12th Annual Jasper Pride
April 22 - 25, 2021
The Jasper Pride Festival Society (JPFS) is proud to host the 12th annual Pride Festival in Jasper National Park. Nestled in the world famous Canadian Rockies and UNESCO World Heritage Site, our non-profit festival welcomes LGBTQ+ visitors and members of the community to participate in an exciting four day, winter inspired extravaganza!
In 2020 we were disheartened to cancel our festival due to the covid-19 pandemic. We hosted an online DJ Dance party for everyone to enjoy from the safety of their home and our town was brightened by residents and businesses that decorated in rainbows to show the heart of our community.
Prior to the onset of a global pandemic, the Jasper Pride Festival would play host to over 25 events. Over the last decade the festival has grown from just a few dozen to over 1,200 participants making it one of the largest pride celebrations in Alberta behind Calgary and Edmonton. This would not have been possible without the generosity of over 80 local, regional and national sponsors who support our festival.
In addition to active participants, our festival reaches and engages an LGBTQ+ audience of several thousand through strategic marketing, social media and word of mouth. Geographically, our core visitation comes from Edmonton, Calgary, Prince George, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Saskatchewan, Vancouver and Toronto. We have also welcomed many international visitors from the USA, UK and Germany.
Jasper Businesses: how you can support and participate in this year’s celebration
Meet our Executive:
- Chair: Nick Stadnyk
- Treasurer: Mallory Parcels
- Secretary: Lexi Zarney
Meet our Board:
- Alison Snowball
- Erin Reade
- Erin Steeves
- Lynn Wannop
- Sasha Berrington (Ex-officio member)
Meet our Team:
- Festival Management: Jasper Event Management (Elsa Begrand, Jordan Tucker, Elysia Leochko)
- Webmaster: Cameron Mahler
- Bookkeeping: Leanne Pelletier
Jasper Pride: Proud & Free
To expand on the LGBTQ+ visitation, Tourism Jasper works on campaigns to promote Jasper as an inclusive destination year-round. Every day of every year, Jasper celebrates being Proud & Free. Jasper Pride is so much more than a festival. It's a feeling. An atmosphere. A shared understanding that everyone is welcome exactly as they are.
We will continue to work with high quality entertainment during the four days that represents a celebration of LGBTQ+ communities. Festival artists will be Jasper locals, Albertans and Western Canadians. The Pride Party is our signature theme night which would traditionally host 1,000 participants. In 2021 we will reimagine the festival programming to deliver a COVID-safe experience.
Visitors and locals can enjoy skiing and snowboard at Marmot Basin along with other activities to enjoy the great outdoors of Jasper National Park safely with their cohort.
Our goal is to continue to add investors in this long-standing festival. Jasper Pride has the potential to open doors to exclusive, high-quality events and entertainment that may otherwise not be experienced. Sponsorship is instrumental in moulding the vision of 2021 and beyond. It will allow the JPFS to continue showcasing Jasper as a champion of inclusiveness and diversity. Jasper is a proven leader in LGBTQ+ acceptance throughout Alberta and the world.
Check out recent Jasper Pride Media:
- Our List of the Top 13 Best Gay Ski Weeks in 2021
- The 18 best gay skiing weeks and weekends in the world
- Discover Year-Round Pride in Jasper National Park
- The future of Jasper Pride Festival Society
- Runner Up for Best Gay Ski Week, Top 10
- Winter Pride Events Increase Across Canada
- 2020 LGBTQ+ Ski Guide
- 5 Reasons to Visit Jasper, Canada
- Top Highlights of Jasper
- Jasper Brewing Releasing Glitter Beer for Jasper Pride
Some recent influencers who attended Jasper Pride:
- @angelisborges - 136K followers
- @asianmapleleaf – 30K followers
- @coupleofmen – 51.4K followers
- @immrfabulous - 5,810 followers
- @kristen_mckenzie - 123K followers
- @laurenholsen - 118K followers
- @mikesbloggity – 25.9K followers
- @sleclair09 – 89.7K followers
- @vicovolkov – 929K followers
LGBTQ2+ Travel Market Facts:
Source: Travel Gay Canada
Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers spend $8.5 billion/yr on travel. 49% ($4.2 billion/yr) is spent travelling within Canada.
- LGBT travelers invest nearly twice as much on travel than others.
- LGBT travelers go on 5 trips/yr on average.
- LGBT travelers are loyal and will return if experience was positive.
Jasper Pride Visitor Facts:
Source: 2019 Jasper Pride post-festival survey
Economic impact in Jasper from the 2019 Pride Festival was $550,000. 2020 festival was cancelled due to covid-19.
- 32% of participants spent up to $1,000 during their stay in Jasper.
- 59% of participants surveyed spent between $100-$200/night on accommodations
- 42% of participants surveyed stayed at least three nights in Jasper.