'I’m doing 20 Prides on 7 continents — this Canadian ski resort does things differently'

Hi everyone – my name's Kate and I'm a social media journalist at Metro UK! I wanted to share a really exciting project being taken on by Calum McSwiggan: 20 Prides in 7 continents.

For his first stop, he took to Whistler Pride in British Colombia – the first Pride march of the year – and wrote about his experience:

'We’re gathered halfway up Whistler Mountain – the centre point of the largest ski resort in North America – preparing to ski a giant rainbow flag down to the revellers waiting at the bottom,' Calum writes.

'People go flying as snowboards immediately collide; it’s the kind of disorganised chaos that makes you wonder who’s in charge of health and safety, and as I watch it all unfold, I can’t help but feel like it may be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever witnessed. Ridiculous but beautiful, because as bonkers as this all is, I’m so proud to be a part of it. And Pride is what this celebration is all about.'

The celebration began in 1992 as a small gathering of queer ski enthusiasts has grown into something so much bigger. Whistler Pride is now a week-long celebration that welcomes 3,000 LGBT+ visitors from more than 30 countries across the globe.

Calum writes that Whistler Pride was a 'welcome reminder' of the importance of queer joy: 'In many places in the world, Pride is still a protest, but here in Canada, they’re privileged enough to shift the focus to one of joyous celebration.'

You can read more about his experience here: https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/03/im-20-prides-7-continents-this-canadian-ski-resort-things-differently-22458111/