Meet the 2026 Vancouver Pride Parade Grand Marshals
Every year, Vancouver Pride honours individuals who represent the heart, history, and future of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Our Grand Marshals recognize the people whose dedication, courage, and leadership help move our community forward — from local acts of care and connection to global advocacy for equality and human rights.
For Vancouver Pride 2026, we are honoured to celebrate Grand Marshal Sister Diversity Rains (she/her) / Dan Wurzer (he/him) and International Grand Marshal Zhanar Sekerbayeva (she/her).
Together, they represent what it means to be Unapologetically Queer — showing up with courage, celebrating who we are, and standing strong as a community.
Sister Diversity Rains (she/her) / Dan Wurzer (he/him)
Sister Diversity Rains dedicated their life to community activism and support, showing up at countless events while spreading joy, love, and kindness to everyone they met. They were especially welcoming to new members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and youth, offering unconditional love, acceptance, and guidance as a caring and inspiring elder.
Passing away recently at the age of 82, Dan devoted much of his life to supporting charitable causes throughout the Lower Mainland, with a particular focus on Vancouver in recent years. Becoming a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence at the age of 70, they out-sparkled people half their age with an unwavering enthusiasm for community, always making time to connect with others while living by their motto: "One more joy. Only joy. Always joy."
Their legacy lives on in the hearts and memories of everyone fortunate enough to know them.
Zhanar Sekerbayeva (she/her)
Zhanar represents the courage, integrity, and community-centred leadership that Pride movements exist to celebrate and protect. For more than a decade, she has dedicated herself to LGBTQI+ and feminist activism in Kazakhstan, building solidarity across movements for equality and social justice despite sustained personal risk.
Zhanar has repeatedly been targeted by authorities and hostile actors because of her work, including arbitrary detention and physical attacks connected to her activism. Yet these experiences have not silenced her. Instead, she continues to speak publicly and unapologetically in defence of women's rights and LGBTQI+ communities across Central Asia.
Her leadership demonstrates that Pride is not only about visibility, but also about resistance, collective care, and the refusal to abandon marginalized communities under pressure. Zhanar's voice has become a symbol of bravery and persistence for many activists working in hostile environments, and recognizing her honours both her individual contributions and the broader struggle for equality and dignity she represents.
Celebrate with Our Grand Marshals
Join us at the 2026 Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, August 2 as we celebrate Sister Diversity Rains and Zhanar Sekerbayeva alongside our community.
Come out, show your Pride, and help us honour the incredible individuals who represent the courage, resilience, and spirit of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.