Nanaimo Pride Festival
Client:
Nanaimo Pride Society (Community Contribution)
Sector:
Community Events, Festivals, Nonprofit, Arts & Culture
Services Provided:
Festival strategy, planning, and production
Accessibility and inclusion strategy
Operations oversight: security, permits, first aid, tech, waste, and more
Team building: vendors, food trucks, stage and entertainment, and volunteers
On-site logistics and guest experience support
What We Did:
As lead producer of the 2025 Nanaimo Pride Festival, Lauren drew on years of experience organizing the event (2016–2018, 2023–2026) to deliver the city’s largest one-day festival—drawing more than 10,000 attendees. This year’s festival raised the bar with a bold, equity-focused approach to inclusion and accessibility.
Building on feedback from disabled and neurodivergent community members, Lauren led the planning and implementation of new sitewide access features: from ASL interpretation, accessible washrooms, and dietary signage, to mask-only seating, sensory supports, and a Safe Space Crew trained to provide real-time care.
Behind the scenes, they built and managed a collaborative team responsible for every major festival element—vendors, entertainment, logistics, volunteers, and more—ensuring the event remained rooted in joy, community, and care.
Why It Mattered:
Pride isn’t just a celebration—it’s a statement of belonging. As the city’s flagship queer event, Nanaimo Pride Festival has a responsibility to welcome everyone. This work demonstrated how accessibility and inclusion can be deeply integrated into festival planning—not as an afterthought, but as a foundation. The result was a safer, more joyful, and more meaningful experience for thousands of community members, families, and visitors.
Lauren's Role:
Lauren served as lead producer, accessibility coordinator, and site manager. They:
Developed the overall event strategy and site plan
Built and led teams for entertainment, security, first aid, vendors, tech, and permits
Coordinated access initiatives and trained Safe Space Crew volunteers
Managed communications, operations, and guest experience before and during the event
Impact:
10,000+ in attendance with no major incidents.
Significant access upgrades: ASL interpretation, sensory safe tent, mask-only zones, accessible washrooms, and mobility routes.
Safe Space Crew and community care stations to support attendees in real-time.
18+ diverse food vendors and trucks, with clear dietary signage.
Most robust volunteer crew and programming in the festival’s history.
Improved communication around access, schedules, and event navigation.
Lessons & Insights:
Pride without access isn’t pride at all.
Accessibility is what transforms a public event into a place where everyone feels they belong—not just invited, but included. This festival proved that prioritizing access doesn’t limit the experience, it deepens it. True inclusion in queer community means making room for every body, every mind, and every way of showing up.
"The 2025 Nanaimo Pride Festival was the best example of accessibility I have seen in a community celebration. From an accessible parade route and a venue in an accessible park, to shaded areas, free water stations, food options with clear signage for dietary needs, and fidget tools — every element reflected how deeply Lauren loves the community. Accessibility wasn’t an add-on, it was built into the festival: quiet spaces, water play areas, first aid and mental health resources, accessible washrooms, and health and safety education were all seamlessly integrated. She truly went all out to make sure everyone could participate equitably, and when new needs were identified — like an adult change table — they immediately committed to working on them for next year. Her consideration, leadership, and vision set a new standard for what inclusive community celebration can be."
– Lexa Bergen, Photographer and Disability Advocate
