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
Police Investigate After Black Lives Matter Protest At Ontario Premier's House
Toronto police are investigating at the home of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne after protesters with the Black Lives Matter group staged a vigil at her private residence Thursday night.
Police Investigate After Black Lives Matter Protest At Ontario Premier's House
Ontario Father Found Not Criminally Responsible In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Backyard Stabbing
The 38-year-old London, Ont., man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his child, was charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of the little girl.
Ontario Father Found Not Criminally Responsible In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Backyard Stabbing
Ottawa Man And Friend Escape Two Yukon Avalanches While Backcountry Skiing
Goulet, 44, said he and six friends were backcountry skiing Wednesday at Log Cabin Mountain, 180 kilometres south of Whitehorse near the B.C.-Alaska boundary, when two avalanches struck.
Ottawa Man And Friend Escape Two Yukon Avalanches While Backcountry Skiing
First-Degree Murder Charge Reinstated In Case Of Toronto Sex Worker's Death
Ontario's top court on Thursday ordered a man to stand trial for first-degree murder in the case of a woman found dead with semen in her mouth.
First-Degree Murder Charge Reinstated In Case Of Toronto Sex Worker's Death
Why Police Costs Across Canada Are Rising Despite Sinking Crime Rate
While communities across the country grapple with police budgets that in some cases are eating up to 50 per cent of their operating budgets, solutions to what's become a perennial headache have proven elusive.
Why Police Costs Across Canada Are Rising Despite Sinking Crime Rate
April Fools' Day: Abbotsford, Surrey And New West Police Pull Some Hilarious Pranks
Police in Abbotsford, Surrey And New West had some fun with April Fools' Day by announcing their newest traffic-safety initiative targeting distracted drivers in the British Columbia cities