Armstrong to hold first-ever Pride event and unveils rainbow sidewalk

The City of Armstrong is set to hold its first official Pride festival and which will feature the unveiling of its new rainbow sidewalk.

Armstrong Pride Society president Janine Carscadden said she and her partner Eva Ekeroph approached council last summer and lobbied for a rainbow crosswalk.

Carscadden said councillors were immediately supportive, and approved the rainbow sidewalk months later.

"It is really important, particularly for the young people of our community, ensuring young people that live in Armstrong and Spallumcheen know that they are recognized, they are acknowledged, they are celebrated, and they are safe, that they can be who they are in that community and their community surrounds them with love and support," Carscadden said.

While a rainbow crosswalk is ordinarily the norm, Armstrong council decided on a section of sidewalk, which requires much less maintenance than a crosswalk.

The sidewalk is strategically placed next to the Welcome to Armstrong sign.

"It's not only for young people it's for everyone in the LGBT community, who is reluctant to come out living in a rural environment or rural community," Carscadden said.

The official unveiling of the rainbow sidewalk is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 4, which will then be followed by the Pride in the Park event.

Carscadden said this will be Armstrong's first-ever official Pride festival.

The event runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and takes place in Memorial Park.

There will be a stage with music, face painting and other activities for kids, and a family-friendly drag king.

For more information go here.


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Ben Bulmer

After a decade of globetrotting, U.K. native Ben Bulmer ended up settling in Canada in 2009. Calling Vancouver home he headed back to school and studied journalism at Langara College. From there he headed to Ottawa before winding up in a small anglophone village in Quebec, where he worked for three years at a feisty English language newspaper. Ben is always on the hunt for a good story, an interesting tale and to dig up what really matters to the community.

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