There are few people who have a better overview of what queer things are happening in British Columbia’s Okanagan region than Dustyn Baulkham.
Though born in B.C., he grew up in Saskatchewan, coming back to his birth province to attend the University of British Columbia–Okanagan Campus. After graduation he lived in a few other cities but moved back to Kelowna 11 years ago, establishing himself in the city that had provided him with his education, and his introduction to LGBTQ2S+ activism—as a student, Baulkham had volunteered for Kelowna Pride.
“Growing up in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, there was, like, two gay men that we knew about, and that was it,” he says. “When I first came to Kelowna, there was Pride Week, and the Pride Society would host dances two, three times a year. That was my introduction.”
Helping the community celebrate itself is no longer a pastime for Baulkham. He’s turned his passion for LGBTQ2S+ culture into a profession. These days he’s the general manager of Kelowna Pride (2026 dates TBD, typically May/June), organizer of Peak Pride (a ski-focused LGBTQ2S+ festival at Sun Peaks Resort, February 27 to March 1, 2026) and general manager of the gay bar Friends of Dorothy (315 Lawrence Ave., Kelowna). He’s also the founder and executive producer of Rebellious Unicorns, an events, broadcasting and media production company based in Kelowna that’s responsible for regularly scheduled drag bingos and drag brunches across the region.
Baulkham says he’s witnessed a lot of changes in the Okanagan Valley over the last decade. More same-gender couples walking publicly, holding hands without attracting stares. More rainbow flags in welcoming coffee shops and retailers. And of course, an acceptance of—even an appetite for—queer culture.
“You’re seeing more queer people moving to the area. Places like Vancouver have gotten very expensive, and with the ability to work remotely and things like that, there are just more opportunities,” he says. “I’ll often tell people that the area is big enough that we pretty much have anything and everything you’ll need outside of an Ikea and maybe a few other luxury stores. It’s big enough that if you want to be anonymous and just do your own thing, you can do that. But it’s small enough that if you want to do something, and be a part of the community, you can have a big impact.”
Like many LGBTQ2S+-friendly destinations around the world, drag performances play a big role in driving the social calendar, and Rebellious Unicorns’ shows appeal to the straights as well as the gays. For example, straight women come out in droves for many of the drag bingo events, and some nights a large number of straight people will come out to Friends of Dorothy. Breaking down these boundaries has helped create an inclusive culture in the Okanagan.
Baulkham’s always working on his next big thing, which is 2026’s Peak Pride, a weekend of activities held at Sun Peaks, an alpine resort village a 45-minute drive from Kamloops, two hours and 45 minutes out of Kelowna. Along with a comedy show, parties and various drag performances, Peak Pride includes an outdoor parade on the mountainside of Mount Tod.
The timing is important. “Pride season is obviously concentrated around June and the summer months. But you know, we’re gay 365 days a year. Pride doesn’t have to be focused on just one month,” says Baulkham.
The event attracts attendees from all over British Columbia and some from the Northeast U.S., particularly those who ski but also locals who want a bit of winter fabulousness. There are three nearby peaks and it can get pretty cold at high altitudes. For the drag queen performers at Peak Pride, keeping their makeup pristine in icy conditions is not their main problem.
“At most shows, drag performers are usually sweating off their makeup. So at least in the cold, it’s not falling off their faces. Where they do have a challenge is staying warm enough without covering up their looks. In the first few years of Peak Pride, you’d see them on a chairlift going up the mountain, freezing their tails off. They’ll even wear heels in the snow, which is always fun to watch because they have to walk on their toes. We’ve gotten some good pictures over the years.”
