Vancouver Pride Parade draws politicians and spectators to city's West End
Two federal party leaders kicked off their campaigns in Vancouver on Sunday
The 37th annual Vancouver Pride Parade attracted more than 650,000 people to the city's West End on Sunday, making it the world's fifth-largest Pride Parade, according to event organizers.
This year the annual event was also an opportunity for politicians to begin the first day of a historic 11-week federal election campaign.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau kicked off his campaign from the Parade, making it the first of what will be many trips to the province.
"B.C. is extremely important to me personally," said Trudeau.
"It has been a second home to me. I have deep roots here, I have strong connections here."
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was also in attendance.
Fabulous group of Greens at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pride2015?src=hash">#Pride2015</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YVR?src=hash">#YVR</a>. We are ready to elect fabulous MPs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn2015?src=hash">#elxn2015</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GPC?src=hash">#GPC</a> <a href="http://t.co/tonbgAg3WH">pic.twitter.com/tonbgAg3WH</a>
—@ElizabethMayNDP Leader Thomas Mulcair was supposed to be at the event, but he cancelled and kicked off his campaign in Ottawa instead.
Libby Davies, a senior NDP politician, said B.C. is a very important province for the party.
"Thomas Mulcair has been here a lot, people are starting to get to know him," said Davies.
"He's always welcome when he comes to B.C."
More Pride events all week
According to festival organizers, Vancouver's Pride Parade has an economic impact of $3.2 million.
Pride festivities, many of them free, continue throughout the week.
With files from Deborah Goble and Richard Zussman