Vancouver Island Pride at Mount Washington

Second annual Vancouver Island Pride (VIP) returns to Mount Washington 

Leaping into Pride – Mount Washington to host the second annual Vancouver Island Pride

Building on the success of last year’s family friendly pride festival on Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington, the weekend event returns on Friday, February 28th and 29th welcoming the second annual LGBTQ snow sports weekend known as VIP – Vancouver Island Pride.

Internationally renowned drag performer, The unstoppable Conni Smudge, returns bringing daytime family friendly entertainment and night time naughtiness to the snowy alpine village within the stunning Strathcona Provincial Park and Ski Resort.

“We are thrilled to have the award winning and notorious Conni Smudge back at this year’s VIP celebrations. We will be leaping into 2020 with much excitement and renewed joy knowing Conni is our hostess for the weekend. Families love her! We had so many people of all ages come up to Conni to get photos, to dance, to hug and to sing together,” explains Dean Nelson, Executive Producer for Vancouver Island Pride and LGBTQ Travel specialist. “Conni is the perfect artist to host this diverse audience as she has a warm, approachable nature along with her digestible glamour will be perfect for the VIP weekend.”

The VIP Leaping into Pride line up includes:

Friday, February 28, 2020

• 10AM – 12PM – Complimentary VIP Ski/Snowboard Guide Program
• 3PM – 6PM – VIP Après Ski – Happy Hour at Ted’s
• 8PM – Late – VIP Talent Show hosted by the Unstoppable Conni Smudge & MegaStar Live Karaoke

Saturday, February 29, 2020

• 10AM – 12PM – Complimentary VIP Ski/Snowboard Guide Program
• 12PM – 2PM – VIP BBQ on the Mountain
• 2PM – 3PM – VIP Charity Ski/Snowboard Race
• 3PM – 3:30PM – VIP Costume Pride Ski Parade
• 3PM – 6PM – VIP Après Ski – Happy Hour at Ted’s
• 8PM – 9PM – VIP Drag Bingo hosted by the Unstoppable Conni Smudge
• 9PM – Late – LEAPing into 2020 with the Unstoppable Conni Smudge Drag show & MegaStar Live Dance Party

“Mount Washington is thrilled to host Vancouver Island Pride for the second year. As a community oriented mountain, we believe in fostering inclusivity throughout our programs and events,” said Mount Washington spokesperson Kayla Stockton, “We are excited to continue to grow Pride as annual on-mountain event for the Vancouver Island communities in the years to come.”

In addition to the evening programming the weekend will also have daily activities to participate in including complimentary weekend Pride Ski Guiding, a charity ski race, Pride + Costume ski parade, fat mountain biking, Nordic skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing and special learn to ski/ride Pride group lessons.

For more information on Vancouver Island Pride including full event listings please visit VIPwinter.ca

Call 1.844.823.7697 ask for Promo Code: VIP20 for special Slope-side Pride Rates or visit VIPwinter.ca/accommodation for this and other Comox Valley Ski + Stay Packages.

About Vancouver Island Pride:

Vancouver Island Pride is an annual LGBTQ winter event celebrating diversity on and off the slopes at Mt. Washington Alpine Resort in the heart of the Comox Valley. Combining skiing, snowboarding, Fat Bike (snow mountain biking), Inner Tubing, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing along with quality Après Ski and evening programming. All genders and sexuality are welcomed regardless of where one identifies on the spectrum.

ABOUT DEPARTURES BY DEAN – Go beyond the ordinary.

Departures by Dean (an independent agent with Personal Travel Management – BC Reg. 2806) is an LGBTQ travel specialist led by Dean Nelson offering curated adventures across the globe for the LGBTQ community and its allies. For thirteen years, Dean was the face of the award-winning Whistler Pride and Ski Festival, founder of the 2010 Olympic Pride House pavilion, and Co-Founder of Mr. Gay World. He has marched in over 30 Pride events worldwide and in 2018 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law from Thompson Rivers University for his work in LGBTQ Tourism and human rights. The IGLTA – International Gay Lesbian Travel Association also recognized Dean with a “Pioneer Award” for his work in LGBTQ Tourism. Dean also helps build inclusive environments in hotels and resorts as a LGBT consultant for the tourism industry and diversity facilitator with the Canadian Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

ABOUT MOUNT WASHINGTON

Mount Washington Alpine Resort is located just 30 minutes from the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and hosts over 300,000 visits per year.  In the winter guests enjoy five chairlifts, and five carpet lifts accessing over 1,700 acres and 1,657 vertical feet of alpine terrain.  The resort also has 55 kilometers of designated cross-country skiing and 25km of snowshoeing trails along with a dedicated Nordic lodge.  For special slope-side accommodation rates call 1.888.231.1499 quote: VIP20

Off-island visitors can use WestJet, Air Canada, Central Mountain Air, and Pacific Coastal Airlines which provide air service to the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) or they can fly right into Comox Marina via Harbour Air.  Additional carriers serving the Victoria Airport (YYJ) includes Alaska Airlines out of Seattle.

CONTACT: Dean Nelson | Executive Producer
PHONE: 778-829-9747
EMAIL: dean@departuresXdean.com  WEBSITE: vipwinter.ca