This is part of a series of stories celebrating the 60th anniversary of Big White Ski Resort
Everyone is welcome and celebrated on the slopes of the Big White Ski Resort.
Each year Big White hosts a Pride celebration to uplift and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ ski and snowboard community.
The weekend of festivities features family-friendly day activities as well as a colourful nightlife.
Many queer folks do not feel represented or welcome in outdoor spaces, like a ski hill, making the celebrations an important step in breaking the down barriers to inclusion.
Alex Wood-Seems, is a ski coach at Big White in addition to being a founding member of Queer Climbing 麻豆精选, a climbing group that provides safe and inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks in the Okanagan.
鈥淨ueer friendly spaces in the outdoors is not something I had very much of while growing up,鈥� said Wood-Seems.
He now works to create the a sense of community and acceptance in the mountains that he lacked as a youth.
鈥淭hese spaces are very important for belonging in the sport,鈥� said Wood-Seems.
By holding the Pride weekend festival and regular 2SLGBTQIA+ events, Big White hopes to encourage all people to get out and have fun in the snow.
In addition to the annual Pride parade, Big White has partnered with 麻豆精选鈥檚 Bridge outreach organization to hold the Pride Card Shark activity. All proceeds from Card Sharks are donated to the Bridge to fund its Etcetera youth program.
Etcetera is a weekly program where youth ages 11-18 who identify as 2SLGBT2QIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, 2 Spirit, Intersex, Pansexual鈥tcetera) and their allies can meet supportive peers in a safe and fun environment.
In 2017, Kelsey Serwa, a home-grown Olympic gold and silver medallist, two-time Winter X Games champion and World Champion led the Pride Parade at Big White.
鈥淚鈥檓 a strong believer in following your heart. Love does not need to be restricted by gender, race or sexual identity.鈥�
Serwa began her career on the slopes of Big White at the age of two and continues to call the mountain home. She is a champion of inclusion and now works as a physiotherapist to help people remove barriers to accessing the activities that they love.
In addition to the annual weekend of rainbow flags and fun, events like drag performances and games nights are held at the Global bar located in the village throughout the winter.
