Five Years of Community, Celebration and Connection: Vancouver Queer Irish Turns Five!
Irish in BC sat down with Conor Galvin and Breanne Nolan, two of the driving forces behind Vancouver Queer Irish (VQI), to reflect on five years of building community, championing inclusion and making Vancouver feel like home.
It began with a simple idea and a sunny afternoon on Sunset Beach. On June 26th, 2021, a group of queer Irish people and their friends gathered informally with no agenda, no formal structure, just a desire to connect. That first meetup would become the founding moment of Vancouver Queer Irish.
Inspired by Sydney Queer Irish, VQI’s founding board, led by former Presidents Dave Roe and Karen Brady with the support of the Irish Consulate, seized the opportunity to create something lasting.
“There were a lot of people who would have known each other to kind of say ‘hi’ to,” explains Conor Galvin, VQI’s President, “but at the time there was nothing formalised to bring the community together.”
Now, this June 26th, the organisation celebrates its fifth anniversary in style.
Growing Beyond Its Roots
What started as a social hangout for Irish immigrants has grown into something far more expansive. VQI now includes members from beyond the Irish community, drawn by the shared sense of community and belonging.
“You don’t have to be queer and you don’t have to be Irish to join VQI,” Conor is clear to emphasise. “In all of our lives, we have people that are heterosexual, that are allies and that’s needed.”
Conor highlighted the unwavering support of the Irish Consulate in Vancouver and its role in the organisation’s growth. “There’s no way that any of this would have been possible without the Irish Consulate and without their support. For every one of VQI’s five years, the Consulate has hosted a Pride event, opened its doors and its spaces, and ensured that VQI has a seat at the table whenever an event brings the wider Irish community together. It is a partnership that has given VQI both a platform and a sense of belonging within the broader Irish diaspora in British Columbia.”
Funding through the Emigrant Support Program has allowed VQI to expand its events calendar while keeping activities free or low-cost, a point of real pride for the volunteer-led organisation. From kayaking in Deep Cove to a camping trip in September, a Late Late Toy Show watch party (which proved so popular last year it’s now an annual fixture), and a summer sports series, VQI has worked hard to ensure there’s something for everyone.
The newest addition to the programme is a members’ book club, recently launched by Breanne. True to VQI’s welcoming spirit, the book club opens its doors beyond the reading discussion, so non-members can drop in at 7:30pm after each session to socialise and meet the community.
Giving Back
Perhaps less well known, but no less impressive, is VQI’s record of advocacy and charitable giving. Over five years, the organisation has raised between $40,000 and $50,000 for queer organisations in Vancouver and beyond.
A key beneficiary has been Rainbow Refugee, an organisation that supports individuals fleeing persecution related to their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or HIV status, helping them to safely migrate to Canada and find communities of belonging. VQI has also partnered with Loving Spoonful, a Vancouver organisation that has been delivering food to people living with HIV since the 1980s, who catered last year’s marriage equality anniversary celebration and will be catering VQI’s fifth birthday barbecue this summer.
This year, VQI’s Pride kickoff at Parallel 49 Brewing will proudly fundraise for Qmunity, an organisation currently building the largest 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre in Western North America, a landmark project for the queer community in Vancouver and beyond. VQI have also participated in marches and rallies in support of trans rights, hosted condom packing nights, and facilitated a Queer History Tour, creating spaces where members can learn, connect and support one another.
“We get to celebrate and go to all of these queer community events, and we get to live in a city like Vancouver,” Conor reflects, “and that’s such an incredible privilege. It’s so important to reflect on; how can we, with this privilege, help somebody else?”
Looking Ahead
With new board members bringing fresh energy and ideas, 2026 is shaping up to be VQI’s most ambitious year yet. Pride season is always a highlight, and kicks off at the end of July with an event at the Irish Consulate followed by VQI’s own AFTERWERK party at Parallel 49 Brewing, complete with drag performers and a show-stopping lineup.
The centrepiece of the year, however, is the fifth birthday barbecue on June 26th, a celebration of everything VQI has built and a moment to look forward. “I think we focus on the social elements because we’re always just pushing the next thing,” Breanne admits, “as opposed to reflecting on some of the work we’ve done, but the five-year anniversary gives us a good opportunity to do that and showcase it a little bit more.”
Looking further ahead, VQI is also keen to grow its reach within the older queer community in Vancouver. As the organisation matures, so too does its ambition to create events and spaces that resonate with members at every stage of life. If you’re a more seasoned member of the queer community, or know someone who is, VQI would love to hear your ideas and welcome you into the fold.
Join the Community – Membership Now Open
VQI membership for 2026–2027 is now open, and the benefits are well worth it. Members enjoy discounts and skip-the-line privileges at local LGBTQ+ businesses, discounts and first access to VQI events, and exclusive access to members-only trips and experiences.
Annual membership is $30 + tax and can be signed up for via the VQI website. VQI never wants finances to be a barrier to anyone seeking community. Please contact VQI directly at vanqueerirish@gmail.com and the team will be happy to help.
Whether you’re newly arrived in Vancouver, long settled, Irish, or simply queer-friendly, there is a place for you in VQI. The organisation is also always on the lookout for volunteers and welcomes fresh ideas, if there’s an event or initiative you’d like to see, the board wants to hear from you. To find out more or to get involved, look out for VQI across social media and keep an eye on the Irish in BC events page for upcoming events.
Vancouver Queer Irish – five years strong and only getting started!
