August 31st, 2024 

Take part in: 

Michelle LeBlanc is the founder and driving force behind this event, she has done an amazing job not only at organising the the event but also bringing the 2SLGBTQIA+ together along with the Squamish climbing community. We wanted to discover more about Project Pride and Michelle's vision, so reached out. She was gracious enough to take the time to answers our inquiries. (Q & A below)

Q: What is new or different for Project Pride 2024? 

A: The Squamish event will be similar to the past two years, but we have some new surprise guest athletes coming from the United States. We want to offer a consistent and immersive experience to all, so we don't want to grow the event any larger. The feedback forms received from 2022 and 2023 were generally positive and we are trying to adjust to fit the feedback! Hopefully, the attendees will leave the whole day feeling inspired by the queer and trans climbers that they meet and climb with. We're consistently trying to strengthen our relationships with climbing brands, local small businesses, and other partnerships so that we can offer a truly stellar day/event, so you can possibly expect some new brands/local businesses on board. We'll be hosting our attendee dinner and community after-party at the Brackendale Art Gallery - which I think provides a unique environment for a fun party - it's an open invite to connect with all Squamish folks!

Q: How has the event/ community grown and expanded into other events across Canada?

A: In May 2023, I relocated to Calgary, Alberta for career-related purposes and recently moved to Canmore. In the late fall of 2023, I started having conversations with Bolder Climbing Community's owners, Josh and Regan. They were super supportive to my ideas around what an indoor climbing gym version of Project Pride could look like. I landed on crafting 6 different themed sessions that I felt could capture many aspects of the climbing experience: Focus, Strength, Movement, Sustainability, Focus and Community. Each week, we had special guest speakers or athletes come speak based on the theme that week. The group attended all 6 sessions and it was amazing to see the growth in their climbing and how friendships were formed. I'm always open to collaborating with other queer and trans climbing groups so I try to promote them and their events on social media! The presence and visibility is slowly growing - I even met a climber from Calgary while I was in Skaha this March who had heard about Project Pride.

Q: Are you still managing this all by yourself or has the team grown? 

A: Mainly, Project Pride has been managed by myself, yes. I have had an amazing human and Arc'teryx Ambassador step up to the plate as my "Co-Pilot" for Project Pride Squamish, Keenan Gibson. They are based in Vancouver and work as an ACMG Apprentice Rock Guide, Route Setter, and sit on the Vancouver Climbers Association. It's been amazing to have someone like Keenan join the team; I can now bounce ideas, ask for feedback and they will help a lot with logistics leading up to and during the Project Pride Squamish day on August 31st. (Thank you, Keenan!) The whole event in Squamish would not be possible without the help of some amazing community volunteers, so I really don't feel like I am the only one steering the ship.

Q: How has Squamish (Businesses and climbers alike) responded and embraced the event? 

Since the first Project Pride Squamish event in 2022, I have felt extremely lucky with the outpouring of support from local businesses and the climbing community. Many of my climbing friends continue to volunteer each year, I've been able to receive event-specific support from most (if not all) local businesses that offer: prizing, donations, funds, social media exposure, rentals, etc. I purposely like to leave the "After-party" open to anyone in the community who would like to have a fun time - DJ, dance party, prizes, and last year there was a fantastic drag show. My hope is that volunteers and any other non-queer and non-trans climbers or community members can feel like they are a part of the event and engage in conversations with the attendees. There are some heartbreaking things happening at the political level regarding 2SLGTBQ+ rights - I am trying my best to support and elevate the queer and trans community in a positive way through climbing. I think that the more allies and conversations we can share, the more we might be able to relate to one another as humans who enjoy the same pursuit (climbing). In so many ways, I just feel extremely lucky and privileged with the level of support that I receive from local businesses and the climbing community - Project Pride would not have taken off if it wasn't for that support! From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Q: Where would you like Project Pride go? Both in your vision and reach? 

Eventually, I would like Project Pride to gain more momentum across the country...with the development of the indoor climbing format, I think that this would be super achievable. I also have ambitions to partner with local queer and trans organizations across the country while we strengthen collaborative efforts to run more outdoor events. For example, there is amazing bouldering in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I used to live there and have an affinity for the sharp granite and ocean breeze (and lobster)! I have some other ideas simmering in my head about how to grow Project Pride, and hope to continue developing them over the summer and fall months. The reality of my day to day life is that I work full-time for a local Palliative Care Society in Canmore, which makes it difficult at times to simultaneously plan, look over logistics, all while enjoying my own climbing pursuits, trail running and other adventures. I'd love to continue increasing Project Pride's reach to an audience across Canada and in the United States. Last year, it was super cool to have attendees come from Seattle, San Francisco, Whitehorse, Kelowna, etc. Boosting exposure could ultimately reach a lonely queer and trans kid and see that there is a whole rad community for them -  and demonstrate that they belong in the climbing community. I'm hoping to continue to strengthen partnerships with climbing brands and engage in conversations about how they can help support the queer and trans community continuously. My other immediate goal with Project Pride is to elevate the voices of queer and trans climbers that attend the events, either through social media, print, or any other format that could reach a large audience! In the past two years, I published follow-up articles in Gripped Climbing Magazine. This year, I'd love to give attendees the opportunity to voice their stories and experiences. I have a couple of ideas on how I'll make this happen - stay tuned. 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: Lastly, a huge thank you to Climb On and all other partnering brands and businesses for your continued support. It's so meaningful and significant for me to have this support consistently!

Michelle LeBlanc (On the right) enjoying the after-party

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Project Pride Squamish 2023

Author: Alex R.

Project Pride Squamish is a community bouldering event open to the 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies. This unique gathering aims to unite climbers in celebration of the sport while emphasizing inclusion and diversity. Now in its second annual anniversary, we spent the day with the organizer Michelle LeBlanc to capture the vibe in a short video.

Climb On supports inclusive events and community gatherings that foster learning and celebration of the climbing community.  We partnered with Black Diamond to support the 2023 Project Pride Climbing Festival

Michelle has put a huge effort into this event and community sponsors have rallied behind her to make Squamish’s inaugural queer inclusive bouldering event a success. The day isn't just about bouldering, it is a full day, with breakfast, climbing clinics, after-parties, guest speakers and of course a bouldering competition. This event is open to all ages, all bodies and all abilities. 

Photo: Kaylan Worsnop

This event stems from a desire to create a sense of community and to help people feel less isolated. Meeting other boulderers and climbers that are also queer and who can relate to the experience of feeling alone allows people to feel comfortable and connected. 

We caught up with Michelle after the event to capture her thoughts and the motivation behind Project Pride.

"Recognizing that some people from the 2SLGBTQ+ might need or benefit from climbing in a safe space, Project Pride also aims to act as an opportunity for allies and community members to be part of the conversations with the attendees. The hope is that this facilitates an opportunity for non-queer folks to learn about marginalized communities' experiences in the climbing world, rather than creating more segregation. With the growth in hate crimes and demonstrations against the 2SLGBTQ+ community across the country, there is no better time for allies to show support and listen."

Overall, Michelle thinks that climbers are mostly welcoming humans; at least that’s been her experience. However, when you think about representation and visibility, there is a significant lack of open and ‘out’ 2SLGBTQ+ professional climbers or outdoor mountain athletes in general. Recently some American climbers have stepped up to share their experiences but visibility within a sport like climbing is super important to any minority group because it helps give a deeper sense of belonging.

Photo: Kaylan Worsnop

To follow along and get updates on Project Pride follow them on Instagram: @project.pride.squamish

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Photo: Kaylan Worsnop