YOU ASKED – WE ANSWERED!

COQUITLAM PRIDE | JULY 15, 2023

Inspired by the students of Dr. Charles Best’s GSA, join us for an unforgettable celebration of joy and diversity in our community! Presented in partnership by Coquitlam’s Cultural Partners (Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam Heritage, Coquitlam Public Library, Place des Arts), celebrate Pride at this fun, all-ages day of art-making activities, family story time, pride history, artist studio visits, and more. Supported by the City of Coquitlam. 

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COQUITLAM’S CULTURAL PARTNERS

FREE ACTIVITIES & FAMILY EVENTS | 12 – 5PM

Evergreen Cultural Centre: Pride Lounge, Creative Kits & Button Making

Our doors are open! Come on in and see what Evergreen has to offer. Explore our main lobby and theatre and check out our upcoming 2023-24 season of events. Then, grab a drink or two from our concession – and bring them outside with you! – to enjoy our current outdoor exhibitions by Janet Wang, Tracey-Mae Chambers, and Alyson Davies.  

Outside, you’ll also find our Education team set up to make Pride-inspired buttons. Use markers, crayons, and stickers to create your unique design and watch our button-maker work its magic. Plus, grab a Creative Kit to take home with you, filled with art-making activities inspired by our current exhibition, Transmissions. 

Art Gallery at Evergreen: Gallery Public Hours & Incubator Open House 

Be inspired by our current group exhibition, Transmissions, where the exhibited artists draw on complex histories and rich cultural and personal practices connected to textiles to build sculptural works that move away from the gallery wall. Then, visit Studio B for a behind-the-scenes look at the art-making process. Artists from our Emerging Creators Incubator, a mentorship and residency program for local emerging artists, will share about their creative practices. Featuring visual arts, performing arts and multidisciplinary arts, this is an opportunity to learn more about the artists and what goes into their work as they prepare for a professional showcase at the AGE in August. 

Coquitlam Heritage: Celebrate, Make and Learn

Join Coquitlam Heritage on our portico for three special activities! Celebrate by dressing up and striking a pose at their vibrant selfie station, Make a paper doll at the Heritage tables along our portico and dress your dolls up however they feel, and Learn about Pride in our community with a take-away brochure and several exhibition panels.

Coquitlam Public Library: Library Lounge 

We’ve turned Studio A into a Library Lounge! Join staff from Coquitlam Public Library to explore a collection of LGBTQ2S+ books that are available to borrow, as well as booklists of age-appropriate books for kids, teens, and adults. At 1pm, sit in on a family Story Time, followed by a craft activity where you can make your own pride flag from 1:30 – 2:30pm. At 3pm, we will have a special author talk with Tanya Boteju, author of Bruised and Kings, Queens and In-Betweens.  

Place des Arts: Pride Postcards

Join Place des Arts on our portico with artist Cyd Eva, who will be facilitating an activity of Design Pattern Postcards using simple illustration and mark making techniques. Create postcards with rainbow stripes, Black and White Patterns, Animal Prints, Abstract patterns, as well as including pride flags and LGBTQ2S+ iconography into the pattern examples. These small works of art have space to write letters or notes on the backs, and we will encourage participants to write self-affirming messages to themselves and their loved ones. We hope this quick and rewarding activity will spark conversation about queerness and the true fluidity of self-expression.

COQUITLAM PRIDE AT EVERGREEN

PAID EVENING EVENTS | 7:30PM + 9PM

Cirque de Coquitlam – A Drag Circus! | 7:30pm

An all-ages adventure under the Big Top! Roll Up, Roll Up! The time has come for you to live out your dreams and fantasies. The circus is in town, for one night only… especially for you! Fascinating skills, dangerous feats, hilarious comedy and beautiful singing. Cirque de Coquitlam has it all, plus shocking surprises! Who doesn’t like a little bit of mystery?
TICKETS: $35 Adults | $32 Seniors | $16 Students (Includes Post-Secondary)

Pride After Dark | 9pm (19+)

What better way to celebrate a fabulous day than with a dance Par-tay! Join us in the Rehearsal Hall for Pride After Dark, a safe, community-minded dance party featuring great tunes from DJ James, drinks at our mobile bar, and a Grande Entrance from our Cirque du Coquitlam performers at 10pm. Doors open at 9pm for dance-only attendees. 
TICKETS: $15/person. Save $5 if you attend both events!