Premier Christy Clark will miss New West Pride

by Matthew Burrows on Aug 10, 2011 at 4:28 pm
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Christy Clark.
Stephen Hui

For the second time in two weeks, summer vacation will prevent Premier Christy Clark from showing up at a Pride event.

This time, she will miss the second annual New West Pride, running Thursday to Sunday (August 11 to 14).

“She’s been away,” Hector Bremner, the vice president and communications chair for the New Westminster B.C. Liberal Constituency Association, told the Straight by phone. “She was back for a couple of days and now she’s off again. She’s been pushing it really hard since before Christmas. I actually worked on her [leadership] campaign and so I know she has been burning the candle at both ends since before Christmas.”

Royal City Pride Society organizers extended Clark an invitation, Bremner confirmed. He claimed Vancouver Pride organizers did not invite Clark to the July 31 parade in downtown Vancouver, where B.C. Liberals, including the premier, pulled a no-show.

“So I think next year—obviously it was a learning exercise for everybody—and obviously the premier wants to be there in support, and I think that everybody will make sure that that happens,” Bremner said, later adding that “several B.C. Liberal MLAs” will be in attendance this weekend in New West.

The Royal City Pride Society’s president said one of the 2011 highlights is a Hills & Heels Fundraiser on Saturday starting at noon. Participants will race from Columbia Street up Sixth Street in high heels.

“They did it last year,” Andre Hall told the Straight. “It didn’t take them long. It only took about 15 minutes for them to walk up.”

Retiring New Westminster NDP MLA Dawn Black said she might take part in the walk.

“Well, I’m not sure I’ve got the stamina to climb up that hill in a pair of high heels,” Black told the Straight. “I haven’t worn high heels in an awful long time. If I could do it in sandals, I might do it, or Nikes or something like that. But, good God, that’s a test of endurance. Have you seen the hills in New Westminster?”

Black will be joined at the event by Vancouver–West End NDP MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert.

“I’ve got friends out in New West, and they call New West ”˜the New West End’ ”, Chandra-Herbert said by phone. “So maybe I have to go check out that New West End and tell them that New West is nice but the West End is the real West End.”

Long-time Vancouver Pride Society board member Barb Snelgrove is stage MC, and the event headliner is Aussie-Canadian duo Sugarbeach.

Comments (8) Add New Comment
Fuzzywuzzy
Aug 11, 2011 at 10:10 am
Where does it say that politicians have to be present at a pride event?
who fuggin' cares.
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Arthur Vandelay
Aug 11, 2011 at 12:02 pm
With the Libs in a fight to the death to backstop the right flank in their party from the Christian crusaders of John Cummins, don't expect to see Christy or any prominent Liberals shakin' the leather clad booties at a pride parade any time soon.
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tim.
Aug 11, 2011 at 12:28 pm
bc's rob ford.

alllright... i'm embarassed for us all.
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Emil
Aug 11, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Hills and Heels is a fundraiser and a highlight of the event???My My what a thrilling event they are holding. Did everyone that gets invitation have to attend? I hope not
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Matthew Burrows
Aug 11, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Emil:

Only one way to find out how good Hills and Heels is: 1-800-GOT-HEEL(S)?

Matt
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buzz
Aug 12, 2011 at 9:34 am
I'm sure she will miss hundreds of parades throughout BC this year. What's your point???
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Ken in Saanich
Aug 12, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Well, Ms Clark certainly has many groups and their supporters wishing her to attend their functions. Thought she was Miss Photo Op. On holidays,after 3 or 4 month's of unelected fearless leading. Unpaid leave? Finally I am still laughing from the comment by a certain author, that she is just a former fearless leader in drag. Editorial cartoonists will not lack material from the Queen of Flip Flop. If i I was to hold a parade, I would invite her along as long as she brought baby HST and The Sickman. Would I charge admission? Yes but no HST.
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Point of Order
Aug 12, 2011 at 8:22 pm
While I agree that it is not writtten in stone that anyone must appear at a pride parade.... I also agree that Christy will likely miss several community events this year..... but that being said, it appears to be a simple case of catering more to the shall we say "Conservative" folks in BC. I doubt that Christy is so dumb (or at least I hope not) as to be thinking that she's gonna "Catch Gay", but she does politically come from the more conservative side of the spectrum. Lets face it, if you want to have politicians show up to your event you gotta expect that the ones that will willing show are the one more in line with your ideology. I'm sure Spencer Chandra Herbert attends several prides a year (but not all of them) and I expect that he doesn't attend too many Conservative Church Barbeques. I'm not defending Christy's position.... who knows what evil lurks in her mind, but lets look at this thing with a little clarity. I would think that in her position she should make the effort to attend one pride parade just as a matter of course. I'm not gay, but I would attend one anyways just to appear as if I'm trying to be even handed and recognize that the Pride community are a distinct part of our larger society. In light of that thought I would expect that politically speaking, the Vancouver Pride parade represented a missed opportunity... had she attended the largest parade, nearest to the riding that she represents, she'd be off the hook with all the folks in the smaller regional ones including New west.
No politician can live in a bubble and avoid contact with those in our society that they may personally feel uncomfortable around. Too bad, so sad... you wanted the job.... now bend over.
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