Artists paint the Progress Flag on one of the crosswalks in North Battleford, across from the North Battleford Public Library, on June 1. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Pride Painting

North Battleford Pride community paint crosswalks on 102nd Street

Jun 1, 2025 | 3:50 PM

At the intersection of Service Canada and the North Battleford Public Library, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community were dancing as they painted the crosswalks in the vivid hues of the Progress and Transgender flags.

As Prince and the Revolution sang a song about a girl in a “Raspberry Beret,” the energy was palpable, and the spirit of Pride was whipped up in the breeze.

“This is the most people who have ever (shown) up like right from the beginning, so it’s getting done faster than it’s ever been done,” said Kelly Waters, secretary of Battlefords Area Pride at the June 1 event.

“It’s so exciting, it’s a perfect day.”

Bobbi Sue Thompson, president of Battlefords Area Pride, dances while she paints on June 1. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

MISSING WOMAN

Search underway for missing woman in Pierceland: RCMP

15h ago

Health

La Ronge medical residency program proven to be valuable asset for recruitment

15h ago

Assault on landlord

Family says injured landlord is recovering, but paralyzed and can't speak

16h ago

Marking a decade of celebrating Pride in the Battlefords, Bobbi Sue Thompson, president of the group, said the community has come a long way since the very first march and get together.

“It means the world to me,” she said of the number of people who turned up to paint.

Reflecting on the inaugural year, Thompson said it was originally two high school students who started the movement.

“They’ve moved on now, but we’re carrying the torch on,” she said.

As the group of volunteers worked on painting the Progress Flag, Carmen Wheeldon took on the blue, pink and white of the Transgender Flag. Carmen, who prefers to be known only by the moniker, recently came out.

Many hands and rollers make light work. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“Last year, I only did like half the events. This year I’ve decided to do mostly all of them,” said Carmen.

“This was my first step on truly coming out as who I am.”

Taking on the responsibility of painting the flag mostly solo meant a lot to Carmen.

“To me, it’s pride, it feels natural, it feels great, it fills my heart with joy doing it,” said the painter.

“It symbolizes what I stand for and symbolizes what other people stand for and just doing it now, when I was driving by other years, I was appreciative.”

Now taking on an active role, there’s added sentiment and a sense of being a part of “something bigger.”

“I would like to paint the Rainbow Flag too, but when I was painting this one, it was like, ‘You know what? This feels better, it feels more natural, it feels like I was meant to paint this flag.”

Another piece of that is painting in the stripes honours the memory of Carmen’s friend, who lost their life to suicide before they could finish the transition.

Carmen Wheeldon paints the Transgender Flag on June 1. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“He’s been dead for about one year, and you know, painting this flag, it means something extra to me because I’m thinking about him,” said Carmen, noting he was a trans woman.

“She was really beautiful as a girl, she was just gorgeous.”

Harman Burns, who grew up in North Battleford and was invited to come help paint, said the Trans Flag represented her and means a lot.

“I feel really lucky to be able to contribute in my little way, doing a little painting,” she said.

“As a symbol, it means a lot to people.”

Harman Burns paints the Transgender Flag on June 1. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

As the crosswalks’ brightly coloured facelift takes shape, Burns said she hopes that young people will be encouraged by them.

“It is a symbol of support basically of identity,” she said.

“Even though there are some a**holes out there, in general, the community as a whole is coming together and it’s a public thing and it’s a community ting to make those kids feel comfortable being who they are and not having to struggle with that,” added Burns of the “Quiet pain.”

Meanwhile, the group will paint the crosswalk near Town Hall in Battleford on Wednesday, and Waters hopes that when people drive by the bright colours, it will bring a smile to their faces.

Ten-year-old Quinn Blyer-Shoop works on the yellow stripe of the Progress Flag on June 1. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I know I do,” she said.

For Thompson, it was a chance in this particular political climate to make a statement.

“We’re here and we’re queer and we’re not going anywhere.”

—

julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social