Fernie Pride Society President Anne Keery and City of Fernie Councillor Tracey Audia-Kelly
To promote inclusion and diversity in the Elk Valley and South Country, the Fernie Pride Society has donated the third of its four Rainbow Benches to the City of Fernie.
Anne Keery, President of the Fernie Pride Society, shared:
“The Fernie Rainbow Bench is more than a place to sit. It is a symbol of visibility and belonging for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, reminding us that everyone has a home here. This Bench celebrates diversity, offering a reminder that everyone deserves a safe place to simply be.”
Painted in the colours of the Pride flag, the bench is a visible sign for residents and visitors alike that Fernie values equity and inclusion as essential to the fabric of the community. Located beside the Splash Park at the Aquatic Centre, the bench will be a permanent fixture symbolizing the importance of acting on these values and elevating the voices of the 2SLGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.
Mayor Nic Milligan commented:
“The City of Fernie is proud and grateful to receive a Fernie Pride Society Rainbow Bench and to install it in a prominent location as a demonstration that our community values diversity and is a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for everyone.”
The bench builds on findings from the 2021 Elk Valley Community Capacity Project survey, in which 319 people participated—174 from Fernie. Of Fernie respondents, nearly 53% self-identified as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, highlighting the diversity within the city. Respondents also emphasized the importance of municipal support, calling for education initiatives, community-wide 2SLGBTQ+ awareness, and public recognition of gender and sexual diversity through visible actions such as rainbow benches, Pride flag raisings, and crosswalk paintings.
Fernie Pride Society is encouraged to see the City of Fernie embracing these recommendations and wishes to thank the Mayor, Council, and City staff for their dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gratitude is also extended to 2SLGBTQ+ residents and allies for their ongoing contributions to making Fernie a place of belonging for all.
Additional Rainbow Benches are scheduled to be installed in Elkford and Elko in the coming months.
