With the unfortunate “We Unify” conference happening this weekend (June 22-23) at the Victoria Conference Center (VCC), we want to be transparent about the role of Victoria Pride Society (VPS) in this issue and our upcoming booking for an event at the VCC as well. Please see below for context.
The VCC is a City of Victoria-owned building but it is managed by Destination Greater Victoria (DGV). The conference used a third party to book the venue which means they did not state the content of the conference, the speakers, or even the name of the conference during booking.
Regrettably, DGV does not vet potential occupants for social impact; it only vets for financial viability and other such things. Once approved by DGV, they pass the contract to the VCC and are no longer able to legally make changes to the contract. Unfortunately, it seems the VCC is not able to have a say in whom they host once DGV has already approved it. The City of Victoria (CoV) is seemingly not consulted on occupants; rather, DGV is supposed to abide by the CoV’s current bills and Code of Conduct, which have policies against events such as the We Unify conference.
Several city councillors from the CoV have been in touch with the Victoria Pride Society’s president, Ace Mann, and have voiced their outrage towards the event. The CoV has policies already in place that were supposed to stop events such as We Unify to come to “Victoria,” policies which deserve review, especially in light of this conference.
Ace also met with DGV's CEO and discussed the possibility of canceling the event and how DGV can strengthen its vetting process going forward, namely by including social impact as a criterion for vetting.
It seems that VCC has a legally binding contract requiring them to continue to host the We Unify conference despite their disapproval of it. We have heard that the staff there are upset and finding it difficult to staff the event, as many are protesting as well.
Ace has been working closely with some of the members of the group 1 Million Voices for Inclusion (1MVFI). VPS has been amplifying their efforts and staying in close communication as information continues to evolve. 1MVFI is planning a protest on Saturday, June 22nd, at 9 a.m. at the VCC's Douglas entrance, and we encourage everyone to attend if they are able to do so safely.
Ace is also working to connect CoV, DGV, and the VCC to find a path forward that will ensure this type of event can never happen again.
Regrettably, VPS has our only ticketed event booked through the VCC. This event, including down payments, contracts, and planning, has been finalized for many months. With our event happening two weeks from now, we do not have the ability to move venues due to financial and legal liabilities. Additionally, many speakers, vendors, and staff have been booked for the amenities of this venue, and changing venues would negatively affect many people in our community who are looking to this event for income.
We truly hope that people from the communities will understand the unfortunate situation and help us to uplift and appreciate the incredible voices of the poets, writers, speakers, and vendors who deserve a successful event.
VPS is a non-profit organization that requires grants and the generosity of sponsors and community members to operate. We provide the largest free festival in “Victoria.” All events, save Pride in the Word, are free to attend for participants.
The Pride in the Word event is not a revenue stream for VPS and generally does not bring in any funding. Each year, the goal is to break even. We continue to arrange this event because it is the largest queer literary event in Western “Canada” and there is a small but dedicated group that attends year after year.
VPS became "partners" with DGV in 2023 which means we accepted a small donation from them as well as help in marketing. We have paused their 2024 partnership agreement and are reviewing it to reflect the impact this mistake has had on our communities.
VPS also receives funding from the CoV, without which we could not offer our free festival or parade. We were not able to alter the partnership for 2024 as it had already been signed and was legally binding by the time this event came to light.
The VCC is not a partner.
People make mistakes. Booking this event is a big one. There is much that can be done by all three parties—DGV, CoV, and the VCC—to tighten policies and improve procedures to make sure these events no longer fall through the cracks.
It’s also important to note that people with hateful commentary are aware that they will not be welcomed and are using false names in order to book venues. The Vic Theatre on Douglas had an issue earlier this year with a similar situation. We must all learn from these mistakes and work to ensure we pivot as quickly as hate does.
The Victoria Pride Society acknowledges that it organizes and works on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen Peoples and that the land’s relationships with the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples have existed since time immemorial. Further to this acknowledgement, the Victoria Pride Society affirms that colonialism and the attitudes and practices that have accompanied it contribute to systemic discrimination and violence against Indigenous Peoples and all marginalized and equity-deserving people. Read more.
