Gay Whistler's 21st annual WinterPRIDE event was held in the resort last week to celebrate pride in an inclusive and welcoming environment. There were multiple events for everyone in the LGBTQ communities including the second annual Pride March down the ski hill and through the Village and the 2013 Mr. Gay Canada competition on Thursday (Feb. 7).
Danny Papadatos from Saskatoon was the winner of the competition and as Mr. Gay Canada 2013 he will represent the country in the 2013 Mr. Gay World competition in Antwerp, Belgium during the WorldOutgames III.
"The experience of Mr. Gay Canada has been incredible and I am very excited to be given this platform," said Papadatos. "There is so much work to be done in rural centres and to provide a safe forum for LGBT youth. I am very excited to be representing Canada in Antwerp this summer."
The eight contestants spent three days at various WinterPRIDE events competing for the title. Rylie Moore of Victoria was first runner up and judges of the event included RuPaul's All Star Chad Michaels, general manager of Whistler the Magazine Catherine Power-Chartrand and Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, who also with the rest of council officially proclaimed the entire week Pride Week in the resort.
"All eight delegates are incredible role models for Canada's LGBT community and worthy of being Mr. Gay Canada," said Ken Coolen, Co-Executive Producer of Mr. Gay Canada. "The judging panel was especially impressed by Danny's maturity and leadership. They are confident in his ability to represent Canada's LGBT community to the world."
