Aedan Saint, Mr. Gay Vancouver XXX (2010)

MEET Aedan Saint

Growing up in a farming and ranching community in the Western United States with conservative parents in a 'military family' had its challenges. Believing there was something beyond the attitudes and opinions of a small town, I did what most kids did - got the hell out of Dodge! Los Angeles, San Francisco, Maui, and Seattle were my stops along the way - finally coming to live here in Vancouver. I'd hoped to find myself, my place, my friends...and those who I'd eventually call 'family'. In my travels I've been blessed with many opportunities for adventure from the 'Towers of Academia' attaining degrees in Sports Medicine, to 'The Streets at 4AM' as a trauma paramedic...while continuing my loves of motorcycle riding and martial arts.

As for family, although I still love my biological family, I was fortunate to have many touch my life from one of the most empathic - the Captain of my station as a medic in California, to the most spiritual and loving, my former partner and Leatherman Al 'D' Sowers - formerly of Seattle to one of the wisest - Leatherman Aubrey Hart Sparks - also of Seattle.

Al was an inspiration who taught me to be confident and not give a damn about what others thought while Aubrey taught me to do so with as much tact as possible. BOTH men helped me to see the world though a critical lens and if I didn't like what I saw...to change it. I lost Al to cancer in 2001 and in his honor created a 50 foot Leather Pride Flag to remember him and all those we've lost in the GLBT community here in Cascadia.