Building on the incredible success of the inaugural Bush Queer Wellness Garden in 2025, HIM was proud to successfully introduce an expanded edition of the Bush at the Vancouver and New Westminster Pride Festivals this year!
The Bush is a vibrant, inclusive wellness space embedded within the Pride festival, designed to connect community members with sexual health services, wellness resources, and local programming in a relaxed, welcoming environment. It reimagines how health engagement can feel during Pride by blending accessible care with moments of joy: entertainment, community connection, shade, and an ice cream scoop in hand.
Following the amazing success of the Vancouver Pride Bush on August 2nd, the New Westminster Pride Festival Bush welcomed more than 2,000 visitors to the wellness garden throughout the day. Visitors were offered complimentary chilled beverages and cotton candy while enjoying the cooling amenities the space offered, such as misting tents, a dipping pool, shaded spaces, and lounging areas.
Visitors were also offered on-site clinical services, including Mpox vaccinations, harm reduction supplies, naloxone training, and naloxone kits by our partners at Fraser Health Authority, in addition to health information, resources, and programming offered by HIM staff and volunteers.
This particular Pride activation broke all records for reaching and engaging more community members than any previous Pride engagement in HIM’s 18-year history. The feedback and appreciation from both the community and the New West Pride Society further demonstrated why creating such mindful and intentional community spaces matters.
This amazing success would not have been possible without the hard work of our volunteers who believe in our mission and the importance of the work work we do in our communities. Also, the support of our partners and sponsors who generously offered us space, resources, and financial support to bring our vision to reality.
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