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.
![](https://media.darpanmagazine.com/library/uploads/news/content/lgbt3@#</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
the event will include two dance floors, locally produced beer and wine, and a lounge with a wig bar and photo booth for attendees to dress up and capture the night.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"this ball is about being whoever you want to be and that's something we want to be promoting in our city," basran said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
and for basran, that means becoming the sugarplum mayor. as a participant of a drag makeover at the ball, he will be wearing makeup to reflect his character, which he likened to david bowie's 1970s ziggy stardust persona.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
although basran said he will be swapping his usual mayor's attire for a more colourful look to embrace the fun event, he won't be in full drag.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"anyone wanting to see me in a dress and heels is going to be disappointed," he said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
a number of other local figures will be getting makeovers as well and organizers promise that at least one person will be in full dress-and-heels drag.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
.jpg)
![](https://media.darpanmagazine.com/library/uploads/news/content/lgbt2@#</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
the ball, however, is not solely for the lbgtq community and attendees are welcome to wear what they want — from jeans and t-shirts to costumes.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
like the crosswalk, basran said the ball is intended to make people feel welcome and build connections, which is why he partnered with the young professionals collective to host it.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
organizer drew vincent said there is an effort to attract and retain young professionals in the region, and giving them fun, inclusive events to attend is part of that effort.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
supporting the okanagan pride society, including donating proceeds from the ball, is one way to build and foster connections, he said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"in order to achieve equality we need to be fighting for those who are marginalized or oppressed... and when there are a lot of people who get together and, form meaningful connections, we are a lot stronger as a whole."</div>.jpg)
MORE National ARTICLES
Feds Target Of Resettling 10,000 Syrian Refugees Could Be Met On Tuesday
Tuesday could be the day that the influx of Syrian refugees hits the 10,000 mark, but resettlement groups are now looking far beyond that milestone.
Feds Target Of Resettling 10,000 Syrian Refugees Could Be Met On Tuesday
Canadian Man Remembers Jamming With David Bowie As An 11-Year-Old Kid
When Seth Scholes walked backstage to meet David Bowie nearly 30 years ago, the 11-year-old saxophone player from Kingston, Ont., was hardly aware of how the encounter would help shape his life.
Canadian Man Remembers Jamming With David Bowie As An 11-Year-Old Kid
Military's Overseas Efforts For Syrian Refugee Program Winding Down
OTTAWA — The military is beginning to wind down its overseas involvement in the Liberal government's commitment to resettling thousands of Syrian refugees in a matter of months.
Military's Overseas Efforts For Syrian Refugee Program Winding Down
Workers, Families Take WorksafeBC To Court Over 2012 Mill Explosions
The separate fires in Burns Lake and Prince George killed a total of four workers and injured 42 others.
Workers, Families Take WorksafeBC To Court Over 2012 Mill Explosions
Lululemon Athletic ups Q4 guidance; shares soar in after-hours trading
VANCOUVER — Shares in Lululemon Athletica inc. (Nasdaq:LULU) rose sharply in after-hours trading Monday after the Vancouver-based activewear retail announced improved guidance for its fiscal fourth quarter.
Lululemon Athletic ups Q4 guidance; shares soar in after-hours trading
Stephane Dion Says He's Concerned For Security Of Human Rights Sources In Saudi Arabia
Dion is responding to the growing clamour over the government's decision to allow an Ontario company to sell $15 billion worth of light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia in spite of its questionable human rights record.