The summer of Pride in the Fraser Valley

The Fraser Valley has not always been an inclusive place.

Long considered BC’s Bible Belt, Abbotsford only held its first pride parade in May of 2013—the same year a Langley teacher was suspended for a homophobic prank on a student. The Chilliwack School Board was long divided between socially conservative and socially progressive trustees, with former trustee Barry Neufeld’s anti-SOGI crusade sparking lawsuits, protests, and questions as to whether LGBTQ+ students were supported by their elected officials.

Those issues still exist in the Fraser Valley today. But there is also a growing and vibrant LGBTQ+ community in the valley. The Chilliwack, Langley, and Fraser Valley Pride societies hold festivals each year; businesses and schools have painted rainbow crosswalks to show their inclusivity. Ongoing events celebrate and support the queer community, and Chilliwack’s high schools are celebrating its LGBTQ+ students with a Pride Picnic each year.

“There has definitely been a huge shift in the past five years, just in the way that even the city itself portrays its acceptance of people of all diverse backgrounds and identities,” Teri Westerby, now a Chilliwack school board trustee, told The Current in 2021.

This summer, the Fraser Valley’s pride societies and allied organizations are hosting a number of queer-focused events. Although June is officially Pride Month, many of the Fraser Valley’s biggest festivals take place in July, with local activities stretching into August as well.

The big four

The Fraser Valley has four main LGBTQ+ societies, each of which will celebrate the diversity of Fraser Valley love in different ways this year.

The Fraser Valley Pride Society is the oldest of the valley’s LGBTQ+ organizations, hosting the region’s first Pride Parade in 2013. The society operates in the Abbotsford-Mission area, and has been youth-focused since its inception. This year’s events include a youth dance, among other activities.

The Chilliwack Pride Society was founded in 2019, hosting a small BBQ that evolved into a major Pride Festival in the city each year. The society aimed at providing an inclusive space for families in Chilliwack—a goal that continues with its Pride Festival today.

Hope Pride represents the valley’s smallest communities, and held its first festival in 2023. The small organization supports the LGBTQ+ in Hope, and pushed for the District of Hope to raise the pride flag during the month of June—which it did for the first time in 2024. (The district is flying the pride flag again this June.)

The Langley Pride Society is the newest of the local organizations, celebrating its first anniversary this year. Although the organization started in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the group’s first event and resulted in the dissolution of the society. The society hosted its first mingler in 2024.

All four societies are holding festivals this summer. You can find details on each of those below.

Chilliwack Pride Festival

• When: Sunday, July 13

• Time: 11am to 5pm

• Where: Central Community Park and downtown Chilliwack

• Who: Chilliwack Pride Society

The Chilliwack Pride Festival takes over downtown Chilliwack on Sunday, July 13. This year’s theme is Bloom with Pride, and everyone of all genders and sexual orientations is invited to celebrate diversity and inclusion in Chilliwack.

The event will include live entertainment, including music and drag performances on the main stage in Central Community Park, as well as a kids’ zone with games and activities. The event will also include vendors and food trucks. Chilliwack Pride is also adding a quiet room to the event for people who need a break, as well as ASL interpretation at the main stage, and mental health support throughout the day.

More details are available on Facebook or on Chilliwack Pride’s website. Volunteer applications are still being accepted.

Fraser Valley Pride Festival

• When: Saturday, July 19

• Time: Noon to 5pm

• Where: Fraser River Heritage Park

• Who: Fraser Valley Pride Society

The Fraser Valley Pride Society hosts its 13th annual festival this year at Fraser River Heritage Park in Mission. Although the festival started as a simple walk through downtown Abbotsford, it has evolved into a family-focused celebration.

This year, the festival will include live music and drag performances. The festival will also have local artisans and community organizations at a vendor market, and a variety of food trucks featuring snacks, drinks, ice cream, and more.

The festival is free to attend, and volunteers are always welcome. (Find out how to volunteer here.) The Fraser Valley Pride Society is also hosting two other events before and after the festival, which you can find below.

Langley Pride Day

• When: Saturday, Aug. 9

• Time: 11am until 10pm

• Where: Langley Senior Resources Society

• Who: Langley Pride Society

Langley Pride Day comes in two parts this year, a family-friendly event starting at 11am, and then a 19-plus concert from 5:30pm onwards. The family portion of the day will include a flag-raising, face painting, drag bingo, a film screening, and dance performances. (A vendors market will also be on site.)

In the evening, adults will get the chance to listen to music by Vancouver’s LGBTQ funk-revivalist band Queer as Funk. The night will also include a drag show, a cash bar, and more music by Undercover Band and Soulful Guitarist Ernestine Day.

The Pride Day is supported by three main groups: the Langley Pride Society, the Langley Senior Resources Society, and the Senior Pride Social Group. Tickets to the concert are available online.

Hope Pride Festival

• When: Saturday, Aug. 23

• Time: TBA

• Where: TBA

• Who: Hope Pride

Although the last two years saw Hope Pride celebrate its festival in June, this year the festivities are being pushed back until August. Few details are available right now, but more will be released on Hope Pride’s Facebook page as the event comes closer.

Other events

The Fraser Valley’s biggest Pride festivals aren’t the only ways to put a rainbow spin on the summer. The societies and ally organizations in the valley are hosting a variety of smaller events, including drag bingo nights, movie screenings, and queer book clubs.

Pride Film Club: Celebrating LGBTQ+

• When: Monday, June 23 at 5:30pm

• Where: Chilliwack Library

• Details: https://www.fvrl.bc.ca/events/5933

The Chilliwack Library hosts a film club so adults can have a safe space to explore LGBTQ+ narratives in film. The first film, Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, was shown on Monday, June 9. The next film is A Mother Apart, which focuses on how a Jamaican-American poet searches for forgiveness and acceptance after being abandoned by her mother as a child. The film club is only open for people 19 and older. No registration is required.

Read with Pride Book Club

• When: Tuesday, June 24 at 4pm

• Where: Clearbrook Library

For those who want to read queer stories, the Clearbrook Library hosts its monthly Read with Pride book club on the last Tuesday of each month. This month’s book choice has not been announced online, although interested participants can head to the Clearbook Library to ask the staff.

Langley Pride Mingler

• When: Wednesday, June 25 at 6pm

• Where: Camp Beer Co. in Langley

To celebrate one year since its first official event, the Langley Pride Society is hosting a Pride Mingler at Camp Beer Co. in Langley. Participants are invited to dress in a single colour so the group can create a rainbow together.

Drag at Dewdney

• When: Saturday, July 5 at 6pm

• Where: Dewdney Pub

Dewdney Pub hosts a fundraiser Drag Show in support of the Fraser Valley Pride Society on Saturday, July 5. The adults-only event is hosted by area director and long-time drag show producer Cory Cassel. Tickets are $45 in advance ($50 at the door if any are remaining), and include dinner and entry to the show. Tickets can be purchased via etransfer.

Queer Connect

• When: Second Thursday of the month (July 10, Aug. 14) at 6pm

• Where: Smoking Gun Coffee Roasters in Chilliwack

On the second Thursday of each month, members of Chilliwack’s queer community gather to play games, drink coffee, and connect at Smoking Gun Coffee. The event is open for people 18 and older. No registration is needed, just stop by between 6 and 8pm.

Youth Pride Dance: Cowboys versus Gayliens

• When: Friday, July 25 at 6pm

• Where: Abbotsford Arts Centre

Teens between the ages of 13 and 19 are invited to the Abbotsford Arts Centre for a cosmic showdown and dance party. The supervised, substance-free event is free to attend, and will include drag performances, a lip sync competition, and door prizes. Attendees are invited to dress as either cowboys or gayliens.