Vancouver LGBTQ2+ History: Downtown and West End Tour

Uncover the wild, untold history of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ community on a 2-hour adventure through Downtown and the West End. Discover outrageous drag queens, book store bombings, and unsung heroes who changed the city forever.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Vancouver Downtown - Meet your guide
  • the man in pink!
  • outside Trees Organic Coffee Shop at 930 Burrard Street. You’ll soon embark on a 2 hour long adventure into the LGBTQ2+ history and culture of this West Coast metropolis.
    You’ll weave a path through Imperial Court coronations, drag kings at the Quadra, gay ministers at the United Church,…
What's Included
  • Professional guide
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

The hidden narratives of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ community are ready to be unveiled. The exciting, yet untold past of this vibrant group is filled with tales of hardship, solidarity, and jubilation. Embark on a two-hour journey into the heart of Downtown and the West End, where you will encounter a past populated by audacious drag queens, attacks on…

Location
930 Burrard St
Burrard Street
Meet outside the Trees Organic Coffee Shop at 930 Burrard St.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(356 Ratings)
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Paolobh3322za
Sep 29, 2025
The highlight of my Vancouver trip so far!!! - I was visiting from Toronto and wanted to learn about Vancouver’s queer history. This was the gayest tour ever!!! Glenn was an excellent guide and kept the group very engaged. I laughed, I cried, I learned so much about Vancouver’s queer history. I would highly recommend this tour!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N8599wlgabrielb
Sep 18, 2025
Do this tour! - This may have been our #1 activity during our 2 weeks in BC. Glenn is a fantastic tour guide, and it was even more special to my partner and I to learn that he's the one who did all the research and designed the tour. His passion and devotion to his community comes through in his thoughtful narrative, in how many people confided very personal stories in him while he was creating the tour, and in how many people recognize him on the streets in Davie Village. It was humbling and an honour to get to listen to someone who's helping preserve and share our history. If you're considering doing this tour - just do it, you won't regret it, and you'll laugh & learn more than you expect. - 2 Ontario queers who are so glad they googled "lgbtq tourism vancouver"
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sylviahu9721ed
Sep 16, 2025
So worth the tour (even in the rain)! - Glenn was personable and well informed. Clearly a lovely story teller and he was easy to hear even in a large group in the rain!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faithc341
Sep 14, 2025
Serving History - This was on our 2025 bucket list and we finally got to do it today! Glenn was such an amazing tour guide, his stories were so engaging and the pictures he showed us really helped with the visuals of what it was like in Vancouver at the time. I got really emotional at times, and I'm overall so proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. After learning about all the activists and notable figures in Vancouver's history, I'm so grateful to be able to walk around hand-in-hand with my girlfriend without fear. I'm going to recommend this tour to everybody because I think it's really important but also because it was so fun! It was pouring rain and it didn't put a damper on the day at all. I had such a great time and I want to thank Glenn again for all the research he's done in the creation of this tour. If you're thinking about doing this tour, DO IT! It's well worth it <3
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Royy934
Sep 10, 2025
A wonderful experience of queer history in Vancouver - This was such an eye-opening and meaningful (essential really) experience. Glenn is such a wonderful story-teller and amazing guide. He accommodated for everyone’s needs in our group and was so kind and considerate. I can’t even begin to image the amount of research and preparation that went into making this tour happen, and I am so grateful that Glenn is telling these stories that are from communities that have been historically marginalized and silenced, especially the not so pleasant ones. They remind us of how far we have come and encourage us to keep the spirits of the unsung heroes of our communities alive. I hope that many people can have to opportunity to join this tour and help preserve queer history in whatever way as much as possible.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alastairm531
Sep 7, 2025
Moving, enjoyable, and informative tour of some of Vancouver's queer story - Glenn is a passionate, engaged, and engaging storyteller who gives a fantastic, informative, and moving account of the broad sweep of Queer history around Downtown Vancouver and the West End. He is entertaining with a wide and deep knowledge of Vancouver's, and North America's, 2SLGBTQ+ history. This tour was uncomfortable (in a good way) in places as Glenn shares unvarnished accounts of the persecution of the Queer community over centuries and the honest accounts of lateral hostility and violence within the rainbow communities. Highly recommended, and the walking part was not at strenuous and at a comfortable pace, all in all about 2 1/2 km.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johnfyvr
Aug 31, 2025
Do this tour!!! - POWERFUL!!! Glenn delivered the most amazing gay history tour of Vancouver/West End. His story telling transports you to the time and place of each of the events as he guides you through the early days of the queer community of Vancouver right up to present day. I have lived in the area for more than 10 years, but I truely felt like a tourist, learning all about the gay history that I never knew about. Cannot recommend this enough. It was moving. Thanks Glenn. We loved this experience sooooo much
Review provided by Tripadvisor
73brenty
Jul 27, 2025
amazing and brutal and beautiful and joyous - Glenn is amazing, and one of the best storytellers and historians I have ever toured with. My trans kid described the tour as “amazing and brutal and beautiful and joyous.” They say it was “life-changing.” Glenn mixes stories that are inspirational, challenging, and painful—as is true of LGBTQ+ history. Thank you for an experience our family will never forget.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garrett_c
Jul 21, 2025
Great Storytelling. - What an amazing tour! Glenn is a masterful storyteller who weaves together a unified history of the community and city. He honors the lives of real people in a deeply insightful way. We laughed, we cried and we learned a lot. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of Vancouver.
Review provided by Viator
Roble1018
Jul 13, 2025
Awesome storyteller. - Glenn was an amazing storyteller! As a long time resident of Vancouver I learned so many new things.
Review provided by Viator
From $27
up to 14 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).