The 3rd annual Pride in the Park BBQ will fire up the grill on July 29 in Memorial Peace Park.
This year’s event takes place a week before Vancouver’s pride parade, and kicks off pride week in Maple Ridge.
Pride in the Park is a community event that’s family-friendly with giant board games, raffle prizes, music, photo booth, face painting, button-making, and a by-donation BBQ lunch.
Raffle prizes include gift cards from businesses such as WildPlay and Coquitlam Centre, a studio membership at Geek Crossing, tickets to the Plastic Orchid Factory, and various gift bags.
The event is being hosted by PLEA Ridge Meadows Youth Services, a community group that offers social, health and educational programs for youth and their families.
Liz Dustan, PLEA Ridge Meadows Youth Services, said the event shows support for Maple Ridge’s LGBTQ2 community since there’s limited support and mentorship for locals that identify as such.
Last year’s event attracted about 200 people, and Dustan hopes to raise that number to 300 this year.
“A lot of kids have a hard time coming out and being who they are. It’s important to have a space to be who you truly are and to meet other people.”
PLEA Ridge Meadows offers two groups for LGBTQ2 youth: Gen-Out, a weekly drop-in social support group for youth exploring gender and sexuality; and TransSupport, a group offering support for trans youth and providing parents with guidance.
“We make sure it’s a safe and welcoming environment,” added Dustan.
All donations from the BBQ will go to support the Gen-Out group.
• Pride in the Park will run from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.