About The Chilliwack Pride Society

We work to ensure an inclusive pride experience across all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexualities, genders, and abilities.

Subscribe Below for Email Updates!

The City of Chilliwack is growing at a record rate, but all the while, the LGBT+ residents of Chilliwack have been crying out for a Community Pride event for years. Growth means change, and while some old ideas struggle to survive through the change brought on by young people full of new ideas, there are still plenty of old ideas that persist in the Chilliwack community which make the growing number of LGBT+ people here feel alone, they don’t belong, or that they have to hide.

Seeing the growth and hearing the need, it was then that the small group of people at the Chilliwack Gender Care Committee decided to host what they thought would be a little backyard style LGBT+ Pride community BBQ with some free hamburgers, backyard games and a raffle.

What they never expected was the overwhelming response of the community, as over 700 Chilliwack locals came pouring into the Neighborhood Learning Centre on August 24th, 2019. Thankfully the well organized event was well staffed with amazing volunteers who created a fun, family-oriented event with games, face-painting, crafts, music, prizes, community information booths, free food and drag entertainment from a Chilliwack born and raised Drag Queens – Hailey Adler & The Skids in the Ball!

Experiencing that feeling of togetherness, the feeling of Pride, of stepping out of the shadows without fear, of connecting with each other, acknowledging each other and our community, it was an amazing day! Click here to see the News Paper Article.

After seeing the incredible response from the community and acknowledging the need for a local Pride chapter, a dozen Chilliwack community members decided to get together and form the Chilliwack Pride Society at the end of 2019.

Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept through our planet. We put together a small treasure hunt locally in Chilliwack that lasted a week from August 8th to the 16th and gave away amazing prizes donated by our local Inclusive Businesses! See our 2020 Archived webpage

After a year of Covid, the people of Chilliwack, Hope and Abbotsford were desperate to feel together, to feel the sense of PRIDE once again. With Covid rates dropping, the Chilliwack PRIDE Society was able to put together an amazing day-long street music festival, art & farmers market! 

Now, in 2022, with COVID-19 behind us, we are building our volunteer base, growing our budget and adding many, many new events and adventures into the Chilliwack LGBTQ2S+ community. Membership to the society is $15/year or 8hrs of volunteer contribution. Please, join us in making Chilliwack Pride amazing for everyone! 

 

THE GOALS OF THE Chilliwack Pride SOCIETY

  • To work to ensure an inclusive pride experience across all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexualities, genders, and abilities.

  • To promote inclusive medical, social and mental-health-related resources to members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

  • To promote advocacy in the LGBTQ2S+ community.

  • To provide education on diversity, equity, and intersectionality.

Meet The Team

Volunteer-Run Non-Profit Society Founded in 2019

Teri Westerby

Founder & President

Mallory Tomlinson

Founder & Director

Katie Bartel

Director 2022

Jason Stromberg

Treasurer 2022

Sheralie Taylor

Founder & Director

Aaron Pariseau

Director 2022

Megan te Boekhorst

Director 2022