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Barney Hickey has been involved in the mens and womens leather community for over 25 years. He held the title of Mr. Vancouver Leather 2003, with a platform of HIV in children and raised charitable funds for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
He is a founding board member of Vancouver Men in Leather, Renegade: The Vancouver Leather Title Holders Association which holds stewardship to the Mr. and Ms. Vancouver Leather titles in Vancouver, BC, Canada. These male and female leather titles are community based with the goal of raising charitable funds for a charity of choice.
Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Barney has made significant contributions to the leather community in Vancouver. In 2002, he was given the Presidents Award by BC Bears for outstanding contributions to his community for his energy, commitment, consistency and drive towards building a better leather and bear community in Vancouver BC. He also received an award from Numbers Cabaret in Vancouver, BC for keeping leather alive and the creation of the Leather Loft in 2005.
He remains strongly connected and involved in the leather community in the Pacific Northwest and holds memberships in Vancouver Men in Leather, Seattle Men in Leather and Bellingham Leather Men. He has judged previous leather and bear contests in Toronto, Surrey, Vancouver. For many years he has been the Den Daddy at numerous leather contests in Vancouver.
Barney believes in giving back to his leather community through direct involvement and by positive role modeling and mentorship. After his leather title finished in 2004, he then helped form the new Vancouver Men in Leather in 2004, and is the current secretary of Renegade: The Vancouver Leather Title Holders Association.
Professionally, he is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing, and has received nursing awards of excellence provincially and nationally in Canada for his significant contributions to HIV/AIDS care. He is employed as a college professor in Vancouver where he teaches nursing in a BSN program.
In his spare time Barney enjoys the company of other leather men, spending time with his boys, and is a strong advocate for gay leather mens’ social venues and linking with other leather communities, including leather women, to make us united and stronger. He has taught small informal leather workshops on leather, bdsm, negotiating safer sex, fisting, TT, CBT, flogging, electro, saline infusions, needle play, wax play, role play and reverse role play. |
