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Small Town Pride: Film & Discussion
Saturday March 23 @ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1 pm: Film: Small Town Pride
Join us for a showing of this Canadian documentary, an intimate look at the joys and challenges of being queer in a small town, following LGBTQ2S+ people and allies as they prepare for their local Pride celebrations. Co-written and directed by Bowen-born and raised Riley Sparks!
2 pm: Discussion led by Leah Gregg
Bowen Island local, Leah Gregg, will lead a conversation on “What can Bowen Island do to better support our LGBTQ2S+ community?” and “What could community Pride events look like on Bowen Island?”
Come for the film (1 pm-2 pm) and/or the discussion afterward—whatever works for you.
Members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, their families, friends, allies, and all interested community members are encouraged to share thoughts and listen to others’ after the film.
Want to Put on a Pride Event on Bowen Island?
If you’re interested in seeing all-ages Pride events happen on Bowen, or want to be involved in their creation, this is a great opportunity to meet others who want the same. You’ll also meet members of the Literacy Task Group, a group of local non-profits interested in supporting Pride events on Bowen. They will be present to hear your visions for Pride on Bowen, and share information about funding that is available.
- Read the Bowen Island Undercurrent submission about this event
- Watch Small Town Pride on CBC Gem
About the Film
Small Town Pride (2021, 60 minutes) offers an intimate look at the joys and challenges of being queer in a small town. Filmed in Alberta, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories, the film follows LGBTQ2S+ people and allies as they prepare for their local Pride celebrations. Organizing in church basements, classrooms and around kitchen tables, they take on a conservative town council that won’t fly a rainbow flag and bend some rules to create a safe space for youth to come out. But despite experiences of isolation and discrimination, they love their communities and strive to make them places where everyone, no matter who and how they love, can live and thrive. Directed by Riley Sparks and Chelle Turingan. This film is not rated for audience.
About Leah Gregg
Leah Gregg is an enthusiasm enthusiast, champion of positivity, and purveyor of silliness.
Leah is passionate about positive social change and inclusive communities. She’s worked in advertising, hosted conferences, and most recently as a “Park Daddy” in Crippen Regional Park. She also volunteers with the Bowen Island Trail Society and the Bowen Island Community Foundation.
When she’s not working, you’ll find Leah walking pups Miso Baby and Honey Buns, playing second base for the Basecombers, or on a bike ride with her awesome wife Jen.
About the Literacy Task Group
The Bowen Island Literacy Task Group is made up of representatives from a number of local organizations that support literacy. The vision and mandate for our community-minded group includes:
- the promotion of life-long learning and literacy skills through education;
- the fostering of social emotional well-being of all Bowen community members from preschooler to senior; and
- the embracing and sustainable support of what makes our community uniquely special.
We work toward collectively supporting a community that is inclusive, respectful and responsive to the diverse needs of a wide range of members by providing support to existing educationally-based on-island programs and to new programs as well.
