Latest news with #LiveOutLoud
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Community invited to celebrate Pride in Williams Lake Aug. 10-16
A full week of activities in August is planned to celebrate and support gender and sexual diversity in the Williams Lake area. From Aug. 10 to 16, Pride in the Puddle will bring together music, film, drag and a parade to the city, recognizing and raising awareness around the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. 'People who come to our events are always leaving much happier knowing that there's a whole thriving community for them to be a part of,' wrote Helena Morgan, president of the Williams Lake Pride Society (WLPS), in a statement to the Tribune. Kit and Kaboodle is offering 10 per cent off for anyone purchasing items from the store for Pride events, and the Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin is partnering with the WLPS to offer its Live Out Loud events the same week. 'Pride is definitely an important time for the youth growing up in town so they know they're accepted and celebrated,' said Rylee Smith, an outreach worker with Denisiqi Services Society who is helping to organize the event. 'I've been working on it since day one,' Smith said, noting this will be the city's second Live Out Loud event which he co-planned last year too. Live Out Loud will begin on Aug. 15 with a dance party at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It will be a dry, family friendly event and will also feature karaoke. The next day will be a busy one, with the Pride in the Puddle parade setting off at 10 a.m. from Fourth Avenue South between FreshCo and the BGC Williams Lake Club. The parade will end at Boitanio Park where a festival will run until 4 p.m. featuring performances by Troe Weston, and the Cariboo Accordion Association. There are a few slots left for performers who would like to participate. Pride in the Park will host vendors selling food, tie-dye apparel, pet manicures and more, and there will be a Calm Corner as well as art spaces for guests to enjoy. 'Our home in the Cariboo is one of rich culture and diversity across so many different walks of life – it would be so boring if everyone were the same,' Morgan wrote. 'The world is a much more colourful place when we belong. So please – come out! Have fun! Stay Alert. Stay Safe!' Live Out Loud will also be at Pride in the Park with a booth to help raise awareness around mental health and support services for 2SLGBTQAI+ youth. They will also have an Art Walk art show on display, organized by Foundry Peer Support worker Lillian Brown. The art show will feature submissions by youth aged 12 to 24 under the theme 'What does Pride mean to you?'. Entries will be accepted until Aug. 1 and can be dropped off at the Foundry office 51 Fourth Avenue South or can be emailed to llbrown@ . All forms of art will be accepted including drawing, digital, clay and more. Pride in the Puddle will wrap up in the evening of August 16 with a drag show at the Overlander Pub hosted by Freida Whales of Kelowna. Tickets for the event are on sale on her website . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
USA Today
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Loren Ruch, HGTV star, dies at 55 after leukemia battle: reports
Loren Ruch, HGTV star, dies at 55 after leukemia battle: reports Loren Ruch, head of content for HGTV and co-host of 'HGTV House Party," has died at age 55, according to reports. Variety and TODAY report that he died on June 12 of acute myeloid leukemia, citing a memo from Channing Dungey, chair of Warner Bros. Television Group, the parent company of HGTV. 'Loren was the rare leader who lifted everyone around him,' Dungey wrote to Warner Bros. staff members. 'Loren built not only hit shows but enduring relationships, serving as mentor, advocate and true friend to countless colleagues across the television landscape. His impact stretched far beyond the screen. Loren was the connective tissue of every room he entered — the glue that bound teams, departments, and friendships.' Her statement continued, 'Though gone too soon, he leaves behind a lasting imprint on both the television industry and the lives of those who loved him.' USA TODAY has reached out to Warner Bros. Television group for comment. As head of content at HGTV, Ruch oversaw various game, daytime talk and morning talk shows, including 'Celebrity IOU,' 'A Very Brady Renovation,' 'Property Brothers: Forever Home,' 'My Lottery Dream Home' and 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.' In his long career in television, Ruch also worked within the Discovery network on the Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country. Ruch was also a board member for the nonprofit organization Live Out Loud, which aimed to support LGBTQ+ youth by connecting them with resources, role models and opportunities within their community. Live Out Loud shared a statement on Instagram on June 13 in memory of Ruch: 'Loren Ruch was truly an extraordinary soul, and his passion and commitment to Live Out Loud will never be forgotten… He returned to his hometown high school to share his story, offering encouragement and hope to students who needed to see someone like him—someone who had walked a path of resilience and acceptance.' The statement concluded, 'Loren's legacy will live on in the lives of the countless LGBTQ+ youth he inspired, and in the hearts of all who had the privilege to know him. He will be missed more than words can express, but his light will continue to shine through the work we do in his honor.' More: James Van Der Beek, Jenna Fischer and the rise of young people getting cancer Ruch first shared his 'personal journey' with his fans in April 2024, disclosing on Instagram that he had been diagnosed with leukemia two months prior. 'It's a very raw and unexpected adventure, and not one I was initially planning to share, but I genuinely believe that the power of my beautiful community of family and friends is going to be what ultimately gets me through this chapter of my life,' he wrote. Ruch is survived by his husband, David Salas, as well as his parents and brother.
