FORT ST. JOHN -- The City of Fort St. John held its annual Pride Walk and Festival over the weekend.
Hundreds of people from across the Peace Region attended the family-friendly festivities that were put on by the North Peace Pride Society on Saturday June 1st.
The event was held in Centennial Park where a day of celebration, live music, and food marked Pride Week in Fort St. John.
“Pride Week celebrates Fort St. John's diversity and commitment to be a safe and welcoming place for all sexual orientations and gender identities to attend school, work, raise a family, start a business, and live,” said the City in a social media post.
During a May 27th Council Meeting, the mayor and city council declared May 26th through June 1st Pride Week in Fort St. John.
The rainbow flag was also raised outside of City Hall to commemorate the week.
During the festivities, speeches were made by Mayor Lilia Hansen and members of the North Peace Pride Society recognizing the contributions of the city’s diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirt community.
According to witnesses who attended the event, a verbal interaction between attendees and passersby opposed to the celebration broke out during the walk, but were quickly resolved.
“Pride Week promises to provide hope and support for out youth and other community members who experience bullying and harassment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said the city in its proclamation.
This weekend’s celebration marks The North Peace Pride Society’s 9th Pride Walk in the City of Fort St. John.
