An Introductory History of Pride in the West Kootenays
Let’s Celebrate Pride!
To celebrate Pride 2023 (and the Trail Pride Market), the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre is exploring the history of Pride in the West Kootenays! Of course, the history of Pride is not complete, but we decided to explore some of the formative events of Pride in the West Kootenays (thus far).
We would like to thank Addison Oberg, Christopher Moore, Michael Wicks, River Jones, and Steph Wiggins for helping us complete this project!
March 1996
Christopher Moore (Centre) at Nelson Pride Parade, 1996. Credit: Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery.
Kootenay Pride Established
Kootenay Pride is established in Nelson by Christopher Moore and other organisers, becoming one of the first Pride organisations in British Columbia.
September 1996
Nelson Pride Parade, 1996. Credit: Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery.
Nelson Pride Parade
Kootenay Pride hosts a Pride parade to celebrate the West Kootenays’ Queer community, despite fears over the participants’ safety. It became the first Pride parade held outside of a major city in North America.
Peak Pride at RED Mountain Resort, 2020. Credit: Ashley Voykin and RED Mountain Resort.
March 2008
Rossland Pride
Sponsored by Tourism Rossland, the first Pride ski event is held at Red Mountain Resort from March 6-9, 2008.
Members of Castlegar City Council at Nelson Pride Parade, 2012. Credit: The Castlegar Source.
August 30, 2012
Castlegar Gay Pride
The Element Nightclub in Castlegar hosts the city’s first gay Pride event, “Bottoms Up.” The event was organized by Daniel Ellis and featured burlesque performers, singers, and a dance.
Deb Macintosh (Far Right) and Castlegar City Council, 2014. Credit: Xtra Magazine.
May 2014
Castlegar Rainbow Crosswalk
Despite opposition from some locals, City Councillor Deb McIntosh successfully leads an initiative to install a rainbow crosswalk on 3rd Street in Castlegar.
Nelson Rainbow Crosswalk, 2015. Credit: Today In BC.
September 2015
Nelson Rainbow Crosswalk
Sadie and Hopi Glockner, Kyra and Julia Burkart, Rose Shine, and Petra Hartley, along with assistance from the Nelson Police Department, install Nelson’s first rainbow sidewalk on Stanley Street.
Pride flag at Rossland City Hall, 2016. Credit: Rossland News.
August 2016
Pride Flag Raised at Rossland City Hall
After a collaboration between Creating a Supportive Rossland (CSR) and the Rossland Youth Action Network (YAN), the Pride flag is raised outside the Rossland City Hall by Mayor Kathy Moore.
August 2016
Pride Flag Raised at Trail City Hall
Following an initiative by River Jones and Freedom Quest, the Pride flag is flown outside Trail City Hall. Freedom Quest hosted a flag-raising ceremony, accompanied by speeches from River Jones and Mayor Mike Martin.
Mike Kent (YAN) and Councillor Lloyd McLellan (City of Rossland) at the Rossland Rainbow Crosswalk. Credit: Rossland News.
September 2017
Rossland Rainbow Crosswalk
A rainbow crosswalk is installed across from the Rossland Summit School after a campaign led by the Rossland Youth Action Network (YAN).
June 2018
Pride Trail Established
Addison Oberg establishes Pride Trail, with her first goal being the installation of a rainbow crosswalk in Trail.
August 2018
Stephanie Myers (Kootenay Pride) and Nelson Police Chief Paul Burkart at the flag-raising ceremony, 2018. Credit: Nelson Star.
Pride and Transgender Flags Raised at Nelson City Hall
To kick off Pride Week, the Pride and Transgender flags are flown outside Nelson City Hall. The flag-raising ceremony, led by Kootenay Pride, was marked with live music and speeches from Mayor Deb Kozak and police chief Paul Burkart.
“Pride Walk for a Crosswalk,” 2018. Credit: Pride Trail.
August 2018
Trail Pride Walk
“Pride Walk for a Crosswalk” is held in Trail, the first large-scale Pride event in the city. The event was a success, with around 200 people participating in the fundraiser to install a rainbow crosswalk in Trail.
Trail Rainbow Crosswalk. Credit: Pride Trail.
June 2019
Trail Rainbow Crosswalk
After a fundraising effort by Addison Oberg and Pride Trail, a rainbow crosswalk is installed outside the Trail Riverfront Centre.
Peak Pride at RED Mountain Resort, 2020. Credit: Ashley Voykin and RED Mountain Resort.
January 2020
Peak Pride at RED Mountain
RED Mountain Resort in Rossland joins other BC ski resorts by hosting its first Peak Pride, an annual winter Pride weekend featuring drag performances, DJs, and much more.
June 2023
Nelson Pride
Kootenay Pride transitions into Nelson Pride, saying “In order to honour and respect the work of other Kootenay-based Pride organizations, we are changing our name to better reflect the area we serve.”
Commitment to 2sLGBTQIA+ HISTORY
The Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre (RMDC) is committed to sharing and preserving the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and other marginalized communities. If you have objects, posters, artwork, photographs, or personal memories related to the 2SLGBTQIA+ history of Rossland and the surrounding area, consider donating them to the RMDC for care, preservation, and research purposes. History is a continuous process, so feel free to donate things from every time period. Have a photo you took yesterday? A piece of art that was made last week? We need those too! The history of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals has been historically underrepresented, and the only way to break that cycle is by preserving our current memories.