Big Gay BBQ 6: THANK YOU!

Post published:May 10, 2026
Post category:Events

To everyone who attended our 6th annual Big Gay BBQ on Saturday, May 9, 2026: thanks to your support, we raised $1,000 for QMUNITY! The Unifor Local 111 Pride Committee started the Big Gay BBQ in 2021 just as a way to build solidarity within our local. We’ve kept it going because we saw how much many members appreciated the opportunity to be in a safe, accepting space where everyone is welcome! On Saturday (and in past years too) we welcomed members of other unions who also expressed their gratitude at being able to attend a fun, friendly, and inviting union event. The solidarity was strong. Our first Big Gay BBQ was on a sunny day in September 2021, but we decided to move it to May the next year and use it as an opportunity to raise awareness and support of something important to our community: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. This is celebrated globally on May 17 to mark the day in 1990 when homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization. Qmunity, the organization we often choose to support with donations, is a cornerstone organization in our community that does so much important work, from youth programs to seniors’ programs to legal assistance. Based in Vancouver, they work their hardest to spread their resources as much as possible across the province of BC. Once again, thank you to everyone for your support on Saturday and over the last six…

Big Gay BBQ™ 5: Rainbow Nation

Post published:February 10, 2025
Post category:

Welcome back to our FIFTH instalment of the annual Big Gay BBQ™! We are delighted by the ever growing support and excitement for this event year after year. The Big Gay BBQ™ is intended to raise awareness for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, which falls on May 17 every year. We hold our BBQ a week early because May 17 is a long weekend, and people tend to go camping and be out of town. Join us on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 11am to 2pm at the Lower Hume Park Picnic Area in New Westminster (by car, enter where North Road becomes East Columbia Street, north of Holmes Street; 660 EAST Columbia Street). The park is easily accessible from Braid Skytrain Station and is also serviced by the 109 bus! Just make sure you are navigating to LOWER Hume Park Picnic Area! The walk from Braid Station is about 15 minutes (10 minutes if you're Gay™ ;). While the event is technically free, we have a tradition of collecting donations on-site which are given to Saige Community Food Bank and Rainbow Refugee! Donations are cash only at the event, and any amount is welcomed! Please RSVP by clicking the "GOING" button near the bottom of the page so we can get a sense of how much food we need! See you there!

International Day of Pink

Post published:April 12, 2023
Post category:Events

Today is International Day of Pink, an anti-bullying and anti-homophobia initiative held during the second week of April each year. Day of Pink has the same origins as Canada's federally recognized Pink Shirt Day in February, except its focus remains on issues specific to the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Today, and every day, make sure you stand up for your coworkers, friends, and family and denounce hateful speech, actions, and attitudes.

Local 111 Pride Committee Meeting 2023-03-07

Post published:March 7, 2023
Post category:Meetings

Local 111 Pride Committee Meeting 2023-01-19

Post published:January 19, 2023
Post category:Meetings

Bathroom Survey

Post published:May 24, 2022
Post category:Projects

The Unifor Local 111 Pride Committee's bathroom survey is now live! As you may be aware, TransLink is already working on plans to change the way bathrooms are designed across the system. They didn't exactly consult their employees on this, so the Pride Committee intends to collect data to present to TransLink to influence their decisions on the process. We encourage you to share your feedback on the sometimes troubling experience of using the bathroom at work. The survey is anonymous, and your personally identifying information will not be shared with TransLink or anyone else outside the Pride Committee.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia

Post published:May 17, 2022
Post category:Events

Every year on May 17, we celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. This is often shorted to IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT. The day was created to mark the World Health Organization's (WHO) important step to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder on May 17, 1990. More than 30 years later, it is still an important occasion on which we call on local authorities, politicians, decision-markers, and the general public to recognize, support, and advance the rights of queer people around the world. This year, as we have done for many years now, the Unifor Local 111 Pride Committee attended Qmunity's annual IDAHOT Breakfast fundraiser to mark the annual event.