: “...I am a Deaf lesbian woman and having [an] interpreter there really helped!! Even my mum was shocked! It made her cry knowing that Kelowna Pride [does] care about [accessibility]. Thank you again! Please do keep it up and I’ll tell the Deaf community about it for next year! 🫶🏻" - A.T. We welcome any additional feedback that could help make future events and initiatives as accessible as possible. All accessibility feedback can be sent to: info@kelownapride.com
The KPS Quarterly Newsletter has been reinstated to ensure members receive regular updates on KPS news, progress, events, and partnerships.
The KPS Board has recently added a Non-Binary Committee.
KPS is in the process of adding Non-Binary and BIPOC events to Pride 2025.
The KPS Board has heard from members requesting new positions on the Board and we are excited to announce the additions of Director of Non-Binary Inclusion and Director of 2Spirit and Indigiqueer Inclusion.
We are also in the process of adding Drag Story Time to the Kid Zone in Pride 2025.
Recently, KPS has made the following reductions of spending:
1) Storage unit expenses have decreased from approximately $600/month down to approximately $300/month in June 2024, then further reduced to $115/month in August 2024
2) Social media costs have decreased from $1600-500/month to $0/month
3) Festival management expenses have decreased from $27,000/year to $0/year
Social media engagement has increased by 200% in "off season months".
The previously non-functional info@kelownapride.com email is once again operational.
Due to board restructuring following the August SGM, some administrative access to funds was temporarily made unavailable. Access to bank accounts has since been fully restored.
In addition to these accomplishments, KPS has some news to share!
KPS is looking for a larger venue for the Trans Celebration and March for Pride 2025, and we would like your help selecting a venue. Please input your selection here: https://forms.gle/7E36SmZuWmLXXdjn9
(*Please consider: We are outgrowing Revelry! We will share additional information in forthcoming social media posts, but a larger venue would ensure greater inclusion, accessibility, and safety.)
As mentioned, Board & Committee recruitment is ongoing, and we’re eager to fill positions with local community members. Requests for additional information or expressions of interest can be sent to recruitment@kelownapride.com or through the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe11wni5lhx5pHJBAAPSwPPAVce50WHGgGcuW11bwlhq-uy6A/viewform
KPS has once again reached our fiscal year end, are entering tax season, and are preparing for the next AGM.
Prep is ongoing for pride 2025 (applying for grants, securing sponsorships, researching and securing event venues, networking to provide affiliate events, recruiting volunteers, creation of RFPs for pride 2025 talent). If you are interested in helping out with the 2025 festivities, please reach out!
KPS is committed to adding workshops to Pride 2025. In addition to pride week workshops, KPS will be adding presentations and workshops in our community year round! If you have any ideas for workshops you would like to see come to life in our community, please contact: info@kelownapride.com
Our yearly request for pride week dates has been submitted to the City of Kelowna - we look forward to sharing them with you when they’re approved!
The KPS Social Media Committee will be creating quarterly social media reports to help ensure insight into engagement, consistency of messaging, and community outreach.
Proposed Bylaw updates are in the works; a strong governance foundation allows KPS to run smoothly and efficiently, and we look forward to strengthening the society through regular bylaw maintenance and review.
Monthly financial statements from August through November are underway with the newly restored access to bank accounts.
KPS is in the process of acquiring a secured Credit Card for the society, which will allow for subscriptions of Zoom, wix, mailchimp and online ordering to be placed on KPS accounts, reducing reliance on KPS volunteers.
The KPS Board would also like to acknowledge some community concerns and misconceptions surrounding the recent restructuring of KPS.
Free membership is temporarily suspended, not permanently cancelled; we intend to modify the outdated bylaws to enable free members to have the same rights as paid members. Free membership will be reinstated with voting rights as soon as possible; anyone who cannot afford a membership may email KPS and have the membership fee waived.
Proposed Bylaw updates are set to be ready for membership adoption at the next AGM. We have incurred $0 in cost for this effort, which will be demonstrated with bank statements and financial statements.
KPS has incurred $0 in cost for the HR firm that supported with the 2024 SGM; bank statements and financial statements will be presented at the AGM to support this.
Questions, concerns and feedback are welcome and can be submitted to Info@kelownapride.com.
Please note, the BC Societies Act of 2023 allows KPS 14 days to respond. The board is 100% volunteer run and we will make our best effort to respond as quickly as possible. We want feedback on everything! We welcome membership and community support and involvement, and we value the "second set of eyes, outlook, and perspective" on everything we do in our community for our community.
Membership can request to be a guest at a (non-executive) board meeting if they would like to meet with the board or attend a board meeting. Requests can be submitted to Secretary@kelownapride.com
Did You Know?!
The Kelowna Pride Society has a Return-it Express account!
That's right! You can now donate to the Kelowna Pride Society by donating your refundable cans, bottles and cartons!
Contact Secretary@kelownapride.com for clear bags and/or labels. For more information on where the Return-It Express locations are or what items can be donated for refund please visit http://return-it.ca/
In the Community: The Laramie Project
KPS has a giveaway to share with you! The Night Owl Theatre at KSS is presenting The Laramie Project at 7pm on the nights of November 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th. We have ten tickets to give away to community members! Further giveaway details are to come, so keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram, and kelownapride.com for a chance to snag some tickets!
A flyer for The Laramie Project hosted by KSS' The Night Owl Theatre. Show times are 7pm Nov. 20-23 & 27-30. Tickets are $12 for Students and $17 for Adults.
“The Laramie Project presents a deeply complex portrait of a community’s response to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man living in Laramie, Wyoming. In a series of poignant reflections, the residents of Laramie react to the hate crime and surrounding media storm with anger, bewilderment and sorrow. The play portrays the seismic and deeply personal impact Matthew’s death had on this small town while also demonstrating the power of the human spirit to triumph over bigotry and violence.”
Please be advised that this play may be triggering to some individuals due to the inclusion of homophobia, racism, discrimination, violence, death, and mentions of suicide.
In the Community: OC Pride Community to host Samplers Potluck Queer Mixer
International Education Week is rapidly approaching and the OC Pride Community is celebrating with a Samplers Potluck Queer Mixer! OC faculty, support staff, and students are welcome to join the festivities on Friday, November 22nd at the Okanagan College Kelowna Campus! Keep an eye on the OC Pride Community Instagram and Facebook for more information as the day draws closer.
In The Community: Christmas Expo
What’s that?! Another giveaway is coming in December!
It really is the season of giving at KPS. We encourage you to keep an eye on our socials (Facebook, Instagram, and kelownapride.com) to stay in the loop regarding our 20 ticket giveaway for Kelowna’s largest Christmas Market. This event includes festive eats and drinks, activities, live music for the whole family, and amazing and unique vendors. While this is not a KPS affiliated event, board members can vouch for this being a queer-friendly venue.
The Kelowna Christmas Expo will be held Dec 12, 2024, 4:00 p.m. – Dec 14, 2024, 7:00 p.m. at Mainstreet Centre, 2041 Harvey Ave Kelowna BC.
Venue accessibility information is forthcoming.
Early Bird tickets are $5 - VIP tickets are $20 and include a free drink and hors d’oeuvre.
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