Close X
Saturday, October 12, 2024
ADVT 
National

'Sugarplum' Kelowna Mayor Turns Insult Into An Opportunity To Support LGBTQ Community

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Jul, 2016 01:45 PM
    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

    Surrey’s New Police Officer Arrests Wanted Langley Auto Thief

    Surrey’s New Police Officer Arrests Wanted Langley Auto Thief
    Charged in this incident is 52 year old Langley resident, Dean WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS, known to police, has been charged with Theft over $5000 and Possession of stolen property over $5000.

    Surrey’s New Police Officer Arrests Wanted Langley Auto Thief

    Cartoon Of Dead Syrian Toddler In Controversial French Newspaper Charlie Hebdo Draws Outrage

    Cartoon Of Dead Syrian Toddler In Controversial French Newspaper Charlie Hebdo Draws Outrage
    Tima Kurdi took to Twitter to criticize the controversial French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo for its depiction of two-year-old Alan Kurdi.

    Cartoon Of Dead Syrian Toddler In Controversial French Newspaper Charlie Hebdo Draws Outrage

    PM Justin Trudeau 'Optimistic' About Ability To Diversify Economy

    PM Justin Trudeau 'Optimistic' About Ability To Diversify Economy
    Trudeau made his comments at a ceremony in Kitchener, Ont., where Google Canada opened a 17,000-square-metre facility that will house the company's national development team.

    PM Justin Trudeau 'Optimistic' About Ability To Diversify Economy

    Calgary's Bishop Lambastes 'Totalitarian' Plan For LGBTQ Rules In Schools

    Calgary's Bishop Lambastes 'Totalitarian' Plan For LGBTQ Rules In Schools
    In a public letter, Bishop Fred Henry says the plan is "totalitarian" and calls it a "forceful imposition of a particular narrow-minded anti-Catholic ideology."

    Calgary's Bishop Lambastes 'Totalitarian' Plan For LGBTQ Rules In Schools

    Bank Of Montreal Joins Chorus Of Economists Predicting Interest Rate Cut

    Bank Of Montreal Joins Chorus Of Economists Predicting Interest Rate Cut
     The odds that the Bank of Canada will lower its key interest rate next week are rising, with some of the country's big banks now predicting a rate cut.

    Bank Of Montreal Joins Chorus Of Economists Predicting Interest Rate Cut

    B.C. Teachers Delighted As Supreme Court To Hear Long-Running Dispute

    The teachers are appealing a decision by the province's court of appeal, which said the legislation did not violate their rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

    B.C. Teachers Delighted As Supreme Court To Hear Long-Running Dispute