Much to the delight of the Royal City Pride Society, it wasn't only the sunshine that came out to this year's Pride festivities.
Organizers of the fourth annual event say the change in weather really helped bring people out to the Pride Week events - especially the Pride in the Park festival held at Tipperary Park on Saturday, which had crowds gathered throughout the entire event, said Shelly Reinhart, president of the Pride society.
"People weren't leaving. The front of the stage was packed with people," she said.
Reinhart credits the festival's success to the wide variety of entertainers on stage.
In addition to the headliner - a Rod Stewart cover artist - there were drag performers and bands.
"People were really enjoying the entertainment lineup we had this year," she said. "We really took a lot of time to figure out our demographic and try and appeal to a real different segment."
Reinhart acknowledged the New Westminster Pride Week events were competing with the Quayside festival, the opening of the PNE and Vancouver's Zombie Walk, but despite this, the turnout was quite good.
"I'd say we probably had numbers similar to what we had last year," she said.
Reinhart added that more than 100 people turned out for the Hills and Heels march to city hall, including many straight allies and their families.
"It (Pride) just had a really nice energy," she said. "Everybody always tells me they feel so included in New West Pride. They always feel like they're very cared for and that who they are matters to us, and that's been the recurring theme every year."
Reinhart was especially glad to see so many young families out enjoying the festivities.
"It really touches my heart when I see that there are progressive families that are teaching their children that love is love, that inspires me," she said. "This is why we're doing what we're doing. We teach by example."
New Westminster's 2013 Pride Week was in support of the local food bank, and this year's events raised $300 for the bank while also collecting more than 400 pounds of food.
"I just wanted people to know that their contributions were really appreciated," she added. All in all, Fifty Shades of Pride was a success, and Reinhart was happy with the community's response.
"People came up to me and said, 'You know, we've enjoyed all the other Prides, but this one, you guys outdid yourselves,' and I was very, very pleased," she added.
www.twitter.com/cayleydobie
