Qummunity Connections VIP Charity Ski Race
Vancouver Island Pride announces this year’s Charity
Qummunity Connections ready to shred it at the Second Annual Vancouver Island Pride at Mount Washington
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 (Mt. Washington, BC) - Vancouver Island Pride is thrilled to announce that the proceeds of the second annual winter pride event on Mount Washington will benefit Qummunity Connections. Qummunity Connections is a weekly meet-up for young people ages 15-30 in the LGBTQ2s+ community, residing in the Comox Valley and managed by the local non profit, Wachiay Friendship Centre.
The Wachiay Friendship Centre’s mandate is to provide services and support to the urban Aboriginal population in the Comox Valley Regional District. Wachiay is an inclusive organization with programming that is available to all people regardless of gender, sexuality and ethnicities.
Dean Nelson, executive producer of Vancouver Island Pride, explains “… working with a local non profit, like Qummunity Connections, gives us the ability to help provide a venue for visibility and fund raising for the group. It is important for us to help support our local communities in making tomorrow safer and more inclusive regardless of where one identifies on the gender and sexual orientation spectrum.”
The primary fund raising activity at the Vancouver Island Pride is the annual Charity Ski Race on Saturday, February 29th from 2PM - 3PM at Mount Washington Alpine Resort. “We encourage everyone to donate generously. The Race course is accessible to all skiing/riding abilities and we have some incredible prizes to be won including spa treatments at the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa and a getaway package with Old House Hotel and Spa.”
Youth Engagement Coordinator at Wachiay Friendship Centre and programming lead for Qummunity Connections, Jennifer Corbett, shares the reason for having events like Vancouver Island Pride “… Our goal is to support youth that express diversity and/or are exploring their identities through inclusion and empowerment in a safe environment. By bringing together a group of young people, unified in their own “qummunity,” our intention is to help break through barriers that lead to segregation and disconnect. With the support and guidance of their peers and role models, young folks in the valley are provided with resources, support, education, and empowerment that were previously unavailable. Since the group began in December 2019 we have seen this small community rise up and welcome us with open arms. We are profoundly grateful for the support from organizations all over BC, including VIP [Vancouver Island Pride], in the short time since we have launched. We hope these relationships and our youth will continue to inspire and educate communities around the beauty of diversity.”
The VIP Leaping into Pride line up includes:
10AM - 12PM - Complimentary VIP Ski/Snowboard Guide Program
3PM - 6PM - VIP Après Ski - Happy Hour at Ted's
3:30PM - 9PM - Night Skiing/Riding at Mt. Washington (Whiskey Jack Chair)
8PM - Late - VIP Talent Show hosted by the unstoppable Conni Smudge & MegaStar Live Karaoke
10AM - 12PM - Complimentary VIP Ski/Snowboard Guide Program
12PM - 2PM - VIP BBQ on the Mountain
2PM - 3PM - VIP Charity Ski/Snowboard Race benefiting Qummunity Connections
3PM - 3:30PM - VIP Costume Pride Ski Parade
3PM - 6PM - VIP Après Ski - Happy Hour at Ted’s
3:30PM - 9PM - Night Skiing/Riding at Mt. Washington (Whiskey Jack Chair)
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
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.
Follow + tag us on social #VIP20MyMW
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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. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional territories of the Pentlach and K’omoks Coast Salish People on whose territories we live, work, and volunteer.
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
Summer activities at Mount Washington include lift-accessed mountain biking, a quad bungee trampoline, scenic chairlift rides, disc golf, miniature golf, boardwalk chess and checkers, shopping and dining as well as the NEW Eagle’s Flight ZipTour built throughout spring/summer 2019. The resort also plays host to over 40 weddings per year plus numerous group and corporate events.
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). 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
