Vernon Pride Society members, along with Councillor Kari Gares and Vernon-Lumby Constituency Assistant Amy Klassen, at the Pride flag raising ceremony (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Vernon Pride Week Launched

Flag raised to kick off Vernon Pride Week

Jun 2, 2025 | 2:05 PM

The Pride flag was raised outside Vernon City Hall Monday, June 2.

The flag raising marked the kickoff of the fourth annual Vernon Pride Week, and also featured a small ceremony with speeches from local leaders and community members.

Dawn Tucker, president of the Vernon Pride Society who uses they/them pronouns, said Pride originally started as a protest to demand safety, equality and freedom.

“While we gather today in celebration, we also honour the struggles that made this possible and the work that continues” Tucker said in their speech.

“For some, this flag represents a journey, a long road to self-acceptance; for others, it represents home, a place where we are seen, valued, and safe.

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“For all of us, it is a promise that we will continue to build a community where everyone belongs.”

Mayor Victor Cumming was not in attendance for the flag raising, but city councillor and acting mayor, Kari Gares, said the week and the flag event represents the city’s committment to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

“Events like today are really important, they represent the ongoing steps being taken toward building a more inclusive, welcoming Vernon,” Gares stated.

“They remind us that visibility matters, and that when we show up for one another, we strengthen our community.

“This week is about celebrating individuals and affirming that respect is sincerest expression of love. Every person, regardless of who they are or who they love, deserves to be seen, respected, and embraced.”

Vernon-Lumby MLA Harwinder Sandhu, also could not attend the event, but Amy Klassen, a constituency assistant for Sandhu speaking on the MLA’s behalf, acknowledged the movement Pride represents and pushed back against discrimination against other people.

“There are people across Canada and around the world who are trying to turn back the clock,” Klassen said Monday.

“They weaponize fear and division, spread misinformation, push policies meant to silence, and advance legislation that erases the very existence of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, using people’s lives as political pawns.

“MLA Sandhu is deeply concerned by those who use religion to justify harm, and use it as a weapon of exclusion and hate. Let’s be clear, love is stronger than hate. Real faith is rooted in compassion, real leadership lifts people up, real community leaves no one behind. True faith, all faiths, call on us to care for one another and to care for the vulnerable.”

Speaking with Vernon Matters following the ceremony, Tucker reiterated the importance of acceptance, inclusion, belonging, and respect that Pride represents.

“[Pride] started as a protest and it still is in a lot of ways,” Tucker explained.

“We’re still facing a lot of issues for the community in general around the world. We see what’s going on with many in our community, especially with what’s happening to our partner trans community both in the U.S. and Canada and many other places, and we’re seeing that we still have a lot of work to do.

“Yet we still can celebrate as well. We can celebrate how far we’ve come and I think it’s a good time for use to come together and reflect on what work we’ve done and what work we have yet to do.”

The Vernon Pride Week includes a number of events, which can be seen at the Vernon Pride Society’s website.

Gemma Patterson, director of events for Vernon Pride Society, said there were some new celebrations planned this year, such as the That’s Gay comedy show at the Powerhouse Theatre, and the Gay Cabaret show at the Prestige Vernon Lodge. She added there were requests for more family-oriented events, and they have delivered on that this week with Pride Parties at the Okanagan Science Centre and a Teen Zine workshop at the Vernon Arts Community Centre.

The week will close off with the parade and community celebration at Civic Memorial Park Sunday, June 8.

The flag raising ceremony was attended by about 60 people, as well as two Alexis Park Elementary classes and the school’s Pride Club.