Photo Tony Power
The Vancouver Facial Hair Club is hosting its 4th annual Charity Facial Hair Competition this weekend.
All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Working Gear Clothing Society, which provides unemployed or low-income men with interview or work-appropriate clothing to help them land a job.
Vancouver Facial Hair Club member John Keinanen says he's a handlebar moustache enthusiast and was recruited by club VP Craig Gilbert before the first annual competition "while shopping for moustache wax at the shop he manages."
Many of the club's members have competed in Calgary, Seattle, Spokane, Portland and the 2017 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Austin, Texas. Keinanen says people will be traveling from other cities to compete in the Vancouver event.
Photo John Keinanen
The competition will be judged by Breakfast Television Vancouver co-host Tara Jean Stevens, Vancouver film and makeup artist Tanya "Handlebar" Hudson, Working Gear board member Peter Crawford plus Angela and Isaiah "Incredibeard" Webb.
There are 10 different categories:
1. Business Beard (a short 1" or under beard)
2. Under 6" beard
3. 6-12" beard
4. 12" + beard
5. Moustache (any style)
6. Natural beard with a styled moustache
7. Partial beard (sideburns, amish beard, goatee, etc.)
8. build-a-beard (anyone can participate and make their own beard)
9. Full beard freestyle
10. "best in show"
The Vancouver Facial Hair Club is the official Facial Hair Club representative of Beard Team Canada.
Keinanen says the club was founded by Garrett Resler in 2013 to "promote a positive image for facial hair, and foster a sense of community among growers and enthusiasts."
The fun starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 at the Lamplighter Public House in Gastown.
Spectator tickets are $10 at the door and it costs $20 to compete.
