KELOWNA, B.C. — The mayor of a city in B.C.'s picturesque Okanagan Valley has turned an insult into his own proud, tongue-in-cheek persona.
Colin Basran, now known as Kelowna's "Sugarplum Mayor," is working with the city's Young Professionals Collective to host a Sugarplum Ball on July 9 to show support for the region's LGBTQ community.
The event comes one year after the city installed a rainbow crosswalk at a downtown intersection in an effort to promote inclusion.
But while the crosswalk had unanimous support from city council, it gained unexpected backlash from a few residents.
In an online forum, one community member referred to "Mayor Sugarplum" in an effort to insult Basran for supporting the installation of the crosswalk. The comment had the opposite effect.
"I actually found it kind of funny and I kind of liked it," Basran said.
Recognizing the opportunity to increase support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, Basran said the Okanagan Pride Society approached him with the idea of hosting a Sugarplum Ball.
MORE National ARTICLES
Crown To Cross-examine Father Charged In Child's Meningitis Death
David Stephan, 32, and his wife Collet, 35, are charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life for their son Ezekiel in March 2012.
Crown To Cross-examine Father Charged In Child's Meningitis Death
Charities Directorate Flags Suspected Terrorist Financing Cases For Senators
The audit materials provided to the committee should give senators a sense of the complexity of the revenue agency's work, said Cathy Hawara, director general of the charities directorate.
Charities Directorate Flags Suspected Terrorist Financing Cases For Senators
IMF Cuts Canada's Growth Estimates For 2016, 2017 As Part Of Global Trend
The IMF is now projecting Canada's economy to grow by 1.5 per cent this year and by 1.9 per cent next year.
IMF Cuts Canada's Growth Estimates For 2016, 2017 As Part Of Global Trend
State Of Emergency Lifted After Fish Plant Destroyed By Fire In Newfoundland
BAY DE VERDE, N.L. — The mayor of a Newfoundland town that saw its sprawling fish plant burn to the ground has lifted a state of emergency.
State Of Emergency Lifted After Fish Plant Destroyed By Fire In Newfoundland
Tories Urge Minister To Return Money From Fundraiser With Toronto Lawyers
Jody Wilson-Raybould attended the $500-a-head evening with lawyers at Torys LLP, a prominent Bay Street law firm.
Tories Urge Minister To Return Money From Fundraiser With Toronto Lawyers
Loblaw To Open 50 New Stores This Year, Renovate More Than 150 Others This Year
Loblaw says that overall, it will build about 50 new stores and renovate 150 existing ones, including projects that started in January.