Get to know your fellow Aces and Aros by joining us for a chill evening of snacks and activities on Granville Island! Door prizes! Support local queer performers and artists! Dress up or come as you are! Speed-friending (hosted by Heart), bingo, and other games! BYO snacks or share some of ours – while supplies last! This free event is for folks who identify under the umbrella of Asexual and/or Aromantic. Friends, family members and allies are welcome to attend. This event is all ages.
Celebrate Pride week at Vancouver Pride’s first-ever activation on Granville Island! Take in the views and art that the official Rainbow Lounge has to offer. Sip on cold drinks in the summer heat at the Ocean Arts Pavilion. Enjoy lounge-style entertainment featuring your favourite local drag performers and musicians.
Transportation: The #50 is making its regularly scheduled stops at Granville Island. #50 False Creek. The #50 False Creek bus comes from Gastown in the downtown area, along Granville St., and stops just off Granville Island, at the intersection of Anderson St. and West 2nd Ave. It will let you off on the southeast side of West 2nd Ave. Look for the large Granville Island sign and the yellow and rainbow-ed Kids Market along Anderson St. northward.
Water: There is a water refill station near the portable washrooms.
Food: The venue has light snacks for sale. However, there are food options nearby, but they close early. Feel free to bring in your own food if it will not create a mess.
Covid Protocol: Masks are strongly encouraged, and they are mandatory in the accessible viewing zone when not eating or drinking.
Washrooms: There are 4 portable washrooms and 1 wheelchair accessible one
Terrain: The ground is a mix of flat cobblestone and smoother pavement, but the terrain is generally flat and cement.
Scent: No scent protocol and the Rainbow Lounge is located outside so there will be fresh air.
Sensory Sensitivities: There are disco lights, as well as flashing lighting occasionally.
Seating: There are a variety of seating options, including armless folding chairs, bistro chairs with arms, and picnic benches. All seating is accompanied by a table.
Shade: There is some coverage from trees and fixtures, and the venue is a mix of shaded and not shaded. There won’t be much direct sunlight as these events take place later in the day.
Accessible Viewing Zone: The accessible viewing zone contains foldable chairs and tables which seat about 18 people. If you need accessible seating and the designated accessible viewing zone is full, please find a staff member and let them know how they can assist you.
Financial Barriers: No one will be turned away for lack of funds! Please send an email to boxoffice@vancouverpride.ca.
Aces & Aros Host
Androsia Wilde [she/her] is the perfect tropical cocktail – a generous pour of burlesque’s glitz and tease, splashed with the intoxicating and rhythmic flavours of The Bahamas. This Daughter of Starlight and Seafoam’s performing journey spans over 3,000 miles- from the Island Paradise of her birth, to the Pacific Northwest she now calls ‘home’, and has taken her through the realms of alternative modeling, martial arts, immersive theatre, acting for television, and dance. Her burlesque career started in May 2014 with her much-lauded debut as the ‘yummy’ scoundrel Lando Calrissian in Geekenders’ initial production of “The Empire Strips Back”, and has since set stages ablaze across the province such as 2017’s Shambhala Music Festival, and the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival in 2019, 2021 + 2022. Her performances are the epitome of Black Girl Magic and Joy, deftly combining her love of pop-culture with the personal pride in her Afro-Caribbean heritage – captivating and enthralling audiences alike with her dazzling smile, confident musicality, and grounding stage presence. After being described by virtually every teacher she’s ever had as a ‘charismatic chatterbox’, Androsia brings her signature enthusiasm and confidence to the mic as an emcee. With her love of a good quip, a better story, and never missing a moment to drop some knowledge, Androsia’s goals are to hype up the crowd and make the cast + crew of any show feel seen, loved, and exalted. Off-stage, Androsia works to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other Performers of Color in all facets of the burlesque community, through her work as an event producer with Diasporic Dynasty + Geekenders, space facilitator as co-founder of Showpony Studio, and instructor at the Vancouver Burlesque Co.
Mary Elise is a tired, non-binary disaster from Iowa. They have a long-standing love of music and have been playing the harp for many years. The harp’s name is Rosie and she is a lever harp from Wales. Mary Elise works as a Technical Director in Animation and VFX. They have been volunteering with VPS since 2017 and loved every moment of it.
Liv is a local Genderqueer, Demi-ace, Queer entity who dabbles in various mediums including music, tactile art, embroidery, prop building, and turning mistakes into successes. They also consider themselves knowledgeable in medical terminology, which way to hold a hammer, fax machine etiquette, and high pitch frequencies that neurotypicals can’t hear. Not one to shy from the stage, Liv has previously performed as a singer, poet, and storyteller on many Lower Mainland stages. While entertainment is the name of the game, their main goal is to say something that will make you think, make you laugh, and inspire you to tell your own stories.
Anahita Monfared (They/She) is a (gender)/queer and Iranian actor, writer and spoken word poet with multidisciplinary curiosities. They are passionate, and driven by storytelling that requires risk, demands honesty and is intentional in making space for stories we have not heard before, or have only heard single stories of. Most recently, she was a part of Frank Theatre’s Telling It Bent Poetry and Playwriting Cohort and the ArtsClubs LEAP Playwriting Intensive! They are currently co-writing “Beyond Consent: Transforming Rape Culture into Queer Trans Nurturance Culture” with Angelic Goldsky, forthcoming 2023 with Thorntree Press. And are so excited to be returning to school in the Fall to pursue a degree in Theater with a minor in Psychology!
Joylyn Secunda is an actor, dancer, singer, and puppeteer living on the stolen land of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, colonially known as Vancouver. They are a BFA Acting graduate from University of British- Columbia and have studied clown at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance and puppetry at the Banff Centre for the Arts. They have performed their solo physical comedy, The Moaning Yoni, 50 times in cities across Canada. Highlights from their tour include performing for audiences of 600 people at the Vancouver Island MusicFest, receiving a 5-star review in the Edmonton Journal, and having a sold-out run at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Joylyn was selected for the Startle Reflex Residency with Tara Cheyenne Performance where they were mentored by Crystal Pite and Tiffany Tregarthen. When they aren’t performing, Joylyn leads community engaged theatre projects for seniors (Theatre Terrific and Arts & Health), teaches puppetry, physical theatre, and storytelling to school groups with Evergreen Cultural Centre and Théâtre la Seizième, and instructs yoga classes at various studios. They recently starred as Scrooge in A Wonderheads Christmas Carol (The Wonderheads), as Zephyr in Crisis on Planet Z (Monster Theatre), and as the Prince in 1002 Nights (Story Theatre).
Kelsi James is a queer and asexual performer, playwright, poet and composer. She is honoured to be sharing an excerpt of her new play, “All We Can Do Is Trust” for this year’s Aces & Aros event at Pride. As always, she celebrates and salutes the folks who have made Pride possible — especially the trans women of colour and sex workers who have fought (and are still fighting) to pave the way
July 29, 2022, 5PM – 9PM, Ocean Arts Pavillion
Get to know your fellow Aces and Aros by joining us for a chill evening of snacks and activities on Granville Island! Door prizes! Support local queer performers and artists! Dress up or come as you are! Speed-friending (hosted by Heart), bingo, and other games! BYO snacks or share some of ours – while supplies last! This free event is for folks who identify under the umbrella of Asexual and/or Aromantic. Friends, family members and allies are welcome to attend. This event is all ages.
Celebrate Pride week at Vancouver Pride’s first-ever activation on Granville Island! Take in the views and art that the official Rainbow Lounge has to offer. Sip on cold drinks in the summer heat at the Ocean Arts Pavilion. Enjoy lounge-style entertainment featuring your favourite local drag performers and musicians.
Transportation: The #50 is making its regularly scheduled stops at Granville Island.
#50 False Creek. The #50 False Creek bus comes from Gastown in the downtown area, along Granville St., and stops just off Granville Island, at the intersection of Anderson St. and West 2nd Ave. It will let you off on the southeast side of West 2nd Ave. Look for the large Granville Island sign and the yellow and rainbow-ed Kids Market along Anderson St. northward.
Parking: There are multiple pay parking lots on Granville Island. Learn more here: https://granvilleisland.com/parking-information-0
Water: There is a water refill station near the portable washrooms.
Food: The venue has light snacks for sale. However, there are food options nearby, but they close early. Feel free to bring in your own food if it will not create a mess.
Covid Protocol: Masks are strongly encouraged, and they are mandatory in the accessible viewing zone when not eating or drinking.
Washrooms: There are 4 portable washrooms and 1 wheelchair accessible one
Terrain: The ground is a mix of flat cobblestone and smoother pavement, but the terrain is generally flat and cement.
Scent: No scent protocol and the Rainbow Lounge is located outside so there will be fresh air.
Sensory Sensitivities: There are disco lights, as well as flashing lighting occasionally.
Seating: There are a variety of seating options, including armless folding chairs, bistro chairs with arms, and picnic benches. All seating is accompanied by a table.
Shade: There is some coverage from trees and fixtures, and the venue is a mix of shaded and not shaded. There won’t be much direct sunlight as these events take place later in the day.
Accessible Viewing Zone: The accessible viewing zone contains foldable chairs and tables which seat about 18 people. If you need accessible seating and the designated accessible viewing zone is full, please find a staff member and let them know how they can assist you.
Financial Barriers: No one will be turned away for lack of funds! Please send an email to boxoffice@vancouverpride.ca.
Aces & Aros Host
Androsia Wilde [she/her] is the perfect tropical cocktail – a generous pour of burlesque’s glitz and tease, splashed with the intoxicating and rhythmic flavours of The Bahamas. This Daughter of Starlight and Seafoam’s performing journey spans over 3,000 miles- from the Island Paradise of her birth, to the Pacific Northwest she now calls ‘home’, and has taken her through the realms of alternative modeling, martial arts, immersive theatre, acting for television, and dance. Her burlesque career started in May 2014 with her much-lauded debut as the ‘yummy’ scoundrel Lando Calrissian in Geekenders’ initial production of “The Empire Strips Back”, and has since set stages ablaze across the province such as 2017’s Shambhala Music Festival, and the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival in 2019, 2021 + 2022. Her performances are the epitome of Black Girl Magic and Joy, deftly combining her love of pop-culture with the personal pride in her Afro-Caribbean heritage – captivating and enthralling audiences alike with her dazzling smile, confident musicality, and grounding stage presence. After being described by virtually every teacher she’s ever had as a ‘charismatic chatterbox’, Androsia brings her signature enthusiasm and confidence to the mic as an emcee. With her love of a good quip, a better story, and never missing a moment to drop some knowledge, Androsia’s goals are to hype up the crowd and make the cast + crew of any show feel seen, loved, and exalted. Off-stage, Androsia works to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other Performers of Color in all facets of the burlesque community, through her work as an event producer with Diasporic Dynasty + Geekenders, space facilitator as co-founder of Showpony Studio, and instructor at the Vancouver Burlesque Co.
Performers and Artist
Mary Elise is a tired, non-binary disaster from Iowa. They have a long-standing love of music and have been playing the harp for many years. The harp’s name is Rosie and she is a lever harp from Wales. Mary Elise works as a Technical Director in Animation and VFX. They have been volunteering with VPS since 2017 and loved every moment of it.
Liv is a local Genderqueer, Demi-ace, Queer entity who dabbles in various mediums including music, tactile art, embroidery, prop building, and turning mistakes into successes. They also consider themselves knowledgeable in medical terminology, which way to hold a hammer, fax machine etiquette, and high pitch frequencies that neurotypicals can’t hear. Not one to shy from the stage, Liv has previously performed as a singer, poet, and storyteller on many Lower Mainland stages. While entertainment is the name of the game, their main goal is to say something that will make you think, make you laugh, and inspire you to tell your own stories.
Anahita Monfared (They/She) is a (gender)/queer and Iranian actor, writer and spoken word poet with multidisciplinary curiosities. They are passionate, and driven by storytelling that requires risk, demands honesty and is intentional in making space for stories we have not heard before, or have only heard single stories of. Most recently, she was a part of Frank Theatre’s Telling It Bent Poetry and Playwriting Cohort and the ArtsClubs LEAP Playwriting Intensive! They are currently co-writing “Beyond Consent: Transforming Rape Culture into Queer Trans Nurturance Culture” with Angelic Goldsky, forthcoming 2023 with Thorntree Press. And are so excited to be returning to school in the Fall to pursue a degree in Theater with a minor in Psychology!
Joylyn Secunda is an actor, dancer, singer, and puppeteer living on the stolen land of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, colonially known as Vancouver. They are a BFA Acting graduate from University of British- Columbia and have studied clown at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance and puppetry at the Banff Centre for the Arts. They have performed their solo physical comedy, The Moaning Yoni, 50 times in cities across Canada. Highlights from their tour include performing for audiences of 600 people at the Vancouver Island MusicFest, receiving a 5-star review in the Edmonton Journal, and having a sold-out run at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Joylyn was selected for the Startle Reflex Residency with Tara Cheyenne Performance where they were mentored by Crystal Pite and Tiffany Tregarthen. When they aren’t performing, Joylyn leads community engaged theatre projects for seniors (Theatre Terrific and Arts & Health), teaches puppetry, physical theatre, and storytelling to school groups with Evergreen Cultural Centre and Théâtre la Seizième, and instructs yoga classes at various studios. They recently starred as Scrooge in A Wonderheads Christmas Carol (The Wonderheads), as Zephyr in Crisis on Planet Z (Monster Theatre), and as the Prince in 1002 Nights (Story Theatre).
Kelsi James is a queer and asexual performer, playwright, poet and composer. She is honoured to be sharing an excerpt of her new play, “All We Can Do Is Trust” for this year’s Aces & Aros event at Pride. As always, she celebrates and salutes the folks who have made Pride possible — especially the trans women of colour and sex workers who have fought (and are still fighting) to pave the way